Beware of Pet Travel Scams
Looking for a pet online? Don’t get scammed! Unfortunately pet scams do exist and can happen to anyone. It’s important to learn how to spot a scam otherwise you could become a victim. Pet-Express is America’s most trusted pet transport company and we transport beloved family pets across the globe on a daily basis. It’s important to remember that we do not sell pets.
How to spot a scam
Criminal scammers will often use the names of legitimate pet shippers such as Pet-Express, using pirate websites and the logos of these companies to appear genuine. The difference is, correspondence will often come from a third party domain such as gmail.com, rather than the company URL (for example info@pet-express.com).
These scammers will generally offer to provide free or inexpensive puppies, charging just for the price of shipping. In most cases there is no dog and no shipment, so please take precautions before paying money for services that may not exist. Other animals frequently offered include purebred cats, monkeys, birds, snakes, and small exotic animals.
Pet scammers often use websites like Craigslist or Facebook to advertise pets that do not exist. Expensive animals, like Bulldogs or toy breeds, are offered at very low prices or at no cost—all you have to do is pay for the shipping. If you see an advertisement like this, chances are it is a scam.
Scammers also regularly use Western Union or Money Gram as a payment method. Unlike PayPal or a recognised credit card merchant system, Western Union and Money Gram payments are often untraceable and non-refundable.
If you see an offer that is too good to be true, it usually is. It probably is a scam!
We advise that before purchasing or organising the shipping of a pet online, always thoroughly research the company before making payment.
For more helpful information on how to spot a pet scammer, please visit the International Pet and Animal Transport Association (IPATA) website.
To report a scam visit:
