This has been National Adoption Week for pets, and by now,
thousands of dogs and cats might have new homes in the hearts
of many thousands of people. But as the holidays approach,
scammers know that families are hearing about their kids’ NEED
for a dog or cat. And scammers are ready to take advantage by
offering up that perfect pet — for a fee. You’ll find ads
offering litters of puppies, especially, on websites and
listservs online. But once you pay, your supposed pet and the
“breeder” will vanish, along with your cash. Here are ways to
spot those puppy and pet scammers and stop them in their
tracks.
Start with a local rescue or animal shelter. A quick online
search will point you to them, where you’ll be able to adopt
for a small fee. There are even rescues for specific breeds,
so check them out, too. Check out the rescue, shelter, or
breeder. Search online for their name, plus words like
“complaint” or “scam.” See what others have to say about them.
Check out the photos. Are the pics of the available cute
puppies and kitties just stock pictures? Or are they copies
taken from somewhere else? Do a reverse image search to see.
If they’re either, move on.
Have an in-person or video visit. Legit rescues, shelters, and
breeders alike want to make sure you and your new pet are a
good match.
They’ll encourage an in-person or video meeting. If they don’t
want you to visit, video chat, or even talk by phone, move on
to someone else.
Watch how you’re asked to pay. Nobody legit will ever require
you to pay by gift card, wire transfer service like MoneyGram
or Western Union, or cryptocurrency. And paying by cash
transfer services, like Venmo, makes it hard to get your money
back. So stick with a credit card, if you have one, for the
most protections if something goes wrong. If you spot one of
these scams, tell the ICIEU All the cats and dogs of the FTC
wish you well in adding a new family member to your home.