Fake Pet Adoption Scams on Instagram
Instagram accounts impersonating animal rescue organisations collect rehoming fees and transport donations for non-existent animals using sympathetic content and urgent appeal language.
Part of: Fake Pet Adoption Scams
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Instagram's animal welfare and rescue community is active, engaged, and emotionally invested. Accounts documenting rescue operations, foster animals, and adoption stories attract large followings, and scammers replicate this content style to impersonate rescue organisations.
Fake rescue accounts often solicit both adoption fees and general donations, maximising revenue from followers who believe they are supporting a legitimate welfare operation.
How this scam works on Instagram
A fraudulent Instagram account posts photos of animals described as urgent rescue cases, building emotional investment over multiple posts. When followers enquire about adoption, they are directed to DM and asked to pay a transport or rehoming fee. Some accounts also run Stories appeals for 'emergency vet fees' for specific animals.
The account may operate for weeks or months before being reported, collecting multiple donations and adoption fees throughout. When the account is eventually flagged, it is abandoned or renamed.
Common red flags
- Instagram rescue account that cannot be verified through any national charity registry
- Adoption requires payment via DM with no formal adoption process or paperwork
- Stories appeal for emergency vet fees with a personal payment link
- Account was recently created but posts suggest years of operation
- Animals shown in posts reverse image search to other websites or accounts
- Adoption fee payment is requested via gift card, wire transfer, or direct bank app payment
How to protect yourself
- Verify rescue organisations independently through national charity registries before donating or adopting
- Prefer to adopt through local, in-person shelters where the animal can be met before payment
- Research the account and organisation name with terms like 'scam' or 'fraud' before engaging
- Never pay an adoption fee through Instagram DM without a formal adoption agreement
- Report suspicious rescue accounts to Instagram and to other pet welfare communities
How to report it
- Report the Instagram account using the three-dot menu and selecting 'Report' — choose 'It's a scam'
- File a complaint with the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov or Action Fraud at actionfraud.police.uk
- Report fake charity organisations to your national charity commission
Frequently asked questions
How can I verify an Instagram rescue organisation is legitimate?
Search the organisation name on your national charity commission register. Legitimate rescues have formal registration, transparent financial reporting, and can provide an in-person adoption process. They do not request payment via DMs or gift cards.