Safety & Anti-Scam Guide

Last updated: July 2026

PetGuru connects you with other people — buyers, sellers, breeders, shelters, and professionals. Most are genuine, but pet classifieds are a known target for scammers, especially "puppy scams". Because PetGuru is an intermediary and does not hold your money or attend your transaction, your own care is your best protection. Please read this guide before you pay anyone or hand over an animal.

1. The Golden Rules

• See the animal in person, in its home, before you pay. A genuine seller will let you visit and meet the animal (and, for a puppy or kitten, see it with its mother).
• Never pay a deposit to "hold" an animal, and never pay before you have seen it.
• Never wire money or pay via untraceable methods, and be very wary of anyone who insists on payment to a personal account for "courier", "crate", "insurance", or "vaccination" fees before delivery. These are classic scam signals.
• Meet in a safe, public place for product handovers, and take someone with you where you can.
• Do not release goods or an animal until you are certain payment has actually cleared in your account.

2. Checks Before You Buy an Animal

• Ask for and verify veterinary records and vaccination history.
• Confirm microchip registration with the relevant SA registry (for example, Identipet, BackHomeID, or Virbac).
• Get a written sale agreement with the seller's details, the animal's details, and photographs.
• For a breeder, ask about registration and health screening and be cautious of anyone unwilling to answer.
• Be sceptical of prices that seem too good to be true, pressure to decide immediately, or a seller who will only communicate off-platform.

3. Red Flags of a Puppy or Product Scam

• The seller refuses a visit or a live video call showing the animal.
• Payment is demanded upfront for delivery, a "special crate", "pet insurance", or a "refundable" courier fee.
• Stock or generic photos, or the same photos appearing in multiple listings.
• Requests to move the conversation and payment to WhatsApp, email, or a personal bank account straight away.
• Emotional pressure ("the puppy needs a home today").

4. A Word on the Verified Badge

Our "verified" badge means a user passed an identity check at a point in time. It is a helpful signal, but it is not a guarantee of a person's ongoing conduct, of an animal's health, or of the outcome of any deal. Always apply the golden rules above, verified or not.

5. Report a Problem

• Suspected fraud or a scam: fraud@petguru.co.za, and use the "Report" button on the listing.
• Animal in danger or a welfare concern: safety@petguru.co.za, or contact the NSPCA on 011 907 3590 or your local SPCA. If a crime is in progress, contact the SAPS.
• General help: support@petguru.co.za.

See also our Community Guidelines and Terms & Conditions (especially § 7.4 on off-platform transactions and § 7.5 on live-animal listings).