CHOICE is reporting that loses from pet scams have increased by more than 1000 per cent, or an estimated $4.2 million, over the past two years.

It appears scammers are taking advantage of the huge demand in pets due to the pandemic.

According to CHOICE here are ways to identify them.

• Do a Google reverse image search on the main photo on the website, if it comes up as from another website, then copy and paste a testimonial from the suspicious website into another Google search. If that testimonial appears in different website, it will link to the original and all the others that have copied it.
• Avoid ads using WhatsApp phone numbers starting 0480-0 or 0488-8.
• Cut and paste the contact details including phone number and email into a Google search along with the word ‘scam’ to see if anyone else has raised concerns about the website.
• The asking price may be well below other breeders.
• They offer a large number of breeds. Most breeders only offer one or two breeds.
• They are offering a Savannah cat, which are banned in Australia.

Before buying, CHOICE also advises the following:

• Don’t pay for an animal unless you have seen it yourself.
• Don’t pay via money order or wire transfer, it’s difficult to recover funds sent this way.
• If you have doubts, contact the official breeders’ association, vet or pet store.
• If you have paid once, don’t send any more money. If they ask for money for ‘transportation costs’ it’s probably a scam.

If you think you have been scammed, contact your bank or financial institution as soon as possible and report the incident to Scamwatch.