What is a pet scam?
A pet scam involves advertising puppies, kittens, or other animals for sale or adoption that do not exist, collecting deposits and delivery fees without ever providing an animal.
Last reviewed: 10 June 2026
Explanation
Pet scams surged during periods of increased demand for companion animals. Fraudulent sellers create convincing listings on classified sites, social media, and even dedicated pet sale platforms, using appealing photos of animals (usually stolen from legitimate breeders' websites or social media). Prices are typically slightly below market rate to attract buyers.
Once a buyer expresses interest, the scammer confirms availability and requests a deposit to hold the animal. Delivery is always 'arranged' rather than an in-person handover. Then a series of additional charges follow: shipping insurance, veterinary health certificates, customs fees, a special climate-controlled travel crate. Each payment leads to another required payment before the animal 'arrives'.
The animal never arrives. The scammer disappears after extracting maximum payment, and victims lose both money and the emotional investment they had made in anticipation of their new pet.
Some variants involve 'rehoming' rather than sale — someone claims to be giving away a valuable pedigree animal for free because of a life change, then requests a small fee for transport. The same escalating charges follow.
Always meet the animal in person before any payment. Be very cautious about any seller who cannot facilitate a local viewing, and verify any claimed breeder credentials independently.
Common red flags
- The seller cannot or will not arrange an in-person viewing of the animal
- The animal is available to be shipped but not collected
- Requests for a deposit before viewing, or escalating fees for shipping, insurance, or health certificates
- Photos appear elsewhere online when reverse image searched
- A 'free to good home' pedigree animal that requires transport fees
- The seller claims to be overseas, in the military, or moving abroad as a reason for urgency
What to do now
- Insist on viewing any animal in person at the seller's location before paying anything
- Reverse image search the animal's photos to check if they appear elsewhere
- If you already paid and no animal arrived, report to police and the platform hosting the listing
- Contact your bank to initiate a chargeback for any card payments
- Warn others by reporting the listing and leaving reviews where possible
Frequently asked questions
Are all online pet sellers fraudulent?
No. Many legitimate breeders sell online. The key safeguard is always meeting the animal in person before paying. A real breeder or seller will always welcome this. Reluctance or inability to facilitate an in-person meeting is the defining red flag.
Can I get a refund if the pet never arrived?
If you paid by credit card, a chargeback is the most accessible route — contact your bank. Report to police for a crime reference number, which may help with the bank dispute. Recovery from bank transfers or gift cards is much more difficult.