Sick scammers are conning dog lovers out of thousands with pet frauds surging by 24 percent this year, Lloyds Bank warns.
Research found scams involving dogs to be most common, with typical breeds including Yorkshire Terriers and Blue Staffordshire Bull Terriers falsely advertised most, and over 50 percent of these scams are taking place on Facebook and Instagram.
Liz Ziegler, fraud prevention director at Lloyds Bank said: “Owning a pet is one of the great joys of life, becoming true companions and part of our families. Fraudsters know this and are ready to take advantage, preying on people’s desire to add another family member to the home.
“It is infuriatingly simple for a fraudster to upload a fake advert to an online marketplace for an animal that doesn’t exist. Not to mention those posted by appalling, disreputable breeders whose interests lie firmly in profit, rather than animal welfare.”
Ms Zieglar added: “Social media companies are making money from these criminals, and those searching for a pet are left heartbroken twice. Once by the loss of hundreds or even thousands of pounds, but also by the realisation and disappointment that a pet won’t be joining the family after all.”
How does the scam work?
According to Lloyds, the “most common” tactic used by fraudsters is fake adverts shared on Facebook and Instagram of a pet that doesn’t exist.
Lloyds said: “Scammers keep tabs on which breeds are in high demand, taking photos from the internet and sharing fictitious information about the animal – such as parentage or medical information – to create the illusion of authenticity.”
At first, the scammer will appear to follow the steps of a reputable seller by agreeing to a viewing of the pet in its home environment, or with its mother.
However, Lloyds noted: “It won’t be long before this is replaced by excuses and constant pressure to make a payment prior to a visit. This can be for the full amount or a deposit.”
As soon as money has been sent, the advert and scammer will disappear, sometimes “after plucking the address of an innocent third party out of thin air”, ensuring a wasted trip for the victim, alongside the stolen funds.
How to avoid a pet scam
There are a number of red flags to watch out for when purchasing a new pet online, and feeling under pressure is one of them.
Lloyds said: “If a seller is trying to rush you into making a decision or bombarding you with messages about how in-demand something is, take a step back and ask yourself why they’ve taken such a keen interest in you securing what they’re offering. Remember, you don’t know each other, so this is pressure selling in action.”
If something is sold out everywhere else but easy to find on social media or online marketplaces, this should raise another red flag, according to Lloyds
Lloyds said: “If reputable, established online stores and sellers can’t supply something, it’s unlikely third-party sellers can either.”
People who are contacted out of the blue with an offer – particularly if this comes shortly after they’ve posted about something they’re looking for – should also be wary, as reputable sellers don’t need to do this.
Lloyds added: “There is very little stopping fraudsters from setting up multiple profiles to post endless fake adverts on social media marketplaces. Be very careful when shopping through online marketplaces and always pay by card.
“Card payments have long-established protections if anything goes wrong with the sale, through the chargeback and Section 75 schemes. Remember, paying by bank transfer is the same as handing over cash.”
