Scam Watch
Check before you pay
South Africans lose millions every year to pet scams. Search our community-reported scam database by phone number, email address or website before paying any deposit — and if you've been scammed, report it to protect the next buyer.
Puppy mills posing as small home breeders
A documented pattern. A high-volume puppy mill markets itself as a loving small home breeder, using staged photos and always having a puppy...
Other pet scamStud-service deposit scams
A documented scam pattern targeting breeders. A "stud owner" advertises a desirable male at a low stud fee, takes a deposit to "book the dat...
Puppy / pet deposit scamPedigree kitten deposit scams (Bengal, Ragdoll, Sphynx, Maine Coon)
A documented scam pattern. Luxury cat breeds like Bengals, Ragdolls, Sphynx, Persians and Maine Coons sell for a lot, which makes them a fav...
Fake breeder or pet shop websiteThe overseas cattery and "imported kitten" scam
A documented scam pattern. A slick cattery website offers rare kittens and claims they will be imported or flown in, sometimes operated from...
Other pet scamAfrican grey parrot and exotic-bird permit scams
A documented scam pattern. African greys and other parrots are expensive and heavily trafficked, which fuels online fraud. A seller sends cu...
Other pet scamReptile and tortoise sale and permit scams
A documented scam pattern. Snakes, geckos, chameleons and tortoises are sold online with the same deposit-then-permit-fee routine. In South...
Puppy / pet deposit scamHorse sale scams and the fake pre-purchase vetting
A documented scam pattern. Horses are big-ticket, so the losses are large. A sound, well-schooled horse is advertised at a tempting price an...
Puppy / pet deposit scamLivestock scams: cattle, sheep, goats and poultry
A documented scam pattern that hits farmers and smallholders. Cattle, sheep, goats, donkeys and chickens are advertised on social media at g...
Other pet scamPet-sitting and house-sitting deposit scams
A documented scam pattern that works in both directions. A fake "pet sitter" takes a booking deposit and vanishes, or a fake "client" lures...
Other pet scamBoarding kennel and cattery deposit scams
A documented scam pattern, common in holiday season when boarding is scarce. A "kennel" or "cattery" advertises availability, takes a deposi...
Other pet scamMobile grooming and pet-service deposit scams
A documented scam pattern. A cheap mobile groomer or pet-taxi advertises online and asks for an upfront deposit to "book your slot", then ne...
Other pet scamDog-training and "behaviourist" deposit scams
A documented scam pattern. A "certified trainer" or "behaviourist" promises fast results, requires full payment or a large deposit for a cou...
Other pet scamLost-pet ransom scams: "I have your dog, pay the reward"
A documented scam pattern that preys on panicked owners. Someone answers your lost-pet post claiming to have your animal and demands a rewar...
Fake vet bill or insurance fee scamThe injured-lost-pet emergency vet ransom scam
A documented scam pattern, a crueller version of the lost-pet ransom. The caller says they found your missing pet but it is hurt, and demand...
Other pet scamFake microchip "we scanned your pet" recovery scams
A documented scam pattern. A caller claims a vet or shelter scanned your lost pet's microchip and needs a release or handling fee before ret...
Common pet scams in South Africa
Know the pattern before you pay — every type below has been reported here
Puppy / pet deposit scam
You paid a deposit (usually via EFT or e-wallet) for a puppy, kitten or other pet that never existed. The "breeder" disappears or keeps inventing new fees.
Courier or delivery fee scam
After paying for a pet, an alleged courier or "pet transport agency" demands extra fees: a special travel crate, insurance, permits. The pet never arrives.
Fake vet bill or insurance fee scam
The seller or a fake vet demands payment for vaccinations, health certificates or emergency treatment for the pet you already paid for.
Fake breeder or pet shop website
A professional-looking breeder or pet shop website with stolen photos, fake reviews and no real animals behind it.
Impersonating a real breeder or shelter
The scammer poses as a real, registered breeder or shelter, using their name, photos or KUSA details to appear legitimate.
Overpayment / refund scam
A "buyer" overpays for your pet or supplies with a fake payment, then asks you to refund the difference before the payment bounces.
Other pet scam
Any other scam involving pets: pet sitting, grooming, lost-pet ransom demands, adoption fee fraud and more.
The safest way to buy a pet
Every PetGuru breeder and shelter goes through verification — SA ID validation with hashed storage and reuse checks, document review, SAVC name-roll matching for vets, and proof they control the business they claim — before earning a verified badge. Read our Safety & Anti-Scam Guide, and when you're ready, buy from a verified seller.
Browse Verified Breeders
Reports on Scam Watch are submitted by members of the public and reflect the reporter's own account of events. PetGuru moderates every report before publication but cannot independently verify each claim. If a report concerns you, see our Notice & Take-Down procedure.
