FEBRUARY 2021 • LONGISLANDPRESS.COM 37
PRESS PETS
ONLINE SCAMS PET FRAUD SPIKES
BY ALLISON MATOS
For many people, adopting a new furry
friend during the pandemic has offered
a sense of companionship during an
otherwise lonely lockdown. But those
seeking a dog, cat, bird, or other companion
animal have been four times more
likely to fall victim to a scam since the
pandemic started.
The Better Business Bureau’s Scam
Tracker shows more reports about
fraudulent pet sites in April 2020 in the
U.S. and Canada than in the first three
months of the year combined. The number
of complaints of pet fraud increased
to 337 in November 2020; there were 77
for the same month in 2019.
“Data shows … the average cost of each
scam averaging a $750 loss, and individuals
in the 35 to 50 age range accounted
for half of the victims,” said Claire
Rosenzweig, president and CEO of BBB
Metro NY.
The BBB and law enforcement officials
caution against purchasing a pet online,
as scam listings are prevalent.
“Conversations usually start with the
scammer giving reasons as to why
you can’t see your pet in person,” says
Rosenzweig. “ Then they ask for a deposit,
or funding for shipping, vaccines, etc.”
“If you can’t get an appointment to meet
the animal, request a video call. If you
are provided a picture, conduct a reverse
image search on the photo to see what the
data reveals.”
If you have proof that your new pet
exists, be aware of the market value.
Scammers try to upsell animals if they
know you’re desperate for a certain
breed. If you do make a purchase, avoid
wiring money or using gift cards. Use
a credit card if possible as your bank
may be able to process a charge back
if necessary.
“Do not, however,
fill out an
online form
with your
account
i n f o r -
mation,”
s a y s
Ro s e n z -
weig. “Scammers
usually
can’t process a credit
card. You’ll fill out
the form and receive an
error message, and now
they have your credit
card information.”
If you are purchasing
a pet online or have already
done so, monitor
your credit and watch for suspicious
account activity. If
you believe you have
been scammed, you
can report the incident
to the BBB, petscams.
com and the Federal
Trade Commission.
Of course, the best
way to avoid being
scammed is to adopt,
don’t shop. Reputable
shelters and rescues
may be short staffed
and overwhelmed
due to the pandemic,
but with millions of
homeless animals on
Long Island, patience
is key to finding your
perfect companion. Be
sure to check shelter
websites, fill out adoption
applications, and make
appointments. Your
best friend may be just
a reasonably priced
click or call away!
Healthy Heart Hope Inc.
Need a
cardiologist?
We book for
Because Your
Heart Matters
We provide educational
resources for the
community to prevent
heart disease.
free.
516-668-4587 www.Healthyhearthope.com
Lectures•Community outreach•Booking Service
Fraudsters are taking advantage
of people buying dogs
and cats online. (Getty Images)
IT TAKES A SPECIAL
PERSON TO SAVE
A SPECIAL PET
YOUR MONTHLY
PET SPONSORSHIP WILL:
Help fund major operations and
provide ongoing medical care.
Ensure that abused, neglected,
or abandoned animals receive
constant love and attention.
Make you an essential part of
a grateful pet’s life!
DON’T WAIT - ACT NOW!
Choose a special pet to sponsor today!
1.877.BE.MY.PAL (1.877.236.9725)
sponsor@animalleague.org
animalleague.org/sponsorapet
/www.Healthyhearthope.com
link
/LONGISLANDPRESS.COM
/www.Healthyhearthope.com
/sponsorapet
link
