How to Spot a Pet Adoption Scam

Pet adoption scams have become increasingly sophisticated. Recognizing the signs of pet scams — such as too-good-to-be-true prices, pressure to pay quickly, and reluctance to meet in person or provide detailed information about the adoptable animal — is crucial. These scams don’t just rip you off, they empower and perpetuate the unethical efforts of people with little to no care for an animal’s well-being.

Below, we walk you through some helpful tips to not only help you avoid adoption scams, but to also identify reputable animal rescues and legitimate rehomers.

Types of pet adoption scams 

Pet adoption scams can take several forms. The most common include social pet-adoption scams, dishonest Craigslist ads, and fake rehoming posts. 

Social media pet-adoption scams

Social media sites, especially Facebook (which features hundreds of pet adoption pages and groups), can be awash with pet adoption scams. Some scams may impersonate reputable rescues to collect adoption fees on pets who are not in their care. Others work with or operate puppy mills to sell sick puppies or those who are too young for adoption.

Social media adoption scammers will usually post endearing photos of (often pedigree) puppies or kittens and ask for upfront payments, while refusing to meet in person or talk on the phone.

Craigslist pet adoption scams

While Craiglist technically prohibits pet sales, it does allow rehoming posts in its Community section. While some people do legitimately rehome pets through the site, pet adoption scams on Craigslist will typically feature photos of pets they don’t have, in an attempt to collect a deposit fee or gain access to your financials or other sensitive information. 

Rehoming scams

Rehoming refers to the process of individual pet parents finding a new home for their pet. When approached correctly, rehoming can be a safe, direct way for someone to find a loving home for their pet, without having to take them to a shelter or rescue.

However, some pet rehoming posts (which may also be found on Craigslist, Facebook, Nextdoor, and other social media platforms) may be entirely fake or inaccurate in their description of a pet. The former will use stock images of pets, especially puppies and kittens, to collect adoption fees before cutting off communication. Others do have a pet, but they may intentionally leave out or misconstrue crucial behavioral or health information about the pet in an attempt to quickly rehome them.

How do you spot a pet scammer?

They ask no questions

A pet scammer, whether they truly have an adoptable pet or not, often won’t ask the potential adopters any questions. According to the Animal Legal Defense Fund, while legitimate rehomers and rescues will ask several questions to ensure the pet is going to a safe, compatible, loving home, scammers and operators of puppy mills won’t. 

A legitimate rescue may also ask you to sign a contract stating that you won’t use aversive or harmful training methods, and that you will provide a healthy, supportive environment for the pet. They may also require a home visit before you can adopt your new pet.

The prices don’t add up 

If the adoption price for a pet (especially one claiming to have pedigree papers) seems too good to be true, it probably is. At legitimate rescues and shelters, pedigree pets typically come with the same adoption fees as their mixed-breed counterparts. In contrast, most individuals and breeders selling purported purebred pets will charge higher prices. If, for example, a post on social media claims to have purebred French Bulldog puppies with AKC papers for $1,000 (or more), it’s likely a scam. 

Pressure to pay quickly 

Scammers often charge higher prices and pressure potential adopters to pay up quickly. They tend to get annoyed or aggressive when people ask questions, and will use pressure tactics to get you to send them money as soon as possible. 

Reluctance to meet in person 

If the pet adoption is legitimate, the caretaker should be more than willing to set up a meet-and-greet so you can get to know the pet before committing to adoption. When meeting a dog being rehomed, it’s best to meet in public places such as pet stores or vet offices.

If you are located far away, they should be happy to have live video calls where you can see the pet, and witness how they interact with other pets and people in real time. 

Scammers, especially ones without an actual pet, will not be willing to meet in person or have a video call. Instead, they will often make excuses or insist you need to make a payment or pay a deposit fee before you can meet the pet.

Additionally, while some rescues and shelters will arrange transport for their adoptable pets over long distances, a common tactic for scammers is to charge shipping or delivery fees on a nonexistent pet. These shipping or delivery scams typically will not provide information about which transport company they are claiming to use, and instead will insist that you directly pay them the transport fee without offering any verifiable information. 

