Many people are searching for a new pet around the holidays. In a release, the Better Business Bureau says the demand for animal adoptions tends to rise during the holiday season, and so does the prevalence of scams.
Numerous scams exploit online animal adoption platforms, some of which may not even be legitimate. As consumers turn to the internet to find new pets, experts say a shocking 80% of sponsored pet advertisements may be fake.
How the scam works:
Like many frauds, this one has adapted and evolved over the years. The early versions typically involved scammers posting a simple classified ad offering a free pet, with the owner explaining that he or she was being relocated to another country, or could no longer keep the animal for some other reason. But while there was no charge for the animal itself, the scammers insisted the potential buyer pay for transportation and other costs associated with getting the pets to their new owners.
More recently, these frauds involve the sale of animals at low prices – usually well below the charges of actual breeders. Similarly, later requests ask for additional money for shipping costs and other expenses that supposedly go to third parties.
How to avoid pet scams:
The BBB says it is simple, do your research! Only purchase from a reputable dealer. Check BBB Business Profiles on BBB.org for complaints and customer reviews before making a purchase. Don’t buy a pet without seeing it in person. If that isn't possible, request a live video call to view the animal, meet the breeder, and evaluate the facility.
Conduct a reverse image search of the picture of the pet you are considering. If the same picture appears on multiple websites, it’s likely a fraud. Anyone can also search for distinctive text from ads or testimonials, to see if the seller copied it from another website. Also, avoid wiring money or using a cash app or gift card. These payment methods offer no way to get money back if you are the victim of fraud.
Do research to get a sense of a fair price for the breed you are considering. Think twice if someone advertises a purebred dog for free or at a deeply discounted price, it could be a fraudulent offer. Remember, if it sounds to good to be true... it is likely a scam.
As an alternative, consider reaching out to a local animal shelter. Many shelters are looking for fosters to help relieve animal stress and reduce overcrowding at their facilities. Here in Wichita visit the city's animal shelter website here.
And for anyone who thinks they have been scammed or have found a suspicious website, the BBB asks that they report it to the BBB Scam Tracker and the Federal Trade Commission at Petscams.com.