Top 10 online common pet scams, you must know

However, here are some common pet scams that have been reported in the past:

1. Non-delivery scam: The seller claims to have a pet for sale but requests payment upfront. Once the payment is made, the pet is never delivered.
2. Overpayment scam: The seller requests payment for the pet, but the payment is made for an amount greater than the agreed-upon price. The seller then requests the overpayment to be returned via a wire transfer, but the original payment is found to be fraudulent, and the buyer is left with no pet or money.
3. Fake breeder scam: The seller pretends to be a breeder and posts pictures of purebred animals for sale but does not actually have any animals for sale. Once payment is made, the seller disappears.
4. Puppy mill scam: The seller claims to have a litter of purebred puppies for sale but in reality, operates a puppy mill that houses animals in poor conditions and breeds them for profit.
5. Sick animal scam: The seller offers a pet for sale at a low price, but the animal is found to be sick or have a serious medical condition once purchased. The seller may not provide proper medical records or may disappear once the animal becomes sick.
6. Phishing scam: The scammer sends fake emails or texts posing as a reputable pet store or breeder, requesting payment for a pet that does not exist.
7. Shipping scam: The seller claims to have a pet for sale and offers to ship the animal to the buyer, but the animal is never sent, or the buyer is asked to pay for additional shipping fees.
8. Foreign buyer scam: The seller targets buyers from foreign countries, claiming to have purebred pets for sale, but requests payment upfront and disappears once payment is received.
9. Craigslist scam: The seller offers a pet for sale on Craigslist but requests payment via wire transfer, which is a red flag as it is often a sign of a scam.
10. Imposter scam: The seller claims to be a reputable breeder or rescue organization but is actually an imposter, often stealing photos and information from legitimate websites to lure buyers into a scam.

It’s important to be cautious when purchasing pets online and to only buy from reputable breeders or adoption organizations. It’s also essential to thoroughly research the seller and to never send money upfront before verifying the seller’s authenticity.