Pet adoption scammers often run polished operations complete with convincing websites, social media accounts, and tales crafted to tug at the heartstrings. They lure victims into paying more and more money, then disappear without delivering the new family member they promised. You can avoid trouble by adopting from a local shelter, reputable rescue, or a breeder you’ve thoroughly checked out.
Few things capture people’s attention quite like a photo of an adorable puppy or kitten. A close runner up? Any heartbreaking story about a sweet pet needing a new home.
Since fraudsters are in the business of grabbing our attention, they’ve embraced pet adoption scams as tools for stealing our money and even personal information.
After all, once you’ve fallen in love with an animal through photos of soulful eyes and precious paws, you’ll go to extreme measures to ensure that it arrives safely in your arms.
How scammers convince people to pay for nonexistent pets
Generally, pet adoption scammers are on a mission to sell you animals that simply don’t exist. On average, victims lost an average of $850 each in 2022, reported the Better Business Bureau in their most recent study.
A fraudster may pose as a breeder of purebred dogs, cats, or exotic creatures ranging from parrots to sugar gliders. Often, they have a legitimate-looking website and social media pages with make-you-melt photos of available pets.
Their prices are surprisingly low, so the pressure is on: You need to snag this great deal before someone else does. You send the upfront payment they request.
If you’ve found your dream pet in another state, you may even agree to have it shipped to you. Scammers will create websites for bogus companies that claim to specialize in transporting animals. They’ll have you pay an initial fee, then start to pile on new ones: You need to shell out for insurance or a special crate—but don’t worry, the fee is refundable, they’ll say.
Once you pay all the charges, or start to ask too many questions, the bad actor cuts off communication; his or her website and social accounts may disappear altogether.
In other cases, fraudsters post ads on Craigslist or social media claiming that they represent an animal shelter, or that they’re an individual who needs to “rehome” a pet for a difficult reason such as illness or injury.
These scammers will probably ask for a refundable deposit to “hold” the animal for you. Then, they may tack on a shipping hoax: The pet you arranged to pick up has to be shipped because of something like a “family emergency.” You need to pay the fees, or the animal will be euthanized.
Telltale signs of an animal adoption scam
From suspicious payment methods to unusual communication patterns, these warning signs can help you avoid becoming a victim.
You’re asked to pay in advance using an insecure method. Scammers usually want you to pay via wire transfer or with cash, gift cards, payment apps, or cryptocurrency, because these methods are tough to trace and typically don’t offer strong protection for victims of fraud. Bad actors may lure you into this trap by claiming that the credit card you provided was declined.
The price is surprisingly low—or high. Fake breeders and dealers attract customers with prices that are significantly lower than the going rate for a particular breed, perhaps claiming that they’ve reduced the price because of unique circumstances. However, if you’re looking to add a rehomed pet to your family, be wary of fees that seem exceptionally high, even if they come with claims that the pet is rare or especially desirable. According to the Animal Legal Defense Fund, legitimate rescue organizations usually charge less than $500.
Little information is provided about the animal or asked about you. The pet’s current caregiver should offer plenty of details about its background, health, and personality. Likewise, legitimate breeders, rescue shelters, and individuals looking to find new homes for their animals generally want to know a lot about you so they can be sure they’ve made a lasting match; there may be applications, meet-and-greets, even home visits.
Communications seem sketchy. The person won’t speak to you on the phone or in person, only conversing with you by email or text. If written communications are rife with bad grammar or phrasing that wouldn’t normally be used in the English language, that’s an even bigger sign that you should run in the opposite direction.
The pet needs to be shipped to you. While people do work with trustworthy companies to transport pets, scammers are notorious for springing shipping-related charges on their victims. They create professional-looking company websites and accept payments, potentially getting your financial information in the process. Next, they claim that problems have arisen: You need to send money for an emergency vet visit, insurance, or a temperature-controlled crate. If you cover all the charges, they may finally provide a fake tracking number and say the pet is on its way, but it will never arrive.
How to keep the pet adoption process warm and fuzzy
The good news? You can have a safe and joyful pet adoption experience by following a few practical tips.
From choosing reputable sources to verifying information, these steps will help you bring home a healthy, happy pet without falling prey to scams.
Adopt from a local animal shelter or rescue group. According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, shelters and rescues took in 5.8 million dogs and cats in 2024. With so many pets in need, you can likely find the perfect companion while working with a trusted animal welfare organization in your own area.
Purchase from a reputable breeder. If you want to adopt a purebred animal, look for a breeder that is affiliated with local and national breed clubs. Check with the Better Business Bureau (you can search their scam tracker) to make sure that complaints haven’t been filed against them.
Meet the pet, if at all possible. If you simply can’t arrange a face-to-face with your future best friend, insist on a live video call so that you can see the animal and its living conditions, as well as its current caregiver. At the bare minimum, request a video of the pet that includes a piece of paper with your name on it.
Do plenty of digging. Look up purported breeders and rescue groups online, searching for reviews (aside from those that may be on their own site), Google listings, or engagement on their social media pages. It’s wise to search for the individual’s name, business name, and contact information along with terms like “scam” and “complaint.” However, a lack of results certainly doesn’t promise a lack of bad deeds; scammers change their names and contact information regularly.
Do a reverse image search to make sure that photos of your prospective pet haven’t been stolen from other sources. Visit images.google.com and click on the camera icon. You can then drag a photo from a website (such as the breeder’s page) into the search bar or upload one that someone sent you. When results appear, select “Exact Matches” from the menu bar. If the same photo pops up on websites that aren’t related to the person you’re doing business with, you’re probably dealing with a scam.
Request documentation. Depending on the animal and the adoption scenario, this may include medical records and microchip information, a contract, bill of sale, health guarantee, and registration papers.
How to report a pet adoption scam
If you’re an Allstate Identity Protection member and you think scammers may have gotten their hands on your personal or financial information, call us right away. We’ll work to resolve any issues so that you can focus on things that matter, like finding your soul pet.
Whether you actually fell victim to a hoax or just think you’ve recognized suspicious activity, consider reporting it to the following organizations:
Your local law enforcement
Your local Better Business Bureau (BBB), or the BBB Scam Tracker
The Federal Trade Commision (1-877-FTC-Help) or ReportFraud.ftc.gov
Petscams.com, which maintains a “Puppy Scammer” list and keeps track of scam complaints
