Fake Pet Rehoming & Transport Scam on Facebook
Scammers post free or low-cost 'rehoming' pet ads on Facebook and then charge escalating transport, crate, or health certificate fees for an animal that is never actually shipped.
Part of: Fake Pet Rehoming & Transport Scam
Last reviewed: 5 July 2026
Facebook's pet rehoming groups and Marketplace listings are full of genuine owners trying to find a new home for a pet they can no longer keep, which gives scammers cover to post similarly framed listings for animals that don't exist or aren't theirs, using the promise of a low or 'free to good home' adoption fee to draw in interested buyers.
How this scam works on Facebook
A listing describes a purebred or unusually appealing pet available for free or a token rehoming fee, often due to a sympathetic reason like a move, allergy, or family emergency, with attractive photos frequently lifted from a breeder's site or another ad. Once a buyer expresses interest, the 'owner' explains the pet is currently with a relative or in another city/country and that a pet transport company will need to be paid to deliver the animal, providing a link or contact for a transport service that is actually part of the same scam operation.
The fake transport company then issues its own invoice, often citing a crate, special climate-controlled shipping, or pet insurance fee, and after that payment, further 'complications' arise, a customs hold, a sick animal needing treatment, or a lost shipment, each requiring another payment before delivery can supposedly proceed. Because the entire chain (the 'owner,' the 'transport company,' and sometimes a fake vet or customs office) is controlled by the same scammer, there is no independent party to verify any step, and the pet is never delivered no matter how many fees are paid.
Common red flags
- Pet is 'free' or very low cost but located far away, requiring paid transport before pickup
- A separate transport company is recommended by the seller and issues its own invoice
- Multiple unexpected fees appear in sequence: crate, insurance, customs, vet treatment
- No option for a local pickup, in-person meeting, or video call showing the actual animal
- The 'owner's' story for why they can't keep the pet is vague, urgent, or overly emotional
- Reverse image search shows the pet's photos used in other, unrelated listings
How to protect yourself
- Insist on a live video call with the actual current physical location of the pet before agreeing to any fees
- Be highly skeptical of any rehoming listing that requires paid third-party transport before you've met the seller
- Reverse-image-search photos of the pet to check for reuse across multiple listings
- Never pay a transport, customs, or insurance fee to a company recommended only by the seller
- Ask local shelters or rescues to help verify a pet's rehoming story if something feels off
- Treat any request for a second or third unexpected fee as confirmation of a scam and stop paying immediately
How to report it
- Report the listing and any linked transport company page to Facebook via Report > Scam or Fraud
- Report to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov or your national consumer protection agency
- File a police report if money was sent, including all correspondence and payment details
- Warn local rehoming and rescue groups about the specific listing and transport company name
Frequently asked questions
Are 'free to good home' pet listings always a scam?
No, many are genuine, but any listing that requires you to pay a third-party transport company before meeting the pet or seller in person deserves serious scrutiny.
What if I've already paid a transport fee and now they want more?
Stop paying immediately. Any legitimate transport arrangement will not keep adding new fees after the original quote; further requests are a clear sign the pet was never real.