How to spot a puppy or kitten scam before you pay

Most people selling pets online are genuine, but pet scams are common and cruel. They take money from buyers and they also support poor breeding. Knowing how scams work makes them much easier to spot.

How pet scams usually work

The puppy that doesn't exist 1

The most common scam uses stolen photos of a puppy or kitten. The "seller" builds a friendly relationship by message, explains why you can't visit, and asks for a deposit to "hold" the animal. Once paid, the seller asks for more money, or disappears.

The delivery and fees scam

After a first payment, you are told the animal is ready to be delivered by a courier or "pet transport company". Then come extra charges: special crates, insurance, vaccinations, permits or a refundable fee. Each request is urgent, and the animal never arrives.

The real animal from a poor breeder

Some sellers do have animals, but bred in poor conditions or imported illegally. They often meet buyers away from the home, in a car park or at a service station, so you can't see where the animal was raised or meet its mother.

Microchip and registration scams

Owners sometimes receive emails or texts claiming their pet's microchip registration has expired, or that a fee is due. These can be phishing attempts to steal money or personal details.

Warning signs in an advert or conversation

• The price is much lower than for similar animals elsewhere.
• The same photos appear in other adverts, sometimes under different names.
• The seller won't let you visit, or makes excuses such as being abroad, working away or being in quarantine.
• They won't do a live video call showing the animal with its mother.
• You are pushed to pay quickly because "other buyers are interested".
• You are asked to pay by bank transfer, gift cards or cryptocurrency.
• The seller asks for extra fees after you have paid.
• There is no licence number in an advert for a breeder who should have one, or the number doesn't check out with the council.
• The animal is very young, or the seller can't give a clear answer about its age, vaccinations or microchip.

How to buy safely

1. Visit in person. See the puppy or kitten with its mother in the home or premises where it was raised. Visit more than once if you can.
2. Do your own checks. Search the seller's name, phone number and email address online, and use a reverse image search on the photos.
3. Check the licence. In England, a breeder who needs a licence must show the number in their adverts. You can check it with the issuing council.
4. Ask for paperwork. Ask for the microchip number, vaccination records and any health test results, and check that they match the animal.
5. Don't pay a deposit for an animal you haven't seen. If you do pay a deposit after visiting, get a written receipt and agreement.
6. Think about how you pay. Bank transfers are hard to recover. Ask your bank what protection different payment methods give.
7. Walk away if you feel pressured. A responsible seller will understand if you need time to think.

What to do if you think you have been scammed

1. Contact your bank immediately using the number on your card or its official website. The sooner you tell them, the better the chance of recovering money.
2. Report it to the police. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, report fraud to the national fraud reporting service. In Scotland, contact Police Scotland on 101.
3. Report the advert to the website or social media platform where you saw it.
4. Forward scam emails to the National Cyber Security Centre at [email protected], and scam texts to 7726.
5. Keep everything: messages, adverts, phone numbers and payment details.

If you suspect an animal is being bred or kept in poor conditions, you can also report it to your local council or an animal welfare charity.