A Victorian dog lover has warned others to be cautious after a social media advertisement offering free Golden Retriever puppies allegedly turned into a suspected pet transport scam.
The advertisement, posted online earlier this month, claimed two Golden Retriever puppies were available free to good homes because the owner was relocating interstate.
One Melbourne woman, who asked not to be identified, contacted the advertiser hoping to adopt one of the puppies for her family.
Initially, the exchange appeared genuine. The supposed owner asked questions about the family’s living arrangements, experience with dogs and ability to provide a permanent home.
“The messages sounded reasonable,” the woman said.
However, the story soon changed.
According to correspondence seen by The Indian Sun, the seller later claimed to have relocated to New Zealand and said the puppy would need to be transported to Australia through a pet shipping company.
Although the puppy itself was supposedly free, the recipient was asked to pay transport costs before the animal could be shipped.
The woman became suspicious when the details provided did not match information publicly available about importing pets from New Zealand to Australia.
Further concerns arose when payment was requested through an overseas digital banking platform.
The seller also provided lengthy assurances about being a Christian missionary, claiming they were motivated solely by finding a “forever home” for the puppy and insisting the arrangement was legitimate.
No money was transferred.
After conducting further checks, the woman concluded the offer was likely a scam.
“I was fortunate that I stopped before making any payment,” she said.
Pet scams have become increasingly common on social media platforms and online marketplaces.
Scammers often advertise puppies, kittens or other pets at attractive prices, or even for free, to generate interest quickly. Once contact is established, victims are asked to pay transport fees, insurance charges, veterinary costs or quarantine expenses.
In many cases, the animal does not exist.
According to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s National Anti-Scam Centre, pet scams continue to target Australians through online classified sites, social media groups and messaging platforms.
Common warning signs include sellers claiming to be overseas, requests for upfront payments, pressure to act quickly and payment instructions involving unfamiliar financial services.
Consumer advocates recommend that prospective pet owners never transfer money for an animal they have not seen, verify breeders through recognised organisations and independently confirm any transport arrangements before making payments.
The Melbourne woman said she decided to speak publicly about her experience so others would not be caught out.
“These scams play on people’s emotions,” she said. “When you’re excited about bringing a new pet into your family, it’s easy to overlook the warning signs.”
She urged anyone who encounters similar advertisements to report them immediately and alert others in community groups where the posts appear.
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