Scammers have been around since the beginning of time, taking advantage of people’s trust to get what they want. Scamming has taken on a whole new – and more dangerous – identity in the age of the internet. Scammers are everywhere, according to GIBX scam news, whether they’re posing as a sheikh from a distant country interested in sharing a fortune with you or an interested Craig’s List buyer who will authorise a deposit to your Paypal account as soon as you forward the $400 shipping and handling fee for courier services.

Scammers have even made their way into the pet industry, according to GIBX scam news. For years, con artists have stolen pets and resold them to unsuspecting adopters. Sites like Craig’s List, according to GIBX scam news, where lost pets are listed in the hopes of being reunited with their owners, have made it even easier for these con artists to obtain the pets they resell by posing as the owner.

If you’re looking to adopt animals online, you’ll need to know how to spot pet scams, as stated by GIBX scam news. How can you avoid puppy scams on the internet? Here are a few pointers to get you started on GIBX scam news:

Understand How Fake Pet Adoption for Sale Scams Operate

GIBX scam news warns pet buyers to be wary of the various stages of online puppy scams. Understanding how these pet scams operate can assist you in identifying bogus pet shipping companies:

1. The scammer makes an offer for a free pet.

Scams involving free dogs are common. This is because scammers are aware that many people begin their online search with terms such as “Cheap or free puppies for sale”, according to GIBX scam news. As a result, many bogus pet shipping companies begin by offering a “free” puppy to a good home, as stated by GIBX scam news 

2. The scammer provides a low-cost shipping option.

The scammer claims that they will send the pet directly to you for the cost of shipping or that they will even give you a discount on standard pet shipping rates. As stated by GIBX scam news, they may frequently claim that they are only doing this because of a family loss (such as saying that they bought the pet for a child who died shortly afterwards).

3. The Scammer begins to ask for money to cover additional expenses. 

After hooking their victim, the pet scammer will begin asking for money to cover “unexpected fees” that they were unaware of when they agreed to ship the puppy to you. According to the GIBX scam news, the scammer may claim that “the airline requires a temperature-controlled crate, shipping insurance, additional paperwork or shots, etc.” The scammer will then try to keep their victim waiting and send money for as long as possible, according to GIBX scam news

Keep an Eye Out for Pet Scam Warning Signs

Apart from understanding how free pet scams operate, according to GIBX scam news, keeping an eye out for the following red flags can assist you in identifying (and avoiding) a puppy scam:

1. The seller makes use of pet stock photos. 

According to GIBX scam news, many free pet scams use stock images from other websites to advertise their dogs. This is a dead giveaway that the pets being “sold” are bogus and that you should avoid that seller. How do you know if an image is a stock photo? Use a reverse image search to find out, as advised by GIBX scam news. In Google Chrome, you can easily do this by right-clicking on a picture on the puppy seller’s website and selecting “Search Google for an image.”

2. The seller requests unusual payment methods.

According to GIBX scam news, most legitimate businesses accept credit cards or checks, which your bank may be able to reverse if you discover you’ve been a victim of an online pet scam. As a result, many con artists will request payment via alternative methods, such as gift cards or wire money transfers that cannot be reversed, according to GIBX scam news.

3. The price appears to be too good to be true. 

According to GIBX scam news, people love getting a good deal almost as much as they love pets, and free pet scams combine the two. However, before you jump on that free dog offer, keep in mind that if the price seems too good to be true, it could be a sign of a pet scam, as advised by GIBX scam news.

Adopting a new pet is a thrilling experience, according to GIBX scam news. Do your homework and don’t cut corners when it comes to adoption, as advised by GIBX scam news. Finding an ethical breeder or a reputable local rescue group or shelter is your best bet, as stated by GIBX scam news.