Fraudsters rollover thousands of people in pet scams
Holidays can bring emotional and financial distress for pet lovers.
According to Better Business Bureau findings, as many as 80% of sponsored online pet advertisements may be fake. That puts consumers at a decided disadvantage when they begin online searches for a new pet.
“Of the online shopping rip-offs, pet and puppy scams lead the list for dollars lost,” said Steve J. Bernas, BBB president and CEO. “The average loss in these types of scams is $850. “While losing money is bad, what makes it worse is the emotional toll this crime can have on individuals and families.”
A recent BBB investigation on pet scams finds Americans have filed tens of thousands of complaints with law enforcement, consumer organizations and online websites.
Scammers entice their targets by posting copied pictures of cute pets, especially expensive breeds, and create phony company websites to trick their victims. BBB Scam Tracker has received many reports of fake web pages impersonating real businesses for this purpose. Adding to the agony, fraudsters often say they shipped the pet, but there is a problem in transit, and request additional funds.
“The scammer also may demand fees for vaccinations or other last-minute ‘needs,’” Bernas said. “Ultimately, the pet does not exist, and the consumer has lost money and emotional investment. We advise extreme caution if shopping for a pet online.”
The number one red flag in these cases is that the fraudster will find any excuse to never meet in person or have a video meeting where you can see the pet and the alleged seller. The seller prefers to handle communication by email and not by phone.
Tactics used in pet scams continue to evolve. Scammers increasingly ask for payment through untraceable cash apps such as Zelle, Google Pay, Cash App, Venmo, and Apple Pay.
Tips to stay safe
• Only purchase from a reputable dealer. Check BBB Business Profiles on BBB.org for complaints and customer reviews before purchasing.
• See the pet in person before paying any money. Since scammers are highly unlikely to comply with the request, this may help avoid a scam. At the very least, demand a virtual meeting with the seller and the pet you’re interested in.
• Do a reverse image search of the photo of the pet and search for a distinctive phrase in the description.
• Research to get a sense of a fair price for the breed you are considering. Think twice if someone advertises a purebred dog for free or at a deeply discounted price. It could be a fraudulent offer.
• Consider visiting a local animal shelter online for a pet you can meet before adopting.
If you encounter a pet scam
• Contact petscams.com/report-pet-scam-websites, which tracks complaints, catalogs puppy scammers, and endeavors to get fraudulent pet sales websites taken down.
• Visit the BBB Scam Tracker to report a scam online.
• Contact your credit card issuer to report the incident if you shared your credit card number, even if the transaction was not completed.
For more information, visit BBB.org or follow @ChicagoBBB on social media. Look for the BBB seal, The Sign of a Better Business.