Animal scams
Online scammers target people buying pets on Trade Me. Learn how to avoid becoming a victim.
Buying a pet is exciting, but it's easy to get caught up in the moment. To protect yourself from scammers, stay alert.
How animal scams work
- A scammer creates a fake ad for a desirable pet (like puppies or a rare bird) on Trade Me.
- The ad often includes professional-looking photos.
- Someone interested in the pet contacts the scammer.
- The scammer pressures the buyer, saying things like, "Only one left!" or "Lots of people are interested!"
- The scammer gets the buyer to send money or share personal information to "hold" the pet.
- The buyer loses money or has their information stolen because the pet never existed.
Warning signs of animal scams
If you're buying a pet, stay aware and look out for these signs.
Purebred pets
Scammers often advertise purebred animals because they're more expensive.
Perfect photos
Pictures that look too good to be true are a red flag. Scammers will often steal photos from unaffiliated kennels. If the photos seem suspicious, complete a reverse image search in Google.
Pushy sellers
If a seller rushes you into a decision, that's suspicious.
Paying upfront
A seller asking for a lot of money to hold a pet could be a warning sign.
Personal info
Don't give out personal or financial details unless you're absolutely sure the seller is legitimate.
Stay safe when buying pets on Trade Me
When you buy a pet, take your time and ask questions.
- Get to know the seller. If they're a breeder, ask about their breeding practices and the animal's temperament.
- Always check the seller's feedback.
- Look into if the seller is complying with our Code of Animal Welfare.
If you find a listing that looks like a scam, report it through Community Watch.