If you follow our Facebook page, you may have noticed an ongoing battle we’re fighting against scammers. We’re seeing three persistent types of scams targeting our community members, and while we work hard to block and remove these posts and comments, they sometimes slip through despite our best efforts.
It can sometimes feel like a full-time job keeping up with all the fake profiles and suspicious activity – just when we block one account, three more appear. We wanted to take a moment to warn you about these three specific scams we keep encountering, so you can protect yourself even when we aren’t able to catch the scammers immediately.
Scam #1: The Kittens for Sale or Rehoming Scam
On our Kittens Whiskers Facebook page, we’ve noticed that our page is constantly being targeted by suspicious profiles advertising kittens for sale or for rehoming, usually for specific breeds. These accounts follow our page and leave comments directing our followers to their profiles, forcing us to block multiple accounts daily—only to see new ones pop up in their place.
While most pet-related social media accounts are legitimate, many of these profiles—with names like “Maine Kittens for Adoption” or “Ragdoll Kittens for Sale”—are elaborate scams designed to prey on people’s desire for a new pet companion.
How the Scam Works
These scammers operate using a well-practiced playbook. They create seemingly legitimate social media profiles, often on Facebook, filled with adorable photos of puppies or kittens. These images are usually stolen from legitimate breeders, pet websites, or other internet sources.
The scammers then list their animals at prices significantly below market value—sometimes as low as one-third of what you might expect to pay for a purebred kitten or puppy. This attractive pricing serves as bait to draw in potential victims.
What makes these scams particularly effective is their promise of convenience. The “sellers” claim they can ship animals anywhere in the country, eliminating the need for in-person meetings. They often create a sense of urgency, telling potential buyers that they have multiple interested parties and the animal won’t be available for long.
Potentially Dangerous Outcome
Two homeowners in New York and New Jersey became unwitting victims of these types of Facebook scams when hackers took over their accounts to advertise fake puppies for sale. The scammers posted listings for non-existent teacup Yorkies and other purebred dogs at suspiciously low prices, collecting “rehoming fees” of $300-600 from multiple victims.
The situation turned dangerous when disappointed buyers, including a mother with her 5-year-old daughter, began showing up at the victims’ homes demanding their purchased puppies, leading to police involvement and ongoing safety concerns for the homeowners and their families.
These pet sale scams have become increasingly common, with similar stories making headlines across the country.
Warning Signs to Watch For
Before you engage with any online pet seller, watch for these red flags:
- Prices that seem too good to be true for purebred or designer pets
- Sellers who are willing to ship animals anywhere without meeting in person
- Communications filled with grammar mistakes and spelling errors
- Absence of a legitimate website or verifiable business information
- Pressure to pay quickly through specific payment methods
- The same exact posts appearing in multiple geographic locations
- Refusal to video chat or provide recent videos of the animal
- Requests for payment through non-refundable methods like wire transfers, Zelle, or Venmo
The Aftermath
Once a scammer receives payment, one of two things typically happens. They might disappear completely, leaving the victim with no way to contact them and no recourse to recover their money. Alternatively, they might attempt to extract more money by claiming additional fees are needed for shipping insurance, special transportation crates, or emergency veterinary procedures.
How to Safely Add a Pet to Your Family
To avoid becoming a victim of these scams, follow these guidelines when looking for a new pet:
1. Meet in Person: Always insist on meeting the animal and its seller in person before making any payment. For breeder purchases, you should be able to see both the kitten/puppy and its parents.
2. Work with Verified Sources: Choose registered breeders who can provide references and proof of their breeding program, or adopt from legitimate local shelters and rescue organizations.
3. Research Thoroughly: Look up reviews and ask for references. Legitimate breeders and rescue organizations should have an established presence in the community.
4. Be Patient: Don’t let pressure tactics force you into making a quick decision. Reputable sellers will give you time to think and ask questions.
5. Use Secure Payment Methods: Never send money through wire transfers or non-refundable payment apps to someone you haven’t met. Legitimate breeders typically accept more secure payment methods and often require deposits through verifiable business accounts.
Where to Find Your New Pet
Instead of social media marketplaces, consider these safer alternatives:
- Local animal shelters and rescue organizations
- Breed-specific rescue groups
- Licensed, registered breeders with verifiable credentials
- Pet adoption events in your community
- References from your veterinarian or other pet professionals
Of course, our favorite way is through rescue and adoption!
