Advice and warnings on pet scams

Puppy scams have been around for many years and are now more sophisticated than ever before, so it’s important to be aware of pet travel scams and what signs to look for.

Purchasing a pet is like welcoming a new member to the family. With this in mind, we understand that it’s easier to fall victim to cleverly disguised pet scams.

Scammers are posing as pet breeders or agents who arrange pet travel and customers pay for the services they think they’re going to receive. Unfortunately, these highly elaborate schemes mean that there is no pet to deliver even after payment has been made. More recently, scams relating to the cost of, and access to, Qantas pet crates have surfaced and we recommend you check online for the latest pet crate information.

Knowing how to spot fraudulent websites, emails and phone calls can help you avoid pet travel scams. What to look out for:  

• Credibility: visit the seller’s website and check if it looks legitimate. This could be difficult as scammers can be good at appearing to be a real business. Another check is seeing if the pet transport company is associated with IPATA – International Pet and Animal Transport Association,  RACA or ATA. Refer to IPATA's list of known scammers and genuine pet travel companies to find out more.
  
• Payment method: check that the payment method being asked from you is a secure method, such as via credit card or PayPal, rather than non-refundable payment methods such as Western Union, or if requested to do a direct bank transfer. 
• Review the email sender: scammers will likely use third-party providers such as Gmail or Hotmail to send emails. Question if the domain of the sender appears to be genuine. 
• Review the caller: do a simple search engine check of the number calling you to check if that number is registered under the business you're dealing with.

If you are unsure or have any concerns, submit a query through our Contact us page. You can also make a report through the Australian Government’s Scamwatch. Refer to our pet travel specialists page for a list of Qantas Freight-approved agents. Details on crates can also be found here.