Scammers are taking advantage of people seeking pets as states continue to enact social distancing protocols amid the coronavirus pandemic.
According to the Better Business Bureau’s scam tracker, approximately 4,000 reports were made about pet frauds, with 337 complaints filed during the month of November. The median loss for victims of scams is estimated to be $750.
“COVID-19 has made for a long and uncertain year, and a ‘quarantine puppy’ or other pet has proven to be a comfort for many people, but it also has created fertile ground for fraudsters,” said Michelle L. Corey, the president and CEO for Better Business Bureau St. Louis. “People currently shopping for pets online are prime targets for fraudsters trolling the internet looking for want-to-be pet owners. Knowing the red flags associated with this scam can help consumers avoid heartache and losing their money.”
The Better Business Bureau projects that the total loss from pet scams will top $3 million in 2020, more than six times greater than the pet scam losses reported in 2017. The bureau’s scam tracker found that scammers often tell aspiring pet owners that they are unable to meet the pets in person, in accordance with social distancing, and ask them to pay through apps, such as Zelle or Cash App.
The bureau recommends that if people are considering becoming a pet owner, they ask for a video conference with the seller to ask what kind of pets it has for sale. Scammers often do not comply with the request.
It also advises people to do a reverse-image search of the photos used to advertise pets to see if scammers are using images commonly available on the internet and to find out what a fair price for the breed would be from other sellers.
Several testimonials from victims of pet scams are available on the Better Business Bureau’s website.
