Online Pet Adoption Scams
An internal report the federal trade commission prepared in 2015.
Online pet adoption scams. With online scams on the rise please be aware of the many different types of pet scams. Fraudsters are going after future pet owners by placing a false ad for pets online then scamming them into more money after they are emotionally invested in the cuddly ball of fuzz. A scammer on craig s list facebook or e bay is selling a purebred puppy or kitten often for free or at a deeply discounted price for the breed. You can look up adoptable animals near you at petfinder and the shelter pet project.
Scammers have been around since the dawn of time taking advantage of trusting individuals to get what they want. It also explains how the scam works. You see a puppy or kitten for sale on the internet and. Do consider adopting from a local shelter or rescue group instead of buying a pet online.
Bbb scamtracker contains 907 reports on this type of fraud which is 12 5 of all their complaints involving online purchase fraud. Puppy scammer list 2020. In the age of the internet scamming has taken on a whole new and more dangerous identity. There are online pet adoption scams that can be dangerous.
The best way to avoid being scammed by those who are selling pets online is to educate yourself on the warning signs of a typical online pet scam. Animals are offered up for adoption at no cost all you have to do is pay for the shipping. Please use the search function to search all reported websites. An unusually high proportion of victims of online pet scams are in their late teens or 20s according to the bbb.
We aim to publish a list of the latest puppy scammer websites. Expensive animals like bulldogs or toy breeds are offered at very low prices. Here s how the scam often works. Many times users are lured in by a cute puppy or other pet for sale only to find out that they have been scammed out of their money.
Pet scam criminals often use free websites craig s list local newspapers or facebook to advertise pets that do not exist. The staff at embrace has even been pulled into a pet adoption scam. Here s how the scam works.