I don’t think a week goes by where we do not hear of one scam or another. Some of the scams getting the least amount of attention target people who love animals. According to the Better Business Bureau Scam Tracker, in 2022, approximately $2,000,000 was lost in pet scams. The average financial loss per person was $850 with some losing up to $3,000.
Two of the more common scams target people looking to buy or adopt a pet. The most common animals used in the scams are smaller breeds of dog or designer crosses. In 2021, pet sales scams made up 34.5% of reported sales scams (BBB).
Bait and Switch – With this scam, you purchase a pet online, but the ordered animal does not exist. I had a client taken by one of these scams. A Midwest kennel posted Maltese puppies for sale. What arrived was a senior terrier with significant behavioral issues. A variation of this scam is the broker calls and claimed the puppy is no longer available, but would you like to get a slightly older puppy? When you agree, the dog sent is still nothing close to what you bought.
No Pet – This is another scam revolving around people looking for a pet. In this scam you find a pet for low cost or even free. All you have to do is send money for shipping. You send the shipping fee and wait. In reality, there is nothing for sale or adoption. Several friends of mine uncovered one of these scams when they found pictures of their puppies being used to build a fake sale site. Another variation is a deposit to a business that has many puppies available. Send a deposit and shipping, the balance is due when you receive the puppy. People I know in dogs have found older pictures of their dogs used on these scam sites as “examples” of what the business has available.
Next are the scams focusing on human desire to help needy animals.
Please Donate – These scams are often associated with sad stories of abused and neglected animals or ones that have suffered severe injuries. Donations are needed to help pay for expensive bills. Sadly, the pictures are often taken from other sources. One picture was of a severely injured dog. Many of us recognized the picture as being used by different people asking for help over the years. Another popular donation scam revolves around animal rights organizations or people claiming to be part of such an organization. Even if the organizations are real, the way they ask for donations is not fully honest. One uses pictures from puppy farms in other countries. Another has used pictures that are over 20 years old.
Finally, are the scams targeting people who have lost a pet or read someone has found a pet and are trying to get the critter home.
Lost/Found Pet – Some target people who have lost pets. The scammer claims to have found the pet and if the owner pays for shipping, pays the reward, etc., the pet can be returned. The stories may vary. The pet was found far away, or the person wants the reward before returning the animal. In reality, they do not have your lost pet. If money is demanded before returning the pet or the fake finder suddenly becomes hesitant when you offer to travel to pick up your pet, this is a red flag. There is an increase in “Help me get this hurt animal back to his family” posts. Someone has found a pet but the family lives far away. The finder is trying to raise funds to ship the pet home. There is no found pet.
Educate yourself about animal related scams. Take steps to make sure no one takes advantage of you or your family.
West Wind Dog Training 
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