Pet Scams: How to Buy or Adopt a Puppy or Kitten Safely
Pet scams start with an online ad for a puppy, kitten or exotic pet, often a popular breed at a price far below normal. The seller takes a deposit, then asks for more money for shipping, a crate, insurance or vet checks, and the pet never arrives. This guide shows the warning signs and safer ways to find a pet. Checked October 25, 2026.
Meet the pet before you pay
If you can’t see the animal in person or on a live video call, don’t send money. And as the FTC puts it, only scammers say you must pay with gift cards, payment apps, cryptocurrency or wire transfers.
Warning signs
- Too cheap: a purebred puppy for a few hundred dollars when the breed usually costs thousands.
- Pressure: other buyers are interested, so you must pay a deposit today.
- No visit: the seller is “traveling” or the pet is in another state.
- Surprise fees: after the first payment, new charges for shipping, crates, insurance or vaccinations.
- Hard-to-reverse payments: gift cards, payment apps, crypto or wire transfers.
- Stock or copied photos that appear on other sites.
How to check a seller
- Search the seller’s name with words like “review,” “scam” or “complaint.”
- Reverse image search the pet photos to see if they appear elsewhere.
- Ask for a live video call showing the animal and its parent or litter.
- Visit in person and pick up the pet yourself where possible.
- Pay by credit card if you can, since it offers more protection.
Consider a shelter or rescue
Shelters and rescues have animals of every breed and age, usually for a small adoption fee. Many also have breed-specific rescue groups. It’s one of the safest ways to find a pet.
If you’ve already paid
- Stop paying. Further “fees” won’t produce a pet.
- Contact your bank, card issuer or payment app right away to dispute or stop the payment. See Get Help Now.
- Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to the site where you saw the ad.
Talk with your kids
Children and teens sometimes find “free puppy” posts on social media and want to respond. Explain that pets are never shipped for free by strangers, and that any pet purchase goes through a parent.
Quick checklist
- Price checked against normal prices for the breed
- Seller searched for reviews and complaints
- Photos reverse-searched
- Pet seen live or in person
- Paid by credit card, never gift card, crypto or wire
Frequently asked questions
Can a pet really be shipped safely?
Some breeders do arrange transport, but scammers use fake shipping companies to demand extra fees. Picking up in person is safest.
The seller sent vet records. Doesn’t that prove it’s real?
No. Documents are easy to fake. Ask for the vet clinic’s name and call it yourself.
What about exotic pets?
The FTC warns that scammers target exotic pet buyers too. The same checks apply.
Sources
- Getting a pet? Avoid scams, FTC Consumer Advice, accessed October 25, 2026
- Looking to buy an exotic pet? Scammers are hoping to hear from you, FTC Consumer Advice, accessed October 25, 2026
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