Safety Tips

Most breeders are honest people who love their animals. A few aren’t. Pet scams are common online, so take a minute to read these tips before you pay anything. If something feels off, it probably is.

Before you pay

• Meet the pet first, in person or on a live video call where the seller shows the animal and says your name or today’s date.
• See the mother, and the father if possible, and the place where the animals are raised.
• Ask for records: vet visits, vaccinations, deworming, microchip and registration papers. A good breeder has them ready.
• Ask lots of questions. Good breeders ask you questions too, because they care where their animals go.
• Search the photos. Do a reverse image search on Google Images. Stolen photos are a classic scam.
• Check the age. Puppies and kittens should only go home when they are old enough under local law.

Paying safely

• Never pay with gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers or money transfer apps to someone you haven’t met. That money is almost impossible to get back.
• Prefer paying in person when you pick up the pet, or use a payment method with buyer protection, such as a credit card.
• If you pay a deposit, get a written agreement or receipt with the seller’s full name, the pet’s details, the amount and the refund terms.

Red flags

• The price is much lower than normal for the breed.
• The seller won’t do a video call or let you visit.
• You are asked to pay extra for “shipping”, “insurance”, a “crate”, “vaccines” or “customs” after the first payment.
• Pressure to decide fast: “someone else wants it today”.
• The story keeps changing, or the seller says they are overseas, deployed or moving.
• Emails or messages that seem to come from an airline or pet transport company asking for money.

When you meet

• Bring someone with you and tell a friend where you are going.
• Look at the animal’s health: bright eyes, clean ears and nose, healthy coat, normal energy.
• Take your time. A good breeder will wait while you decide.

Tips for breeders

• Be cautious with buyers who offer to pay more than the asking price or send a check for more than the price.
• Don’t share personal documents or bank details by message.
• Keep a written record of deposits and agreements.

Report a problem

See a suspicious listing or got a strange message? Tell us on WhatsApp. Scammers sleep with the fishes, and we remove listings that break our Terms of Use.

If you were the victim of a scam, also contact your local police. In the United States you can report it to the FBI at ic3.gov and to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov.