Real Pet Rehoming vs Fake Pet Adoption Scam
How to tell a genuine pet rehoming or adoption from a scam that takes deposits for animals that do not exist or never arrive.
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Pet adoption scams surge during high-demand periods, with listings for purebred dogs and cats at suspiciously low prices. A deposit is taken, then more fees are invented — transport boxes, insurance, veterinary clearance — and the pet never arrives. The comparison below helps you adopt or rehome animals safely.
Side-by-side comparison
| Genuine pet rehoming | Fake pet adoption scam | |
|---|---|---|
| Photos | Original photos match the seller's location; puppies/kittens are photographed at the actual premises | Stock photos or images that reverse-image-search to other websites or countries |
| Viewing | Willing to meet in person at the home where the animal lives | Cannot allow viewing; offers a 'virtual tour' or photos only |
| Fees | Single, transparent adoption or rehoming fee agreed upfront | Initial low price is followed by escalating fees for crating, transport, insurance, or customs |
| Payment | Accepts traceable payment; receipt provided; no crypto or gift cards | Demands wire transfer, gift cards, or crypto 'to protect against scams' |
| Organisation | Registered rescue charity or verifiable private owner with a local address | Overseas seller or untraceable seller; contact only via email or messaging app |
Common red flags
- Price significantly below market rate for the breed
- Seller cannot permit an in-person viewing
- Reverse image search finds the pet photos on other websites
- Additional fees appear after the initial deposit is paid
- Seller based overseas or contact available only via WhatsApp or email
Verification steps
- Reverse-image-search all photos before responding to the listing
- Insist on an in-person visit to the premises where the animal is kept
- Verify rescue charities on your country's charity register
- Pay by credit card or traceable bank transfer — never by gift card or crypto
What not to do
- Don't pay any deposit before meeting the animal in person
- Don't send further payments for transport crates, insurance, or customs fees
- Don't assume a charity-sounding name means the organisation is registered
A safe response
If the seller refuses an in-person visit or requests unexpected additional fees, stop the transaction immediately. Report the listing to the platform and to your consumer protection authority. Seek refund through your bank's chargeback process.
Frequently asked questions
Why do pet adoption scams keep requesting more fees?
The escalating-fee model maximises what the scammer extracts from each victim. Once you have paid the initial deposit, you are emotionally invested in receiving the pet. Each new invented fee exploits that attachment. The only solution is to refuse any fee that was not agreed at the outset.