The pet scam tactics we saw most in 2026

Cloned programmes, not invented ones

The biggest shift is that scammers stopped inventing catteries and started cloning real ones — copying the about page, health testing records and even review text of an established breeder, then changing only the contact details.

The defence is straightforward: contact the breeder through a channel you found independently, and confirm the phone number and email against the profile you are transacting on.

Video calls are no longer proof on their own

Pre-recorded footage passed off as live has become common. Ask for something unscriptable: have the person hold up a handwritten note with today's date next to the animal, or walk from the animal's room to the front door in one unbroken shot.

Fabricated transport fees

The second payment request is where most losses happen. Legitimate breeders quote transport up front, in the contract, and almost never through a third-party 'insurance' company you have never heard of.