$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
Craigslist pet sale deposit scam
Scammers post listings for puppies or kittens on Craigslist, collect a deposit for the animal, and then disappear without delivering the pet.
“online shopping scam”
↑ 184%Key indicators
Usually targetsPet buyers
Often hitsSmall business owners
Common regionUnited States
Last updated2026-04-04
Estimated impact
$80
median reported loss
Typical range$16 – $800
Recovery rate~40%
Annual reports370,000
Scam breakdown
1
Scammers post photos of adorable puppies or kittens stolen from legitimate breeders or stock photo sites.
2
Interested buyers are asked to send a deposit to reserve the pet, with additional fees added for shipping, vaccinations, or pet insurance.
3
After payment, the scammer stops responding — there was never a real pet available.
What to do first
Always meet the pet and the seller in person before paying anything.
Related terms
puppy scamfake pet listingCraigslist kitten scamOnline shopping scamsCraigslistSurgingPet buyersFamiliesAdultsSmall business ownersReal estate professionals and homebuyersParents and familiesUnited StatesCanadapuppy scamfake pet listing
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Andrew, 35, a pet buyers, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate online shopping scams situation while using Craigslist. Scammers post photos of adorable puppies or kittens stolen from legitimate breeders or stock photo sites.
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: Interested buyers are asked to send a deposit to reserve the pet, with additional fees added for shipping, vaccinations, or pet insurance.
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: After payment, the scammer stops responding — there was never a real pet available.
The outcome
Andrew realized something was wrong when purebred pets offered at prices well below what breeders typically charge. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Always meet the pet and the seller in person before paying anything. Andrew's experience shows why purebred pets offered at prices well below what breeders typically charge and seller requests a deposit via wire transfer, zelle, or gift cards to 'hold' the pet are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- Purebred pets offered at prices well below what breeders typically charge
- Seller requests a deposit via wire transfer, Zelle, or gift cards to 'hold' the pet
- Seller claims the pet needs to be shipped from another state or country
- Pause before paying, clicking, or sharing information. Scammers rely on speed.
- Verify the sender, company, or agency using a phone number or website you already know is legitimate.
- Treat secrecy, urgency, and off-platform payment requests as strong scam signals.
What to do now
- ✓Always meet the pet and the seller in person before paying anything.
- ✓Reverse-search the pet photos on Google Images to check if they appear elsewhere online.
- ✓Adopt from local shelters or verified breeders — report pet scams to the FTC and BBB.
What to save before reporting
- ✓Save the message, profile, phone number, email, or URL that was used.
- ✓Keep payment confirmations, receipts, and account alerts before you dispute or delete anything.
- ✓Write down the timeline while the details are still fresh.
- ✓Preserve the listing ID, reservation ID, or the exact item URL because platform support will usually ask for it.
How big is this problem
You are not alone — this scam affects millions of people.
These numbers come from government agencies and official reports. If you have been affected, know that this is a widespread problem — not something that only happens to careless people.
FTC 2024 fraud losses
Imposters
Most common FTC fraud category in 2024
FTC says imposter scams remained the most commonly reported fraud category in 2024.
History and evolution
- This scam family tends to persist because the social-engineering pressure works even when the exact scripts, platforms, and payment methods change.
- The specific packaging evolves over time, but the core pattern usually stays the same: create urgency, control the channel, and push action before verification.
- The BBB identified pet scams as one of the most effective online fraud types, with pet purchase scams reported consistently among the top categories on the BBB Scam Tracker.
Recovery and follow-up
- ✓Save the messages, receipts, account alerts, and transaction details before you block or delete anything.
- ✓Report the scam through the official platform or government channel that best matches where it happened.
- ✓Always meet the pet and the seller in person before paying anything.
- ✓Reverse-search the pet photos on Google Images to check if they appear elsewhere online.
- ✓Adopt from local shelters or verified breeders — report pet scams to the FTC and BBB.
Why this pattern keeps working
Even when the story changes, most scams still use the same pressure pattern: urgency, authority, and a request to move money or data fast.
The BBB identified pet scams as one of the most effective online fraud types, with pet purchase scams reported consistently among the top categories on the BBB Scam Tracker.
BBB Scam Tracker 2025
Where to report it
If you have been targeted by this scam, reporting it helps authorities track the pattern and protect others. United States has dedicated agencies that handle fraud reports.
ReportFraud.gov
Federal Trade Commission
Central U.S. consumer fraud reporting portal.
File an IC3 complaint
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center
FBI portal for internet-enabled crime reports.
Start identity theft recovery
IdentityTheft.gov
Official U.S. identity theft recovery plan builder.
Explore further
Understand the bigger picture
Who is most at risk
Who this scam targets
Primary targets
Pet buyers, Families, Adults
Geographic concentration
United States, Canada
Primary channel
Craigslist — Online shopping scams
Why this group is vulnerable
Pet buyers are particularly vulnerable because this scam exploits trust in familiar brands, authority figures, and time-sensitive decisions. The rapid increase in reports suggests that awareness among this demographic remains low.
Sources and methodology
How we verify this information
OpenScam tracks scam patterns using a combination of government consumer protection databases (FTC, IC3, Action Fraud), platform-specific fraud reports, and verified consumer complaint data. Each entry is cross-referenced against at least two independent sources before publication.
Severity ratings are based on financial impact potential, reversibility of damage, and volume of reports across multiple reporting channels. Trend velocity reflects the rate of change in report volume over the most recent 90-day window.
This page was last verified on 2026-04-04. Red flags, recovery steps, and reporting resources are reviewed quarterly against current agency guidance.
Evidence and indicators
- The BBB identified pet scams as one of the most effective online fraud types, with pet purchase scams reported consistently among the top categories on the BBB Scam Tracker.
Source notes
- BBB Scam Tracker 2025
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about craigslist pet sale deposit scam
How does the craigslist pet sale deposit scam work?+
Scammers post photos of adorable puppies or kittens stolen from legitimate breeders or stock photo sites. Interested buyers are asked to send a deposit to reserve the pet, with additional fees added for shipping, vaccinations, or pet insurance. After payment, the scammer stops responding — there was never a real pet available.
What are the warning signs of craigslist pet sale deposit scam?+
Purebred pets offered at prices well below what breeders typically charge Seller requests a deposit via wire transfer, Zelle, or gift cards to 'hold' the pet Seller claims the pet needs to be shipped from another state or country
What should I do if I encounter craigslist pet sale deposit scam?+
Always meet the pet and the seller in person before paying anything. Reverse-search the pet photos on Google Images to check if they appear elsewhere online. Adopt from local shelters or verified breeders — report pet scams to the FTC and BBB.
Who is most at risk for craigslist pet sale deposit scam?+
This scam primarily targets Pet buyers, Families, Adults. It is most commonly reported in United States, Canada and typically appears on Craigslist.
Is craigslist pet sale deposit scam getting worse?+
Craigslist pet sale deposit scam is currently surging — reports are increasing rapidly. It has been reported across US, CA. Last updated 2026-04-04.
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Help someone avoid this scam.
Scammers succeed because people do not talk about it. If you or someone you know has been affected, there is no shame in it — it happens to millions of people every year. Share this page with friends and family so they know what to look for.
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