Top 10 Pet Scams Online to Watch for in 2026

Author: Elliott Garber, DVM

My professional practice has brought me immense fulfillment through helping pets and their owners, but it has also allowed me to witness firsthand the devastating impact of pet scams online.

Scammers don’t stop at puppies; they also gamble with the lives of birds, reptiles, and even exotic species. Families lose money, children lose trust, and animals are subjected to exploitation that undermines both animal welfare and biosecurity.

The good news is that with the right knowledge, you can spot these scams before they trap you. In this guide, I’ll walk you through the top 10 pet scams, how to recognize them, and what to do if you’ve been targeted. My goal is simple: protect your family, your wallet, and the animals we all love.

Everything about Pet Scams Online

Online pet scams are deceptive schemes where fraudsters exploit people’s affection for animals to steal money or personal information. These scams often masquerade as legitimate pet sales, adoptions, or services, preying on emotions to rush victims into poor decisions.

Sadly, with the rise of online animal marketplaces, scammers are even buying ads to boost their fraud. It’s estimated that 80 percent of pet ads online are possibly fake, with scam victims losing hundreds or even thousands of dollars to fraudulent sellers.

Unlike livestock, where brand registration and inspection offices provide legal safeguards, the pet trade lacks standardized oversight and regulation. So, I’m here to make a difference to keep your wallet safe and help you find your dream pet!

Top 10 Pet Scams Online to Watch for in 2026

Here are the most common pet scams I’ve seen repeatedly online. These are the most prevalent tactics scammers use, often involving puppy scams or fake pet shipping companies:

1. Advance Fee Fraud

This one starts innocent enough—you’ve found the perfect puppy at a reasonable price, and the seller seems legit. Then comes the first red flag: “Your puppy is ready, but we need $500 for special climate-controlled shipping due to the weather conditions.”

But after you pay for the first fee, they never stop coming. After you pay the shipping cost, they’ll hit you up for veterinary certificates ($200), special insurance requirements ($300), or customs documentation for what they claim is international transport ($400). Each payment comes with promises that your pet will arrive soon, but the animal never shows up because it doesn’t exist.

💡 These scammers know exactly how to play your emotions, don’t let them fool you! Do some reverse‑image search photos, check reviews, and insist on live video proof before paying.

2. The “Too Good to Be True” Deal Scam

This is one of the classic pet scams online. You’ll find an ad for a purebred French Bulldog, Dachshund, or Siamese cat offered at an unbelievably low price, sometimes even “free” if I just cover shipping. 

The seller will often share a convincing, and sometimes sad, story about having to rehome the pet due to relocation or illness to create a sense of urgency.

💡 If the price is significantly below the market rate, assume it’s fake. Research the typical cost of the breed I want, and if an offer seems too good to be true, walk away.

3. AI-Generated Listings

Artificial intelligence has revolutionized pet scams online by creating perfect pet photos that never existed. These computer-generated images show flawless animals in ideal settings, but they are entirely fictional pets that can never be delivered.

These listings typically include generic breed descriptions that could apply to any animal of that type. The text lacks the specific personality details, quirky behaviors, or individual characteristics that real pet owners naturally include when describing their animals.

💡 A genuine breeder or owner will show the pet interacting in its actual environment, not just send a single, perfectly edited AI photo. Use reputable adoption services or breeders that have been thoroughly vetted, such as our platform, or local, trusted animal shelters, where you can meet the animal in person.

4.  Stolen Photo Scams

The ad you may be looking at features adorable Golden retriever puppies playing in a sunny backyard. The photos appear professional, showcasing healthy and happy animals in a clean environment. 

What you may not realize is that these same images appeared on a legitimate breeder’s website six months ago and have been stolen by multiple scammers. Photo theft happens way more than I’d like. Scammers harvest entire photo galleries, creating the illusion of an established breeding operation. 

The same stolen photos often appear on multiple platforms with completely different backstories. Those Golden Retriever puppies might be advertised as a military family’s pets on Craigslist and a breeder’s litter on Facebook Marketplace.

💡 Upload a suspicious photo to Google Images or use Google Lens. You’ll often find the same image on multiple websites, revealing it’s one of those pet scams online. Honest sellers are happy to provide additional photos from different angles or with recent timestamps.

5. Sketchy Payment Method Scams

“For security reasons, please send the $800 via Western Union to our shipping agent in Texas. This protects both of us from fraud.” This should sound alarm bells in your head, but scammers often present wire transfers as secure and professional payment methods.

But wire transfers are basically impossible to reverse once completed. Unlike credit cards or PayPal, wire transfers offer no buyer protection, no dispute resolution, and no chargeback options. 

