Pets are a treasured part of the family, offering unconditional love and companionship. Pre-pandemic, an estimated two-thirds of Australian households owned a pet. In just a few years, this figure has surged by 60 percent, with the country.

But while many people have happily and successfully welcomed a new puppy, kitten, or other furry (or feathered!) friend into their lives, thousands of unsuspecting, prospective owners have been tricked by opportunistic cybercriminals. Last year, pet scams were the most reported online shopping scam to the ACCC’s Scamwatch ­ — they also caused the most financial pain, costing Aussies close to $3.5 million dollars.

Melbourne-based Sarah*, unfortunately fell victim to a puppy scam in 2020. During an exhausting COVID-19 lockdown, Sarah and her family decided to look for a ‘forever puppy’ online. They soon found what they believed was a legitimate match: an adorable teacup Yorkshire Terrier named Bella, who they believed was being adopted out by a person who could no longer take care of her due to work reasons.

“We thought we were being so careful when picking a puppy online,” Sarah told Crime Stoppers Victoria.

 “We took it slow. Through communicating regularly with the seller, we were told the sad but understandable ‘reason’ as to why she had decided to part with her beloved little Bella.

“It seemed like the perfect match. Everything was all teed up…until it wasn’t.”

The seller suddenly started to make demands for additional payments to quarantine the puppy in Australia, which Sarah and her family agreed to transfer.

“If only we’d done more research before we paid hundreds of dollars in international charges, we’d have discovered that Bella wasn’t really Bella, but instead a stock image from an old ad.

“I know it was only a bit of money in the big scheme of things, but it really shakes your confidence. It just goes to show how little you can trust anyone online.”

If you’re considering purchasing a puppy or pet online, help protect yourself and your family from scams by following these tips:   

Do a reverse text and image search for the pet being advertised. If the search returns a match on multiple websites, you’re likely dealing with a scam.

If possible, only buy a pet you can meet in-person before handing over money. If it’s not possible to meet in person, ask the seller for video of them handling and playing with the pet.

Be cautious of sellers offering pets for cheap. If a price is too good to be true, it probably is.

Pause before agreeing to pay extra, unexpected costs, such as additional shipping fees or vet bills. Scammers will often create dramatic stories that tug at the heartstrings, to gauge their victims of more money.  

Beware of sellers who won’t communicate by phone, only through text or email.

Seek advice about the seller from a reputable breeders association, such as dogsvictoria.org.au.

If you’ve transferred money or provided your account details to someone you suspect might be a scammer, it’s important to contact your bank or financial institution immediately. BankVic members can reach out here.