Remember, adding a pet to your family is a significant decision that shouldn’t be rushed. While it might be tempting to jump at a seemingly great deal online, the risk of losing money to scammers—and the heartbreak of not getting the pet you hoped for—isn’t worth it.
Take your time, do your research, and work with legitimate local sources to find your new family member. The extra effort will help ensure a safe, successful adoption or purchase experience.
Scam #2: The “Lost Pet” Like-Farming Scam
Another insidious scam targeting pet lovers involves fake “lost pet” posts on social media. These posts exploit people’s natural desire to help reunite lost pets with their families, but they have a darker purpose.
Here’s how this “like-farming” scam operates:
1. Scammers create heart-wrenching posts about supposedly lost pets, often using photos stolen from genuine lost pet posts. These posts typically include emotional pleas like “Please help us find our beloved family member” or “Have you seen this cat?”
2. The posts encourage maximum engagement by asking people to “like, share, and comment to spread the word.” Because most people want to help reunite lost pets with their families, these posts often receive thousands of shares and reactions.
3. Once the post has gained significant engagement, the scammers execute their real plan. They might:
- Edit the post to advertise scam products
- Change the links to direct people to malicious websites
- Convert the entire page into a fake shopping site
- Sell the high-engagement page to other scammers
- Use it to promote cryptocurrency scams or other fraudulent schemes
The particularly clever aspect of this scam is that all the original likes and shares remain attached to the post even after it’s been modified, giving the scam content instant credibility and widespread visibility.
How to Protect Yourself and Others
When you see a lost pet post, take these precautions before sharing:
- Verify the source – share only from local shelters, rescue groups, or actual pet owners you can verify
- Check the account’s history and creation date
- Look for specific location information and legitimate contact details
- Be suspicious of posts that seem designed purely to generate engagement
- If you’ve shared a post that later changes to promotional content, delete your share and report the post
Remember: legitimate lost pet posts almost always include specific location information, contact details, and are shared through local community channels rather than random pages.
Scam #3: The “Failed Friend Request” Social Engineering Scam
While not exclusively pet-related, we frequently see these scammers targeting our community members. This common social engineering tactic uses flattery and manufactured connection attempts to lure unsuspecting users. Here’s how it works:
The scammer starts with a complimentary comment, something like:
- “What a beautiful soul you seem to be!”
- “You’re such a kind person, I can tell.”
- “I love how sweet and caring you are.”
Then comes the hook: “I sent you a friend request, but for some reason it didn’t go through. Could you send me one instead?”
This approach is manipulative for several reasons:
- It uses flattery to lower your defenses
- It creates a false sense of initiative (they supposedly tried first)
- It makes you feel special or singled out (they “noticed” your kindness or your great smile)
- It puts the burden of action on you
- It bypasses normal Facebook privacy settings
Why It’s Dangerous
When you send a friend request to these scammers, you’re:
- Giving them access to your personal information
- Potentially exposing your friends list to harvesting
- Opening yourself up to future scam attempts
- Providing them with credibility (your legitimate profile friendship helps them appear more trustworthy to others)
How to Protect Yourself
- Ignore comments asking you to send friend requests
- Be wary of excessive flattery from strangers
- Check profiles carefully – most are recently created with few genuine connections
- Remember: real friend requests don’t “fail” – if someone can comment on your post, they can send you a friend request
- Never friend strangers just because they compliment you
- Block them, delete them, or report them to either Facebook, if they are on your profile page, or report them to the admin, if they are on a fan page or group (like ours).
Staying Safe on Social Media
The scammers targeting our Facebook community are persistent and clever, constantly adapting their tactics and creating new profiles as fast as we can block them. While we remain vigilant in protecting our page and community members, your best defense is awareness and caution.
Whether it’s a too-good-to-be-true pet sale, a suspicious lost pet post that seems designed purely for engagement, or a stranger trying to connect through flattery, take a moment to pause and think about it. Remember that legitimate businesses, real pet sellers, and genuine people won’t pressure you or use manipulative tactics. Trust your instincts – if something feels off, it probably is.
We’ll keep working to maintain a safe space for our community, but we also count on you to stay informed and alert to help protect yourself and others from these predatory scams.
For additional pet scam warnings, and how you can protect yourself, visit this page on the Better Business Bureau’s website.