If you are going to adopt a pet who needs to be transported to you, it’s crucial that you go through a verifiable organization, such as the shelters and rescues listed on Adopt a Pet. Legitimate rescue groups will use certified pet transport organizations or trained volunteer teams to transport their pets, and they should be communicative with you throughout the process. 

Vague or inconsistent information about the pet

Pet adoption scammers will often make vague, inconsistent, or unrealistic claims about the pet. If you ask specific questions about their behavioral or physical health, the scammer may speak in generalities or insist the pet is extremely healthy and well-socialized, without being willing or able to provide any proof. 

They may also make claims about their age that don’t line up with the appearance of the pet. Some scammers and puppy mills will try to sell their pets at far too young of an age and claim that the animals are older than they are or sell animals that are sick.

For these reasons, we encourage folks to help reduce pet overpopulation by adopting through rescues, shelters, and legitimate rehoming posts such as those on Adopt a Pet rather than buying from a breeder. Never agree to adopt a pet without health and behavioral information, which reputable shelters and rescues will provide.

How to tell if an animal rescue is legitimate

Since some scammers create fake rescue profiles or impersonate real rescues, it’s crucial to be able to tell if an animal rescue is legitimate. The following are ways to help you identify reputable rescue organizations.

Research the organization

Most reputable rescues have a social media presence and website. You should be able to read their mission statement, review their practices, and view their adoptable pets online. (For instance, Adopt a Pet carefully screens each animal welfare organization.) You may also be able to search online for reviews of the organization from former adopters or volunteers. 

Check for non-profit status

While not all legitimate animal rescues have nonprofit tax status from the IRS, most do. Many of the animal rescues in the U.S., especially those with an online presence, will have a 501(c)(3) nonprofit designation with a searchable employer identification number (EIN).  

Visit the rescue

If you’re able to, visit the rescue. Sometimes this isn’t possible if the rescue is foster-based and doesn’t have a central location. But if you can, set up an appointment to visit the pets and the rescue in person. 

Safe pet adoption practices

Using safe pet adoption practices is especially important if you will be adopting a pet through an individual, rather than through a rescue organization or animal shelter. Below, we’ll provide tips on how to best avoid scams when adopting a pet. 

Meet the pet in person

When adopting from an individual, it’s always best to meet the pet in person. This will allow you to spend some time with your potential new pet and also get a feel for the legitimacy of the adoption. If you’re within reasonable driving distance, the pet’s caretaker should be willing to meet at their home or a public location for a meet-and-greet with the pet. 

Video calls for distant adoptions

If you’re considering a long-distance adoption, set up a video call to have a virtual meet-and-greet. The call should be live and show the caretaker and pet together to confirm they actually have the pet. This is a good time to ask questions and gauge the responses. 

Use secure payment methods 

Always use secure payment methods if you will be paying for your pet adoption fees online. Be wary of those asking for you to wire money or pay in cashier checks or gift cards. According to the Federal Trade Commission, paying for a pet adoption online with a credit card offers the best protection for you in the case of a scam. 

Obtain medical records 

Don’t be shy to ask for medical records for the pet. Legitimate rescues and rehomers should be able to provide you with vaccination history and other medical information. 

Do a reverse-image search 

Since many scammers use stock photos of animals on their adoption posts, you can use Google’s image search function to check the authenticity of the picture. To do this, copy and paste the image or image link into the search feature to determine if the photo already exists online, and if so, from where. 

Verify social media profiles

Technology, such as reverse-image searches and verified social media profiles, can help prevent you from becoming the victim of a pet adoption scam. Verified social media accounts typically have a colored checkmark or similar symbol next to the profile name. 

Commonly asked questions

How to find a legitimate pet rescue?

You can find a legitimate pet rescue through online research, getting references from friends and family, and speaking with your local animal shelter. 

How much does it cost to adopt a dog from a reputable organization?

The cost to adopt a dog from a reputable organization can vary significantly. But it typically ranges between $100 and $800. Shelter adoption fees are often on the lower end of this range while smaller-scale animal rescues may set higher adoption fees. 

References

Animal Sales and Rehoming Scams: How to Spot Them 

Get the Dog or Cat Instead of the Scam