Scammers are out there. Here’s how to spot them.
Unfortunately, scammers will try to pose as people looking to rehome pets. We’ll do everything we can to prevent that, but here’s what you can do, too.
Watch for these four red flags from Private Owners. And if you experience any of these, report the pet’s name to us.
Shipment of a pet
Rehome does not allow pets to be shipped. A Meet & Greet, where you meet both the pet and the private owner, is required prior to adopting.
Paying for the adoption
Never provide an advanced payment or deposit for a pet you have not met. You should only pay a pet owner after you have met the pet and both parties have agreed to the adoption! We highly recommend not paying the adoption fee until the pet handoff.
- Avoid payment apps like CashAPP, Zelle, Venmo, or Paypal. Scammers will often insist you use these. And once money has been sent, there is no way to recover those funds.
Asking for personal info
We only share your first name, last initial, phone, email, and city/state. We will never ask for a Social Security number, driver's license, or even an exact home address! Do not share any personal info outside of the adoption application you have filled out on Adopt a Pet. So never do the following:
- Fill out any application, forms, or payments on websites or apps that aren’t Adopt a Pet.
- Share any financial information or personal information, like your home address.
- Click on any links in an email from the Private Owner (they may be trying to install malware).
Communicating in an “off” way
Private Owners not willing to speak on the phone or meet in person? It could be a scammer at work. So make sure to do the following:
- If you receive a text that seems in any way suspicious, try calling the number back.
- Always meet the pet in real life before ever submitting a payment to the Private Owner.
- When deciding on a place to meet the pet, always choose a safe, public place. Never meet at your home. (And as mentioned above, never give your home address to a Private Owner!)
Sounding too good to be true
Scammers often try to post highly-sought after pets to lure potential adopters into paying for a pet that doesn’t exist.
We tell you all this not to freak you out, just to protect you from any potentially bad situations. So if something does seem suspicious, report it to us asap. Because if something seems like a scam, it probably is.
Thanks for helping keep Adopt a Pet safe!