💡 Only use secure payment methods, like a credit card, which provide options for recovering funds in case of fraud. Never use gift cards or wire transfers for purchasing a pet or any goods online, for that matter!

6. False Registration Papers

Registration papers from the American Kennel Club or Canadian Kennel Club represent breeding legitimacy and justify higher prices for purebred animals. Scammers exploit this by creating sophisticated counterfeit documents that can fool buyers unfamiliar with authentic registration paperwork.

Pet scams online use actual registered dogs, copy their information, and create new documents using the stolen credentials. This makes initial verification difficult since the registration numbers appear valid in breed organization databases.

The counterfeiting extends to paper quality, official seals, and formatting details. They study real papers to replicate fonts, layouts, and security features.

💡 Independently verify all credentials. I contact the actual organization directly to confirm the breeder’s membership and the pet’s registration status. Call the listed vet using a phone number via a reliable source (like Google), not the one the seller provided.

7. Fake Shipping Companies

These websites look legit. They use professional photos, tracking systems, the whole shebang. But when you dig deeper, it’s all fake.

Scammers create elaborate fake companies complete with fleet photos, service area maps, customer testimonials, and detailed pricing structures that appear completely legitimate, but it’s actually another of those pet scams online. 

These fake companies often have names similar to established pet transport services, using slight variations that sound professional and trustworthy. They might call themselves “National Pet Express” or “Premium Animal Transport,” choosing names that suggest experience and reliability.

💡 Never agree to shipping a pet sight-unseen. If a seller insists on using their specific, unknown shipping company, it’s a scam. Always insist on picking up the pet yourself or using a well-known, verifiable shipper you’ve researched independently.

8. The Lost Pet Extortion Scam

If your pet ever goes missing, you might post about it online. Pet scams online monitor these posts and claim they found my pet, demanding a “finder’s fee” or transport money before revealing its location or returning it.

💡 If someone claims to have your lost pet,  ask for a specific photo with an object I name, like “a picture of my dog next to a red cup”. Never pay any money up front, and only meet in a public, safe place to retrieve your pet .

9. The “No Video Call, Email Only” Scam

Who can’t hop into a call in 2026? If the seller refuses to talk on the phone or do a live video chat, or insists on communicating only via email or text, you’re probably dealing with one of the pet scams online.

This is because they are likely using stolen photos and generic responses, and may not even be in the same country as you.

💡 Always insist on a live video call to see the pet and its living conditions, including the mother and littermates if possible. A legitimate breeder will have no problem with this. Refusal is a huge red flag.

10. The Fake Adoption Agency Scam 

The scammer creates a website or social media page that appears to be a legitimate one, but actually mimics a real animal shelter or rescue organization. They use stolen photos of rescued animals, heartwarming stories, and official-looking logos to build trust.

They specifically target people like me who prefer adoption over buying from breeders, and expect them to pay an adoption fee. Since this fee is expected to cover vet bills and operational costs, people pay it without hesitation. However, no animal exists, so the money goes directly to the scammer.

💡 Legitimate shelters and rescues are usually registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations in the US. Use public tools to verify their charity status and registration number. A real shelter requires a home or shelter visit. Any agency that tries to complete the entire transaction online and ship the pet is a scam.

How Creatures Tackles Pet Scams Online

The rise of sophisticated pet scams online has created an urgent need for secure, verified platforms where you can buy and sell animals with confidence, 一and this is what Creatures is all about!

While sites like Craigslist and Facebook enable anonymous fraud, and general marketplaces restrict animal listings, Creatures offers a secure, specialized solution designed for genuine animal lovers like you and me.

Here’s how our key features protect you from puppy scams and other online pet scams:

• Strict Identity Verification: Sellers must verify with government ID, phone, and bank details via Stripe.
• Secure Escrow Payments: Funds are held safely until delivery is confirmed, blocking additional fees and payment fraud.
• In-Platform Communication: Permanent chat records prevent scammers from ghosting or inconsistent stories.
• Animal-Specific Tools: Tailored features make fake documents and stolen photos easy to spot and hard to fake.
• Verified Breeder Profiles: Legitimate sellers build trusted pages with reviews, outshining fake profiles and impersonators.

Stopping Pet Scams Online

The sophistication of modern pet scams can fool even the most careful buyers, who think they’re taking proper precautions. 

These fraudsters have evolved far beyond simple classified ad scams, creating elaborate operations with fake websites, professional documentation, and convincing backstories that exploit our natural desire to help animals and trust fellow pet lovers. They even have ties with the global illegal wildlife trade.

If you’re into exotic pets, check CITES permits and avoid unlicensed exotic animals entirely; report any instances of unlicensed exotic animals. For a safe pet purchase or adoption, pause, verify, and protect your money and animals.