$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
Pet scams/Facebook
pet adoption fee scam
A fake rescue or individual advertises pets for adoption, charges an adoption fee, then never delivers the animal or provides a different pet than shown.
“pet scam”
↑ 220%Key indicators
Usually targetsAnimal lovers
Often hitsSmall business owners
Common regionUnited States
Last updated2026-04-04
Estimated impact
$640
median reported loss
Typical range$40 – $4.0K
Recovery rate~15%
Scam breakdown
1
A social media post shows an adorable pet in need of a home with a reasonable adoption fee.
2
After payment, the seller provides excuses for delays or sends a different, often sick, animal.
3
In many cases, no animal is ever delivered and the seller disappears.
What to do first
Meet the animal in person before paying any adoption fee.
Related terms
fake adoption listingrescue fee scamrehoming fee fraudPet scamsFacebookRisingAnimal loversFamiliesPet seekersSmall business ownersCreators and online sellersMilitary and veteransUnited StatesCanadaUnited Kingdomfake adoption listingrescue fee scam
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Samantha, 35, a animal lovers, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate pet scams situation while using Facebook. A social media post shows an adorable pet in need of a home with a reasonable adoption fee.
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: After payment, the seller provides excuses for delays or sends a different, often sick, animal.
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: In many cases, no animal is ever delivered and the seller disappears.
The outcome
Samantha realized something was wrong when adoption fee must be paid before meeting the animal. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Meet the animal in person before paying any adoption fee. Samantha's experience shows why adoption fee must be paid before meeting the animal and the person cannot provide vet records or spay/neuter documentation are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- Adoption fee must be paid before meeting the animal
- The person cannot provide vet records or spay/neuter documentation
- Listing uses stock photos rather than unique photos of the specific animal
- 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
- ✓Meet the animal in person before paying any adoption fee.
- ✓Verify rescue organizations through local animal control or Petfinder's shelter database.
- ✓Ask for veterinary records and contact the vet directly to confirm.
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.
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 ASPCA recommends always meeting an animal in person before completing any adoption transaction.
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.
- ✓Meet the animal in person before paying any adoption fee.
- ✓Verify rescue organizations through local animal control or Petfinder's shelter database.
- ✓Ask for veterinary records and contact the vet directly to confirm.
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 ASPCA recommends always meeting an animal in person before completing any adoption transaction.
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
Animal lovers, Families, Pet seekers
Geographic concentration
United States, Canada, United Kingdom
Primary channel
Facebook — Pet scams
Why this group is vulnerable
Animal lovers are particularly vulnerable because this scam exploits trust in familiar brands, authority figures, and time-sensitive decisions. The growing number of 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 ASPCA recommends always meeting an animal in person before completing any adoption transaction.
Source notes
- BBB Scam Tracker 2025
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about pet adoption fee scam
How does the pet adoption fee scam work?+
A social media post shows an adorable pet in need of a home with a reasonable adoption fee. After payment, the seller provides excuses for delays or sends a different, often sick, animal. In many cases, no animal is ever delivered and the seller disappears.
What are the warning signs of pet adoption fee scam?+
Adoption fee must be paid before meeting the animal The person cannot provide vet records or spay/neuter documentation Listing uses stock photos rather than unique photos of the specific animal
What should I do if I encounter pet adoption fee scam?+
Meet the animal in person before paying any adoption fee. Verify rescue organizations through local animal control or Petfinder's shelter database. Ask for veterinary records and contact the vet directly to confirm.
Who is most at risk for pet adoption fee scam?+
This scam primarily targets Animal lovers, Families, Pet seekers. It is most commonly reported in United States, Canada, United Kingdom and typically appears on Facebook.
Is pet adoption fee scam on the rise?+
pet adoption fee scam is currently on the rise with growing reports. It has been reported across US, CA, UK. 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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