Is a free pet adoption listing that only needs a transport fee a scam?
Yes. 'Free pet, just pay transport' is the standard opener for a pet shipping scam where no animal exists.
Last reviewed: 1 August 2026
Explanation
Scammers post listings on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, and classifieds sites for free purebred dogs, cats, or exotic animals — often claiming the owner is relocating, recently bereaved, or unwell. The only cost is transport or a crate fee. After you agree, a shipping company (controlled by the scammer) contacts you with invoices for transport, crating, insurance, and then a temperature-controlled compartment, airport handling fees, or import clearance. The requests continue until you stop paying. No animal exists. The photos are stolen from genuine pet owners. This scam is particularly targeting people who want exotic or high-value breeds they could not otherwise afford.
The escalating-fee structure is the heart of this fraud. Each new charge is framed as the very last obstacle between you and the animal, and each is small enough compared with what you have already paid that refusing feels wasteful. This is the sunk-cost trap, and the fees will continue for as long as you keep paying. The moment any transport company asks for a refundable deposit, a special crate, or an insurance payment for a pet you have never seen, stop all contact — there is no animal waiting at the airport.
Common red flags
- Purebred or expensive pet offered for free with only a transport charge
- Owner is overseas, recently widowed, or otherwise cannot meet
- A separate 'pet transport company' contacts you with escalating fees
- Requests for money orders, wire transfers, or gift cards
- Company providing transport cannot be verified through any official register
What to do now
- Do not pay any transport, crating, or customs fee for a pet you have not seen
- Search for the images using a reverse image search tool
- Adopt locally from a registered rescue organisation or verified breeder
- Report the listing to the platform and to your national fraud authority
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if the pet transport company is fake?
Search the company name and address independently. Most scam transport companies have no verifiable physical address, no business registration, and reviews only on their own website.
The shipper says my pet is stuck at the airport and needs an insurance payment — is that real?
No. Airlines and genuine pet transporters do not hold animals hostage pending surprise payments. This message is the standard escalation step of the scam. Stop paying, save the messages as evidence, and report the fraud to the platform and your national fraud authority.