SCAMS BULLETIN Host Jay White is a volunteer attorney who provides free legal services for low income seniors in San Mateo County, California.

May 6, 2020

PET ADOPTION SCAM

Courtesy Fraud.Org

There are heartwarming stories about how animals in community pet shelters have been adopted out during the pandemic.

Unfortunately, scammers are busy looking for clever ways to defraud would-be pet owners. One scam in particular — pet adoption scam — has seen a significant spike.

Here is why:

*Traditional pet adoption channels such as animal shelters, rescue organizations, and local breeders have been shut down due to the coronavirus, leading more consumers to look online for pets and stumble on to phony pet adoption websites.

*The pandemic is forcing would-be pet owners to remain isolated, so more people may be searching online for animal companions.

*Because of social isolation required by COVID-19, potential pet owners may be more willing to try and obtain a pet that they have not seen in person.

*Potential pet owners who are new to purchasing goods online may not be accustomed to spotting the warning signs of fake websites and may be more susceptible to these scams.

In a typical pet adoption scam, a scammer will create a fake website with a domain name related to a breed of dog or cat. It may be combined with words like “puppy” or “kitten.”. The websites may have photos of cute animals to entice visitors to reach out to the website owner (who is a criminal with no animals to offer).

Potential pet owners who respond to the ads will be instructed to pay fees before the animal can be shipped. Fictitious costs may include “shipping fees,” “inoculations,” “quarantine fees,” “insurance,” or even “COVID-safe shipping crates.”

To guard against these scams, here are suggested steps:

*Wait. Do not allow yourself to be rushed. Avoid shopping for a pet until after the COVID lockdowns have been lifted.

*Never pay any fee to obtain an animal that you have not seen with your own eyes (as opposed to via pictures or videos online).

*If anyone asks you to send money overseas, particularly to pet adoption scam hotspots such as Cameroon or India, it is a scam.

*Beware of “free” pet offers online. These are often simply ruses to get you to pay shipping or other fees for non-existent animals.

If you are planning to buy a specific breed of animal, make sure you are working with a reputable breeder or rescue organization. The American Kennel Club and the American Humane Society are good places to start when looking for reputable, ethical breeders and rescue groups.

If you have been on the receiving end of a pet adoption scam or any other coronavirus-related phone call, email, or text message that you think is a scam, Fraud Org wants to hear from you! File a complaint at http://www.Fraud.org.