Pet buyers beware: Don’t fall victim to an online pet scam this holiday season
Dave O’Lenick had a funny feeling from the start as he and his wife went to purchase a new dog.
The Mansfield couple had done their research before deciding they wanted a Maltese. They were smart dogs, O’Lenick said, and the fact that they didn’t shed too much was a draw.
When the couple saw an online ad for a $350 Maltese, the going rate at the time, they thought they had found their pick. That’s when the red flags started to pop up.
What started as a $350 price tag rose when the seller told the couple the dog had gone to Africa, was quarantined and would need to be brought home, O’Lenick said. The seller said it would cost $1,000 to get the dog out, and another $1,000 to bring it home. The dog also needed shots, which would cost another $500.
“It had scam all over it,” O’Lenick said.
According to the Better Business Bureau, pet scams are more common than one might think. A representative for BBB serving the Heart of Texas, which covers areas like Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio and Corpus Christi, said 80% of pet ads people see online could be fraudulent.
Tim Morton, assistance director for code compliance for animal welfare at the Fort Worth Animal Care and Control, said the shelter typically sees higher traffic around the holidays with people shopping for pets. The shelter usually partners with the Humane Society of North Texas to put on an adoption event right before Christmas, when a thousand animals typically find their forever homes.
Amy Rasor, Fort Worth regional director for BBB serving the heart of Texas, said the phenomenon isn’t concentrated in one area of the state. Across Texas, there have been 291 pet scam reports this year.
The telltale sign someone may have walked into a scam: If the seller won’t allow a meet and greet with the animal, Rasor said.
“You should definitely be able to spend some time with the animal ahead of making a purchase,” she said.
The O’Lenicks ended up backing out and never sent money. Instead, they found a breeder in Oklahoma City they visited in Sherman before bringing home their dog, which the couple had for more than 12 years.
When looking at ads online, Rasor suggested doing a Google search on the picture the seller is using in their ad. Sometimes, sellers use stock photos, she said.
Another red flag is if the seller asks you to make a wire transfer, Rasor said. The BBB also cautions potential pet buyers against using cash apps or gift cards to make online pet purchases. Buyers should pay attention to and do research on fair pricing too: An online ad for a purebred dog that’s free or discounted could be cause for trouble, according to the BBB.
The best way to pay online is through PayPal or with a credit card, Rasor said. That way, payments can be stopped if a deal turns out to be a scam.
Rasor advised going to reputable businesses or adopting animals from shelters.
Over at Fort Worth Animal Care and Control, Morton believes the potential for scams is another reason people should seek out pets from shelters or reputable rescue groups.
“Adopting from a shelter is really the only way that you can know that you’re getting, you know, legal title to an animal,” he said.
Currently, the shelter is at capacity, Morton said, and anyone looking for an animal of any size, shape or age can probably find what they’re looking for. Among the options are 730 dogs and 100 cats, and another 100 dogs and cats each in foster care, along with a sprinkling of rabbits, gerbils and hamsters.
Morton advises potential pet buyers to know what they’re getting into when they’re animal shopping. He said fostering an animal could be a good test run to see if pet ownership is the right fit before committing.
Fort Worth animal adoption event
Fort Worth Animal Care and Control and the Humane Society of North Texas will hold this year’s adoption event on Dec. 18 and 19 at the Will Rogers Memorial Center in Fort Worth off West Lancaster Avenue.
This story was originally published November 24, 2021 at 6:00 AM.
