JianweiAI-assisted funds analysis
Contact the team

Shopping & payments

Pet-sale and adoption scams

Stolen pet photos attract deposits, followed by demands for transport or insurance payments.

See response steps Share this in a workshop
A person holding a payment card beside a laptop

If you have one minute

Pause, then verify independently.

Refuses an in-person viewing

Before paying

Verify the seller and the actual animal

See verification steps →

If you paid or shared details

Stop additional shipping payments

See response steps →

Start with these three signs

  • Refuses an in-person viewing
  • Photos appear under multiple sellers
  • New fees follow each payment

How the situation unfolds

  1. Contact

    Pet advertisements, adoption groups, or unknown sellers.

  2. The lure

    A prized breed at a low price with immediate delivery.

  3. The demand and outcome

    Emotional appeal prompts payment for a pet that may not exist and a fictitious shipping service.

Verify these things before paying

  1. Verify the seller and the actual animal
  2. Consider a verified local shelter
  3. Avoid unverified transport payments

Already engaged or paid?

  1. Stop additional shipping payments
  2. Notify the platform and payment provider
  3. Keep photo links and report

Contact your payment provider and local police promptly. The responsible institution must confirm whether a payment can be stopped, disputed or returned.

Keep these records

Pet advertisement
Seller account
Transport charges
Payment receipts

Keep originals and organise working copies. Never give strangers verification codes, banking passwords, private keys or seed phrases.

Original references

  • Federal Trade Commission (FTC)Publisher location：United States · EnglishOpen the original reference ↗https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2024/12/getting-pet-avoid-scams

This page summarises public prevention guidance to help recognise methods. It is not an enforcement conclusion about a particular incident. Check the source page for its original title. Procedures and reporting routes vary by jurisdiction. Compiled October 2026.

Related situations

Fake shops and discount ads

Stolen product photos and steep discounts lure payments for missing or misrepresented goods.

Read the warning signs and checks

Second-hand and fake-payment scams

Buyers may receive fake goods; sellers may ship after seeing fabricated payment screenshots.

Read the warning signs and checks

Fake refund-service calls

A fake merchant representative uses order details to request transfers or account access for a refund.

Read the warning signs and checks