{"id":7747,"date":"2021-09-08T20:41:22","date_gmt":"2021-09-08T19:41:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/?p=7747"},"modified":"2024-02-18T14:30:11","modified_gmt":"2024-02-18T14:30:11","slug":"pet-scams","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/pet-scams\/","title":{"rendered":"The 2024 Absolute Guide on Pet Scams and How to Avoid Them"},"content":{"rendered":"

With the increase of people buying puppies online, <\/span>pet scams<\/span> are more common than ever before.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re looking to buy a pet, especially a dog, thinking you\u2019ve found the right one, paying for it, and not getting it is probably one of the worst things you can imagine.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But, how can you know who to trust? Keep reading for the answer.<\/span><\/p>\n

Essential Information on <\/span>Pet Scams<\/span><\/h2>\n

Statistics show that around 80% of puppy-selling sites and online profiles are fake. Other animals are also a part of scams, but puppy sales are most affected.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Cat scams are also a big problem, but they function the same as the puppy ones. So, we\u2019ll focus on puppies \u2014 but everything we mention can be applied to cat scams, as well.<\/span><\/p>\n

To avoid falling victim to these scams, and to actually get the puppy you want, read on.<\/span><\/p>\n

What\u2019s a <\/span>Puppy Scam<\/span>?<\/span><\/h3>\n

Puppy scams include people trying to sell you puppies that are not what the sellers claim they are. More precisely, there are three main types of <\/span>pet scams<\/span>:<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Scammers trying to sell the puppies they don\u2019t even have. This is the most common scam online.<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Breeders selling sick pets with underlying problems. The pets usually come from the infamous <\/span>pet mills, where dogs are bred without any health-related control<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Pet shipping scam<\/span>, where breeders ask you to pay for non-existent shipping features. These can often be <\/span>puppy adoption scams<\/span> too, where scammers offer a puppy for free if you only pay for shipping. In reality, the puppy doesn\u2019t exist.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    With so many scammers on the market, it\u2019s essential to stay safe by following some rules.<\/span><\/p>\n

    How to Spot a Puppy Scammer<\/span>?<\/span><\/h3>\n

    To be able to see the difference between a scammer and a reputable breeder, you should pay attention to the following red flags:<\/span><\/p>\n

    1. Isn\u2019t interested in direct contact<\/span><\/h4>\n

    If the seller doesn\u2019t want to contact you in any other way than by email, rest assured they are trying to scam you. Scammers prefer email because it allows them more time to construct their replies and avoid giving you any actual info.<\/span><\/p>\n

    2. Posts sketchy pictures<\/span><\/h4>\n

    Pictures that look too generic, as if they could be found on any other site, are usually a sign of <\/span>puppy scams<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Scammers will also take realistic photos from somebody else\u2019s site. In fact, the whole listing can be copied, so be sure to check their validity. Google reverse image search works wonders for this.<\/span><\/p>\n

    3. Offers unbelievably low price<\/span><\/h4>\n

    A price that\u2019s a lot lower than the market average is always a sign of a <\/span>dog scam<\/span>. No accredited breeder who takes care of their dogs will lower the price below a certain point. With <\/span>pet ownership numbers rising all the time<\/span><\/a>, they don\u2019t have the reason to do so.<\/span><\/p>\n

    This is why paying $300 for a puppy that is normally worth $1,000 is impossible.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    4. Uses odd payment methods<\/span><\/h4>\n

    Sellers that ask you to pay with Venmo, gift cards, and similar unsafe payment methods are not to be trusted and are definitely a part of <\/span>puppy sale scams<\/span>. Once you pay, you won\u2019t be able to get your money back.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Especially avoid sellers that ask for full payment upfront.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    5. Sells the puppy too easily<\/span><\/h4>\n

    Genuine breeders will want to know more about you. They want their puppies to go to a good home and be compatible with their new owners.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Online puppy scams<\/span> will most often include breeders that are ready to sell the puppy to anybody who will pay as soon as possible.<\/span><\/p>\n

    6. Asks for additional shipping costs<\/span><\/h4>\n

    The <\/span>puppy shipping scam<\/span> is one of the most common ways of getting money from innocent buyers. Sellers will claim there are additional shipping fees, such as air-conditioning, extra tickets, and similar. And they\u2019ll expect you to pay for them.<\/span><\/p>\n

    A <\/span>pet delivery scam<\/span> can happen with both regular scammers and some unreliable breeders.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Keep in mind that most states do not have any additional costs when shipping a puppy. Still, if you\u2019re interested in buying a puppy, it\u2019s always a good idea to check the laws.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    7. Using an anonymous shipping company<\/span><\/h4>\n

    If the seller uses a shipping company you\u2019ve never heard about, it\u2019s probably one of the <\/span>fake pet shipping companies<\/span>. There are <\/span>many false shipping companies<\/span><\/a>, and if your seller is using one, they are trying to scam you.<\/span><\/p>\n

    What to Do if You Notice a Scammer?<\/span><\/h3>\n

    If you run into a scammer looking to cheat you into buying puppies or get away with <\/span>puppy shipping scams,<\/span> you should stop contacting them immediately.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    You can <\/span>report a puppy scammer<\/span><\/a> to sites tracking scams in the online pet market and prevent them from hurting somebody else. If they\u2019re on a pet e-market, report them to the site, too.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Where <\/span>Pet Scammers <\/span>Can Be Found<\/span><\/h2>\n

    Scammers can be found everywhere on the internet, but there are some specific places you should be aware of. Besides the sites you can see in our <\/span>puppy scammer list<\/span> for <\/span>2021<\/span> at the end of the article, these are some usual culprits:<\/span><\/p>\n

    Social Media<\/span><\/h3>\n

    Unfortunately, social media and buying\/selling sites are not the best places to buy your long-wanted puppy. <\/span>Puppy scams on Facebook<\/span>, Instagram, and other social networks are flourishing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Scammers can create many different accounts, close the ones that get banned, and delete the negative comments reviewing them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    This means that you cannot check anything about the seller \u2014 nor do anything if you get scammed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n