Online Pet Adoption Scams

Do consider adopting from a local shelter or rescue group instead of buying a pet online.

Online pet adoption scams. In a typical pet adoption scam the scammer will create a fake website related to a particular breed of dog or cat using words to tug on your heartstrings such as puppy or kitten the adoption service will be advertised on classifieds websites social media phishing emails or by other means to lure in more potential victims. Experts say a shocking 80 of sponsored advertisements about pets may be fake. There are online pet adoption scams that can be dangerous. In the age of the internet scamming has taken on a whole new and more dangerous identity.

You can look up adoptable animals near you at petfinder and the shelter pet project. 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. Here s how the scam works. Scammers have been around since the dawn of time taking advantage of trusting individuals to get what they want.

The staff at embrace has even been pulled into a pet adoption scam. As more consumers turn to the internet to find new pets more scams are popping up online. Bbb says overall pet scams make up 24 of reported online scams with an average dollar amount lost at 700. Animals are offered up for adoption at no cost all you have to do is pay for the shipping.

In a typical pet adoption scam a criminal will create a fake website with a domain name related to a particular breed of dog or cat potentially combined with words like puppy or kitten the service will be advertised on classifieds websites social media via phishing emails or by other means to drive traffic. 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. Here s how the scam often works. You see a puppy or kitten for sale on the internet and.

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. 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. Pet scam criminals often use free websites craig s list local newspapers or facebook to advertise pets that do not exist. Expensive animals like bulldogs or toy breeds are offered at very low prices.