THOUSANDS of people per year fall for this scam

Pet scams can be heartbreaking and financially draining. Here are the top 10 scams related to pet sales and pet transport to watch out for:

1. Fake Pet Listings: Scammers create fake ads for non-existent pets, often using stolen photos from legitimate sources. They may ask for a deposit or full payment upfront, only to disappear once the money is sent.

2. Overpayment Scam: The scammer, posing as a buyer, sends a check for more than the asking price of the pet and asks the seller to refund the difference. The check eventually bounces, leaving the seller out of pocket.

3. Phantom Shipping Companies: Scammers may claim that a special pet transport company is needed to deliver the pet, often citing COVID-19 restrictions. They’ll ask for payment for this non-existent service.

4. Quarantine or Insurance Fees: The scammer claims that the pet is stuck in quarantine or needs special insurance for transport and requests additional fees to release the pet.

5. Puppy Mills: While not a scam in the traditional sense, puppy mills often misrepresent the health and breeding conditions of their animals, leading to the sale of sick or genetically compromised pets.

6. Free Pet Scams: Scammers offer pets for free but claim that the buyer must pay for transport or other fees. Once the fees are paid, the pet never arrives.

7. Fake Pet Transport Websites: Scammers create websites that look like legitimate pet transport services, complete with fake reviews and testimonials. They may even provide tracking numbers that lead nowhere.

8. Rental Scams with Pets: Scammers pose as landlords offering pet-friendly rentals, requiring a deposit and pet fee before disappearing.

9. Bogus Pet Registration or Licensing: Scammers claim that the pet needs special registration or licensing that can only be obtained through them, often at an inflated price.

10. Advance Fee Loan Scams for Pet Purchases: Scammers offer loans to cover the cost of a pet, asking for an advance fee to secure the loan. The loan never materializes, and the fee is lost.

To avoid these scams, always do thorough research, insist on seeing the pet in person or via live video, use secure payment methods, and work with reputable breeders, shelters, and transport services. If a deal sounds too good to be true or if the seller is pushing for quick payment without proper documentation, it’s likely a scam.