In December 2025, the BC Better Business Bureau issued a blunt warning: as many as 80% of online pet ads may be fake. Reported pet-scam losses in Canada have topped $3 million over twelve months — a sixfold increase in just three years. If you're searching for a pet online right now, you're searching in a market where fraud has become common, not rare.
The good news: pet scams tend to follow the same handful of patterns. Once you know what to look for, they're not hard to spot.
The warning signs
Red flag #1: Prices that are too good to be true
A purebred puppy listed for $200–$400 when comparable, verified listings in your area run $1,500+ is not a lucky find. It's almost always a scam designed to get a deposit from as many people as possible before disappearing.
The seller won't do a video call or in-person meeting. Every excuse — "I'm out of the country," "the puppy is with a shipping company," "I'm a military family relocating" — is a script. A real seller with a real animal has no reason to avoid a live video call.
They pressure you to pay before you see the pet. Scammers create urgency: "someone else is interested," "I need the deposit today to hold them." A legitimate seller understands you want to see the animal first and won't rush you.
Payment requests skew toward e-transfer, wire transfer, or gift cards. These payment methods are close to impossible to reverse once sent — which is exactly why scammers prefer them.
The photos look too professional, or show up elsewhere online. A quick reverse-image search on a listing photo can reveal it's been lifted from a breeder's website or a different classified ad entirely.
No verifiable business or seller history. No CKC registration, no reviews, no prior listings, an account created days ago.
If a seller is unwilling to meet, unwilling to video call, and unwilling to wait for a deposit — that unwillingness is the answer.
What a legitimate transaction looks like
A real seller will welcome questions about vaccination records, deworming schedule, and health guarantees. They'll show you the puppy with its littermates and mother where possible. They'll be comfortable with a video call, and they won't flinch at meeting in person before any money changes hands.
See verified listings on Pets of Canada
Every listing includes seller and location details up front, so you know who you're dealing with before you ever send a message.
If you've already sent money
Contact your bank or e-transfer provider immediately — some transfers can still be recalled within a short window. Report the listing to the platform it appeared on, and file a report with the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca. It won't always get your money back, but it helps flag the seller before someone else falls for the same listing.
For a practical checklist to run through before you pay anyone for a pet, see our companion post: Never E-Transfer Before You Meet: A Buyer Safety Checklist.