Consider reaching out to your local animal shelter.Īccording to the Federal Trade Commission, consumers lost about $1.3 million to some sort of pet-related scam in 2022.

If someone is advertising a purebred dog for free or at a deeply discounted price, you could be dealing with a fraudulent offer. The same goes for pre-paid debit cards or gift cards. Once money is wired, it is gone for good. Use a credit card, in case you need to dispute the charges. If the same picture appears on multiple websites, it may be a fraud. If that isn’t possible, search for a picture of the pet online. This is the only way of making sure your cat or dog exists and will actually be delivered.

Don’t buy a pet without seeing it in person.

Make sure you're doing you're research too, whoever you're maybe adopting from or purchasing from, that they're reliable, credible and ethical.'

'Wiring money, exercise caution when you're doing that and it is a red flag if they're requesting that. 'Sometimes they'll ask for payments in gift cards or for transfers from Venmo or PayPal, which are nearly impossible to recoup the funds if you pay that way,' Paula Fleming with the Better Business Bureau said. The fraudsters used pressure tactics so she would keep sending them money, which experts say is one of the biggest red flags. Now-a-days, most people looking for a new pet turn to the internet to find their future cat or dog, but experts say more than 80 percent of sponsored pet ads on social media are fake.Įarlier this year, the CBS13 I-Team shared the story of a woman from Gardiner who lost her life savings after being targeted by a fake online puppy breeder. Many families may be considering adding a furry friend to their household this year, and while there are plenty of great breeders or shelters to buy or adopt from, scammers still find success targeting pet lovers. That's why the CBS13 I-Team is devoting the next 12 days to fighting holiday fraud.

PORTLAND (WGME) - As we head into the holidays, scammers are trying everything they can to swipe your cash or steal your personal information.

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