Facebook Pet Scams – How Thieves Can Trick You Into Paying for a Beautiful Animal, and What You Need To Do if You Are a Scam Victim

Navigating the online world, particularly on social media platforms like Facebook, comes with some downsides, including the potential for falling victim to pet scams. By being vigilant and proactive, you can protect yourself and others from falling prey to Facebook pet scams and help create a safer online environment for pet lovers.

How to Spot a Scam

Photo credit: Deposit Photos.

Facebook is great for many things but is also rife with scams and fake profiles. Pet scams are widespread on Facebook, tricking people into giving up thousands of dollars to get a great deal on a kitty. Here’s how to spot a Facebook pet scam and what to do when you’ve found one.

Bargain Prices

Paying Bargain Prices for Ragdolls
Photo credit: Deposit Photos.

One of the biggest red flags for a kitten scam is when the price seems too good to be true. That’s because it is – scammers want you to pay quickly, so they advertise at prices well below the typical price for the breed.

Stolen Photos

Ragdoll Breeder Scam - Pet scams ragdoll breeder complaints
Photo credit: Floppycats.

Stolen photos are common because scammers need photos to ‘sell’ their ‘cats’, but they don’t actually have cats to sell. If you see the same images used elsewhere, at least one account is a scammer.

Inconsistent Photos

Premium Ragdoll SCAM BAD Breeder Fake Breeder Fraud
Photo credit: Floppycats.

Look at the backgrounds and settings. Do the photos of the cats look like they were taken in the same breeding home? Or are they wildly inconsistent and likely to be stolen from various people?

Stolen Descriptions

Stolen Descriptions from Facebook
Photo credit: Floppycats.

Fake cat sellers won’t just steal pictures, but they will steal descriptions too. Try copying descriptions into Google to see if they have been taken from another site or page.

Lack of a Website

Most reputable cat breeders will have a full website
Photo credit: Deposit Photos.

Most reputable cat breeders will have a full website, and their Facebook page is supplementary. A breeder may only use Facebook but tread cautiously, as it is more likely to be fake.

Sellers Asking for Extra Payments

Sellers Asking for Extra Payments
Photo credit: Deposit Photos

A good breeder will agree on a flat price with you for a cat in advance. Scammers on Facebook may ask for an upfront payment but then try to levy extra fees, such as quarantine release.

Cats Advertised Too Young

Photo credit: Deposit Photos.

Kittens shouldn’t be sold before they are 8 weeks old at the earliest. If you see someone selling cats younger than this on Facebook, they are either fake or not a proper breeder, and the kitten could have all kinds of health issues.

Poor Use of English

Poor Use of English in Facebook posts
Photo credit: Deposit Photos.

Scammers can set up from anywhere in the world – the wonders of the internet. If you see a cat advertised on a local Facebook account, but the seller’s English is poor, it means there is an increased risk it is a scam.

Sellers Refusing Videos/Visits

Sellers Refusing Videos/Visits
Photo credit: Deposit Photos

Anyone buying a cat will want to see it properly before they buy – either in person or, if that’s not possible, on a video call. If a seller refuses both options, how do you know the cat is real?

Reporting Scammers to Facebook

Ragdoll cat scam breeder kitten facebook
Photo credit: Floppycats.

If you suspect someone is trying to scam you on Facebook to get you to buy a fake cat, report them. Facebook should take the page down if you can provide evidence they are a scammer.

Scammers Praying on Scammers

Pandemic Pet Boom Leads to Increase in Pet Scams - photo of a keyboard with a huge red "scam" button
Photo credit: Deposit Photos.

One thing to be careful with – some scammers target other scammers. You’ll see ‘independent’ recommendations in the comments to visit another Facebook or Instagram page so that an ‘expert’ can help you remove the page. These are fake and can lead to more scam attempts.

Reputable Places to Buy

Reputable Places to Buy
Photo credit: Deposit Photos.

While it is possible to find genuine cat breeders on Facebook, stick to those with their own website and that you can ideally visit in person to see the cat before buying. Buying online is always a risk, but Facebook is particularly bad for pet scams.

More Paw-some Articles from Floppycats

Orange kitten in a hammock
Photo credit: Deposit Photos.

Orange cats are more likely to be males than females, but are they the airheaded species of the feline world? Let’s delve into what the online cat community had to say about ginger cats’ purr-personalities.

10 Cat Lover Opinions: Is The Stereotype About Orange Cats Real?

Alarming Moments: Cats Caught in Embarrassing and Compromising Situations

Crazy cat look
Photo credit: Deposit Photos.

Sometimes you’ll catch your kitty in a compromising pose – as these cats prove.

Feline Fiascos: Cats Caught in Embarrassing and Compromising Situations

Ragdoll Cats and Their Love for Unconventional Napping Spots: The Sink Edition

Elijah and Zacharia - Ragdoll Kittens of Month 20190320_Wubs sink
Photo credit: Used with permission for Floppycats.

Cats in sinks are a common sight for many cat owners and enthusiasts. Enjoy the pictures.

Ragdoll Cats and Their Unusual Resting Positions

Discover the Meaning Behind “Splooting” and Uncover the Reason Why Cats Engage in This Behavior

Pictures of Cats Splooting Cats Lying Flat on Stomach with Legs Out
Photo credit: Floppycats.

Have you heard about cats splooting?

When cats lay flat on their stomach with their hind legs out, they look adorable. But what is splooting? Can all cats do it? And is it bad for them?

Cats Lying Flat on Stomach with Legs Out -Splooting

Incredible Cat Heroics: 10 Astonishing Moments When Cats Became Real-Life Heroes

Herioc cat with cap and mask

In addition to being divinely beautiful, cats are intelligent creatures. Don’t believe me? Check out these ameowsing tales shared by a popular online community of cat lovers. You’ll be left stunned.

Real-Life Cat Heroes

Website | + posts

Hi, I’m Jenny Dean, creator of Floppycats! Ever since my Aunt got the first Ragdoll cat in our family, I have loved the breed. Inspired by my childhood Ragdoll cat, Rags, I created Floppycats to connect, share and inspire other Ragdoll cat lovers around the world,

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.