Avoiding pet adoption scams

Online scammers often advertise products that you’re already looking for, like a car or an appliance, but they also try to entice you with something inherently irresistible, like a cute pet for adoption.

Pet scam ads can be just about anywhere on the internet: Facebook, Craiglist, even run-of-the-mill ads on the side of the screen.

According to the International Pet and Animal Transportation Association (IPATA), the scam advertiser may say they’re giving up the pet because of a family hardship.

The seller will often say they will use a courier service but won’t tell you the courier’s name.

So ask for their name, and the shipper’s name. If they refuse to tell you, it’s probably a scam.

Your best bet is to do research and make sure the source is legitimate.

As Travis Fisher with Inacom Information Systems says, “Places that are rescuing dogs and looking for adoptions, I would think it would be a legitimate offer. But if it’s just a random stranger offering a great amazing deal, and they need something in exchange for you, then it’s probably a shady deal going on.”

And as with most online scams, watch out for sellers asking for money via Western Union or pre-paid debit cards.