Looking to buy an exotic pet? Scammers are hoping to hear from you

Social media can connect us to friends and family across the country — but it can also connect us to scammers. Impersonators on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook are pretending to sell exotic animals to try and get people’s money. Here’s how to spot and avoid these scammers.

Imagine you’re scrolling through your feed and see a cute animal, like an exotic bird. You’re interested and look at the seller’s profile, which turns out to be the business page of what looks like an exotic bird business. The profile directs you to message them if you’re interested, so you do.

Soon they say you can only pay with a payment app, cryptocurrency, wire transfer, or gift card. Once you pay, you get an update that your bird is in transit…but there’s a problem and they need more money. You’re eager to meet your new companion, so you pay that, too.

This can go on for several days. But once you start asking questions and stop sending money, the seller disappears. Why? Because it was all a scam.

So how do you avoid scams like this?

• Insist on paying with a credit card. Credit cards offer the most protection if a seller turns out to be a fraud. If an online seller says you can only pay with gift cards, wire transfers, payment apps (like Apple Pay, CashApp, PayPal, or Zelle), or cryptocurrency, walk away. That’s a scam.
• Do a reverse image search. Check to see if you can find the animal’s photo anywhere else — like on another seller’s website. If so, it might be a scam.
• Check prices elsewhere. How much is that kind of pet usually sold for? If you find someone selling for much cheaper, it might be a red flag that it’s a scam.

Spot a scam like this? Report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

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