Pet Transport Scams: How to Spot Them and Protect Yourself

International pet transport is an emotional, time-sensitive process – which makes it fertile ground for fraud. Every year, pet owners lose thousands of pounds or dollars to fake pet transport companies, non-existent agents and staged emergencies designed to extort additional payments. Knowing how these scams work is the best defence.

The Most Common Pet Transport Scam Types

1. The phantom pet shipper A person advertising pets for sale (often puppies) online offers to ship the animal internationally at no or minimal charge. After payment is sent, the seller goes silent. The animal never existed. These scams target buyers of rare breeds, designer dogs and exotic animals.

2. The escalating fees scam You book a legitimate-looking pet transport service. After paying the initial fee, you are contacted with a series of additional charges – “customs clearance fees,” “quarantine insurance,” “special crate requirements,” “temperature control surcharges.” Each payment is requested urgently, with threats that your pet will be detained or returned if you do not comply. Legitimate agents agree a price upfront (or very close to it) and do not repeatedly request emergency additional payments after booking.

3. The fake customs emergency You are told your pet has been detained at customs or held at the destination airport and that you must pay immediately to release them. The money is requested by wire transfer or cryptocurrency to an individual account. Legitimate customs fees are paid directly to government agencies, not to a third party via personal bank transfer.

4. The shell company A website that looks professional but has no verifiable accreditation, no physical address, no auditable history and uses stock photography of animals they do not own. They take payment and disappear, or provide poor service with no accountability.

5. The impersonator Fraudsters sometimes impersonate well-known, legitimate pet relocation companies. Always verify contact details independently rather than clicking links in unsolicited emails. Phone the company’s published number, not a number given in the email.

Red Flags to Watch For

• No IPATA (International Pet and Animal Transportation Association) membership or equivalent accreditation
• No verifiable physical address
• Pressure to pay immediately by wire transfer, PayPal Friends and Family, or cryptocurrency
• A quoted price that seems too low compared to other providers
• No written contract or service agreement
• Requests for additional emergency payments after the initial booking
• Cannot provide verifiable airline booking references or tracking numbers
• Refuses to communicate by phone, only via messaging apps or email

How to Choose a Legitimate Agent

Check IPATA membership: IPATA is the main international trade association for pet transport agents. Members commit to a code of conduct. Verify membership at www.ipata.org – the member directory is publicly searchable.

Ask for references: Reputable agents will happily provide testimonials or put you in touch with past clients. Look for reviews on Google, Trustpilot and expat forums for the specific route you are using.

Get a written quote: All legitimate agents provide a detailed written quote before any payment is made. The quote should itemise airline fees, documentation costs, government endorsement fees and the agent’s service fee separately.

Pay by credit card where possible: Credit card payments offer chargeback protection that wire transfers do not. Be cautious of any agent who insists on wire transfer only.

Verify the airline booking: Once booked, ask for the airline cargo booking reference number. You can call the airline directly to confirm a live animal booking exists.

If You Suspect You Have Been Scammed

Report the fraud to:

• Action Fraud (UK): www.actionfraud.police.uk
• FTC (USA): www.reportfraud.ftc.gov
• IPATA: They have a fraud reporting mechanism for member complaints
• Your credit card company for chargeback if you paid by card

Do not send further payments in the hope of recovering an initial loss. This is the defining characteristic of escalating fee fraud – further payment does not resolve the situation.

Sources: IPATA guidance on pet transport fraud; Action Fraud UK statistics on pet scams; FTC consumer advice on pet purchase scams; Which? magazine pet transport fraud reporting (2024).