Scammers use cute kitten pictures to con animal lovers in France

Animal lovers are being warned of a new scam in France, where fraudsters pretending to sell newborn pets are tricking people out of hundreds of euros online.

Consumer rights watchdog UFC Que-Choisir is warning people about the trick.

Scammers use fake pictures to draw victims into buying the pets. When it is time to pay, they insist on a form of payment that allows them to take the money without handing anything over in return.

That is typically done by demanding payment in the form of a prepaid bank card, coupon, or PayPal transfer.

In certain circumstances, the victim is also asked to pay for extras such as vaccines or special transportation cages for the animal – which obviously does not exist, much less need medical treatment.

In light of the scam, UFC Que-Choisir has provided tips on how to make sure you are buying a pet from a genuine seller, as well as alternative means of adopting a new pet.

How does the scam work?

Firstly, fraudsters set up a classified advert – including a photo of adorable puppies or kittens and their ‘owner’ – on a classified ad website.

In the description, the scammer says that they need to sell the pet or pets because they are moving to a new home (sometimes they say they are going to a retirement home to pull on the heartstrings further) or cannot afford to look after the new litter for financial reasons.

All seems well and good, but when it is time to make a payment for the animal they ask for it via a prepaid bank card or physical bank coupon – which can be bought from tabac shops and are legal.

They ask for the victim to give them the transaction number attached to the card or coupon – which allows them to spend the funds added to the card by the victim – and once they receive it, drop all contact with them.

Sometimes the scam involves a second step, with the ‘owner’ saying the animal has been sent to the victim's address, but then a new person contacts them, claiming the animal needs a vaccine or a special cage for transportation before it can travel any further.

The victim, desperate to get their hands on an animal they have fallen in love with and already paid so much for, will agree to pay these additional costs – sometimes hundreds of euros on top of the original payment – before the victim is left totally in the dark.

Read also: Pet travel: Can I take my dog or cat with me on a train in France?

How do I spot these scams?

In most cases, these fraudulent posts can be spotted, and you can prevent yourself from being scammed.

The first thing to scrutinise is the photos posted on the ad – you can use a reverse image search to see if they have been taken from another internet page.

You should also ask for multiple photos of the pet doing a number of activities, to make sure it really is in the person’s possession.

You should also check the address and information posted by the seller, to make sure they are not posing as somebody else or using fake information.

Finally, you should never hand over any money before seeing the pet in person yourself, and even when you do, should use a traditional method of payment (bank transfer, cash in hand, etc) instead of prepaid cards.

Classified ads are not the safest way to obtain a new pet – alternative methods include buying directly from a pet shop or breeder, adopting from an animal shelter, or a family member or friend giving you a pet after the birth of a new litter.

As a reminder, for the latter, individuals are not permitted to sell newborn pets, or they will be treated as breeders and subject to regulations.

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