Scammers

Scammers and what to do

Disclaimer: The ACCC Scamwatch recently stopped reporting Pet Fraud separately. Statistics are therefore no longer current.

Responsible Buying to protect yourself from irresponsible breeders and scammers.

Animal Care Australia supports the education of changing buyer awareness to reduce the ability of scammers and irresponsible breeders from profiting off what is every Australian’s right — to own a pet.

Did you know? Scammers raked in $4.2 million through pet-related fraud in 2021.  Today, it is no longer just dog and cat buyers being scammed. With the increase of popularity of other pets particularly reptiles, the need for caution has never been more important.

Scammers set up fake websites or profiles of actual retailer sites, breeders and even pet rescuer/re-homing services.

They then offer pets at prices that are often too good to be true. They also post fake ads and fake reviews. They may use stolen logos, a .com.au domain name and stolen Australian Business Number (ABN). In the case of rescues they will more likely be trying to appeal to your good nature and be posting images of sick animals claiming they need urgent veterinary care, and will be calling for donations to help the ‘poor’ animal get treatment.

These scams are harder to spot. For more information go to the ACCC Scamwatch website

AVOIDING BEING SCAMMED

If you’re considering purchasing a pet online, help protect yourself and your family from scams by following these tips:   

• Do a reverse text and image search for the pet being advertised. If the search returns a match on multiple websites, you’re likely dealing with a scam.
• If possible, only buy a pet you can meet in-person before handing over money. If it’s not possible to meet in person, ask the seller for video of them handling and playing with the pet.
• Be cautious of sellers offering pets for cheap. If a price is too good to be true, it probably is.
• Pause before agreeing to pay extra, unexpected costs, such as additional shipping fees or vet bills. Scammers will often create dramatic stories that tug at the heartstrings, to gauge their victims of more money.  
• Beware of sellers who won’t communicate by phone, only through text or email.
• Seek advice about the seller from a reputable breeders associations, or contact friends who have previously purchased a similar pet to what you are looking for and get their referral to the breeder they purchased from.
• Check if the rescue group is advertising in other places online and do a background check on the organisation and contact person.
• With rescue groups, always check the comments and where people commenting are located. If most are from Australia, then it is a little safer to assume it is real.
• Always speak to someone on the phone. Most Australian rescues have a website, contact and address details on their pages. Rescues will encourage you to view the animal in person and fill out application forms to see if you’re an appropriate candidate to adopt an animal.  
• Avoid solo rescuers with ongoing listings calling for your financial assistance especially for sick animal treatment.
• Many genuine rescues are public pages. Be wary of closed social media groups.

If you’ve transferred money or provided your account details to someone you suspect might be a scammer, it’s important to contact your bank or financial institution immediately. 

How To Run a Reverse Image Search

1. Locate the image you want to search on the page where you originally found it.

2. Right-click on the image.

3. Select ‘Search Google for image’.

4. Google will then display the results of your search.

Remember, AI is a real thing. Most of us are using it in some form, be on the lookout for images in their advertising that look a little off. These are likely AI generated.