How Pet‑Adoption Scams Prey on Seniors Online
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4 minutes
Aug 8, 2025
Key Takeaways
Meet the pet in person or by video before paying
Never use gift cards, crypto, or wire transfers
Check pet photos by searching the image online
Investigate the seller with a scam search
Prefer local rescues and report any scam attempts
Pet adoption scams are targeting seniors with increasing frequency. These emotionally manipulative schemes involve fake animal listings and untraceable payments, leaving victims without recourse. In this post, we walk through how these scams unfold, why seniors are especially at risk, and the exact steps to take to protect yourself or someone you care about.
How Pet Adoption Scams Prey on Seniors Online
Scammers have begun targeting seniors through online sites and ads offering puppies or kittens for adoption or even free, with a catch: you must pay for shipping or processing fees up front. These are often fake; the pets do not exist. Once victims send money via MoneyGram, Western Union, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or other untraceable methods, communication abruptly ends and the scammer disappears. This is a classic advance fee fraud.
Often the fraudsters reuse stock photos of cute puppies stolen from legitimate websites or social media posts. They lure seniors in with seemingly genuine stories, then claim delays such as customs, vet certificates, airfare, or even sickness, demanding more payments before any pet is delivered.
According to Better Business Bureau and news reports, a staggering 80% of online pet listings may be fake, especially around the holidays. Seniors, who frequently search for companionship, are among those most vulnerable.
Why Seniors Are So Vulnerable
Loneliness, limited mobility, and a fixed income can make a low-cost pup sound irresistible. Scammers exploit this by:
Tugging at the heartstrings. Listings frame the animal as “needing a loving home today,” triggering seniors’ caring instincts.
Leveraging a digital comfort gap. Slick but scammer websites, phony email addresses, and pressure to “click here to pay” are harder to spot if you have less experience shopping online.
Applying polite-person pressure. Many older adults hesitate to cut off a friendly voice on the phone, which gives scammers more time to work their script.
Offering “convenient” shipping. For anyone who can’t travel easily, a promise to deliver the puppy right to the door feels like help, not a red flag.