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.
Stolen photos and breeder impersonation scams
A documented scam pattern. Scammers copy photos, kennel names and even the identity of real, registered breeders to look legitimate. The sam...
Impersonating a real breeder or shelterFake champion bloodlines and inflated pedigree claims
A documented scam pattern. A seller inflates the price by claiming "champion bloodline", "imported parents" or "show quality", backed by pap...
Impersonating a real breeder or shelterPuppy 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...
Impersonating a real breeder or shelterFake rescue and adoption-fee scams
A documented scam pattern. Scammers pose as animal shelters or rescues, advertising pets for adoption and asking for a "refundable" deposit...
Impersonating a real breeder or shelterWhatsApp and Telegram breeder-group scams
A documented pattern. Scammers join or run WhatsApp and Telegram "breeder" and "pets for sale" groups, sometimes impersonating the group adm...
Impersonating a real breeder or shelterInstagram cattery and kennel scams
A documented pattern. Polished Instagram accounts pose as boutique catteries or kennels, using stolen photos and bought followers to look es...
Impersonating a real breeder or shelterCloned and spoofed real-breeder websites
A documented pattern. Scammers copy a genuine breeder's entire website onto a look-alike domain (a slightly different spelling or extension)...
Impersonating a real breeder or shelterHijacked breeder accounts and page-takeover scams
A documented pattern. A real breeder's Facebook or Instagram page is hacked or cloned, and the scammer uses that trusted, established accoun...
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.
