Dec 12, 2022 - News

Tips for avoiding online pet scams

Christine Clarridge

Illustration of a person holding a leash with an invisible dog — Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

Be wary of shopping online for pets — online puppy scams will cost Americans $2 million this year, according to the Better Business Bureau (BBB).

Driving the news: While pet scams appear to be on the decline from a pandemic high, per BBB data, they remain one of the largest sources of online shopping fraud.

The scams involve would-be pet owners paying hundreds or thousands of dollars for an animal that doesn't exist.

By the numbers: The average loss of $850 in 2022 is up 60% since 2017, when BBB started tracking online pet scams.

BBB estimates that only one in 10 victims reports their losses.

Be smart: Pet scams soar during the winter holidays. To avoid being a victim, here are BBB's top tips for researching puppy sellers:

See pets in person before paying any money. Not possible? Set up a video call to view the animal.
Conduct a reverse image search on photos attached to ads.
Avoid wiring money, or using a cash app or gift card. These payment methods generally don't offer fraud protections like credit cards do.
Research the breed to figure out the average market price.

Add Axios on Google

Tips for avoiding online pet scams

More Seattle stories