If you’re dreaming of adding a new furry friend to your home, it’s natural to turn to places like Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, or local social media groups to look for pets in need of a new home. After all, rescuing a pet seems like a kind, community-driven act.
Unfortunately, scammers know this too and they exploit your compassion.
While there are many honest people rehoming pets online, there is also a growing wave of sophisticated scams designed to steal your money, waste your time, and break your heart. Here’s what you need to know to protect yourself, and find your next best friend safely.
Why Rescuing Beats Buying Retail (And Why Scammers Exploit It)
It’s like that old slogan, “Don’t Shop, Adopt”. Let’s first get one thing straight: rescuing a pet from a legitimate rehoming situation or shelter is far better than supporting puppy mills, backyard breeders, or unethical retail sellers. You give an animal in need a second chance, you discourage mass breeding for profit, and you reduce the demand for the harmful pet trade.
In contrast, scammers target rescue-minded people because:
- They know you’re emotionally invested.
- They know you’re looking for an affordable or “rehoming fee only” situation.
- You’re more likely to trust a sob story about needing to quickly rehome a beloved pet.
Unfortunately, that emotional vulnerability is exactly what these fraudsters bank on. You should be mindful that these people exist and are looking to exploit your kindness.
Common Pet Scam Tactics on Social Media
1. Too-Good-to-Be-True Offers : Be suspicious if the animal is a purebred, highly sought-after breed (French Bulldog, Husky, Persian Cat, etc.) or the price is absurdly low or “free to a good home.” They say things like “urgent rehoming,” “moving and can’t take them,” or “recently widowed.” Scammers copy-and-paste these sob stories to tug at your heartstrings.
2. Red Flag Phrases : Watch out for posts that say things like “For adopting and rehoming” (scammers often use these exact phrases), “Looking for a forever home.”, “Small rehoming fee to ensure they go to a good home.”, While these phrases alone aren’t proof of a scam, they’re very commonly used in shady posts.
3. Limited Communication Options : Real pet owners will happily chat, answer questions, and show they care about where their pet ends up. Scammers, on the other hand avoid video calls or claim their camera is broken. They prefer texting over phone calls. They don’t answer detailed questions about the pet’s personality, habits, or vet care. They’ll rush the conversation toward payment. If someone refuses a video chat with the pet in the frame, walk away.
4. Suspicious Photos : Scammers often steal photos from Google Images, Pinterest, or legitimate breeder websites. Clues that this is happening include overly polished or professional-looking photos. Inconsistent backgrounds between photos. Watermarks or logos from breeder websites. Reverse image searching the photos sometimes reveals the theft.
5. Admins-Only Selling : In some Facebook groups, only the admins can post pets for sale or rehoming. This creates a closed-loop scam ring. They can delete skeptical comments, control who posts and sees what. They can fabricate fake happy customers using alternate accounts. Be cautious of any group where regular users aren’t allowed to post pets.
6. Disabled Comments : Scammers will often turn off comments on their posts so no one can call them out publicly. If a listing disables comments and asks you to “PM me for info,” that’s a warning sign.
7. Fake Testimonials : Look for “Happy adopter” posts with vague descriptions and stock photo-style images or profiles of supposed happy adopters that are barely used or freshly created. The testimonials will be posted by the seller’s own account, not the buyers themselves.
8. Fake “Helpful” Comments : Some scammers pretend to be helpful users warning you against other sellers… only to direct you to another scam account. For example:
“Careful, I bought from them and never got my puppy. But I found this great breeder instead, message [this scammer’s alt account].” If it seems like the drama is scripted, it probably is.
How to Vet a Pet Seller on Social Media
Ask for Vet Records – A real owner will have vaccination records, spay/neuter proof, or at least be able to name the vet clinic where the pet received care. Ask for a copy of recent medical documents. Blurry or evasive responses are bad signs.
- Request a Video Call – A legitimate person won’t hesitate to jump on a quick video chat to show the pet in real-time, ideally in the home environment they described. No video chat = no trust.
- Check Their Social Media Profile – Look for a real history of posts, friends, and interactions. There should be more than just Marketplace activity. Look for an older account creation date. If their account was created in the last month and only posts pets for sale, it’s likely a burner account.
- Look for External Proof – Reputable rescuers or pet owners sometimes have personal or rescue websites and maybe Instagram or Facebook photo albums showing the pet growing up and local vet clinics or groomers who can vouch for them.
- Use Safe Payment Methods – Never send money through Zelle, Cash App, Venmo (especially friends & family mode), wire transfers or Crypto. Instead, meet in person when possible and pay with cash after seeing the pet. If you must pay remotely, use a platform with buyer protection (though most of these don’t cover pet sales).
- Do a Reverse Image Search – Right-click the animal’s photo and search Google Images. If the same photo pops up on random blogs, pet listings from years ago, or breeder sites, it’s likely stolen.
What NOT to Do
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- Don’t fall for sob stories without verification.
- Don’t trust an ad just because it has a lot of likes or comments, those can be faked.
- Don’t pay deposits or shipping fees before seeing the pet.
- Don’t let your excitement cloud your common sense.
Safer Alternatives to Facebook Marketplace
If you’re serious about rescuing, start here instead:
- Petfinder.com -Lists adoptable pets from shelters and rescues nationwide.
- Adopt-a-Pet.com – Another trustworthy shelter network.
- Local Humane Societies and SPCAs – Legitimate, vetted adoption process.
- Breed-Specific Rescues – If you’re looking for a particular breed, there are rescues that focus on them.
These organizations screen both pets and adopters to help prevent scams on both sides.
A Final Word
When you’re looking to rescue a pet, lead with your heart but guard it with your head. The right animal is out there waiting for you, but so are the scammers.
- Ask questions.
- Insist on transparency.
- Choose reputable sources.
- Never rush.
Your future best friend is counting on you to get this right.
