Kitten Scammers are Everywhere & the Issue is Growing
Let’s talk about KITTEN SCAMS...awhile back, a lady in a Facebook group posted a picture of an obvious Black Smoke kitten but said the breeder isn’t sure if it’s a Black or Black Smoke. She wanted input from people in the group. This post immediately got my interest. Because a young dark Black Smoke can be harder to ID if the silver is coming in slowly BUT this kitten was very obviously a Black Smoke. So that was very suspicious right away. How could a breeder not know such a basic thing?
I started talking to her and the entire story came out. Her breeder in Maine didn’t actually have the kitten. The breeder was getting the kitten from Russia from another breeder. The Maine breeder wouldn’t tell the client who the Russian breeder was though. THREE obvious RED FLAGS. Two breeders not knowing their kitten coloring is very suspect. The Maine breeder not sharing who the Russian breeder is, also suspect. Because the pedigree will list who the original breeder is, there is no reason or purpose in keeping that information private.
The client then went onto explain that the Maine breeder has a small program so that’s why they don’t know their colors. And she said because the Cattery is small, they import to sell kittens when they don’t have kittens. Omg people, don’t be so gullible. Importing is not an easy process, is expensive, and not even worth the process or costs for a small Cattery.
Also, the total kitten price is $1800. Do the math. It’s very complicated to import a kitten and even more now that covid is here. To import alone is around $1400, plus a broker for the paperwork, plus the fee the airport charges for the import. Just to import the Black Smoke male will exceed $1800 (that does not include his adoption fee). So that means neither breeder charged any fee for him. No one is going to go through the process and expense of importing kittens for FREE. Nor is a breeder in Russia going to give a Black Smoke male away and go through the hassle of hiring a courier, setting up the pedigree, or all the vet paperwork and vet bills for free. Black Smokes are in demand everywhere, including overseas.
Please use common sense vs being blindsided cause you wanted a lower price. Scammers make money from gullible people who are also looking for bargain prices. I tried to warn her, she wouldn’t listen.
I have imported 9 pets from overseas and my friends have imported multiple pets too. My daughter has also had kittens imported from Russia. Trust me, it’s expensive, tedious, and only a few airports will now accept these pets. My daughter has to go from Colorado to California because LA was the closest airport that allows importing. Don’t be a victim of scammers, there are obvious multiple RED FLAGS that every victim ignored.
Red Flags: 🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩
Price is too good to be true. I don’t think people understand how expensive breeding is because they aren’t using common sense on the cost of overhead etc. Plus, this is work and the time we invest is not free.
Not providing cat registry information and registered Cattery name. You can confirm a Cattery with TICA and CFA.
Having sales or big discounts. Buy one and get the second kitten discounted or free.
Payment type. Reputable breeders have multiple payment types they accept. This is only tricky when importing, it's pretty limited.
Should have a website that’s very transparent with plenty of pics and videos and their social media page has activity and interaction with past clients. Both pages provide plenty of information about them and their program. I even turn my location on for certain posts so people can see that I am located where I say that I am.
Beware of broken English but they state they are in the USA or are vague about their location. Broken English doesn’t mean they are a scammer, but most foreign scammers are acting like they are in the USA, but they aren’t.
Reputable breeders have an application process. Reputable breeders often have more applicants than they will ever have kittens.
Reputable breeders DON’T use Craigslist. Craigslist is great for scammers and bargain shoppers are an easy target.
Reputable breeders have multiple ways to contact them. I have used the same email address for 16 years. I can be contacted on here, by email, by phone, and through my website.
Lastly, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
I started talking to her and the entire story came out. Her breeder in Maine didn’t actually have the kitten. The breeder was getting the kitten from Russia from another breeder. The Maine breeder wouldn’t tell the client who the Russian breeder was though. THREE obvious RED FLAGS. Two breeders not knowing their kitten coloring is very suspect. The Maine breeder not sharing who the Russian breeder is, also suspect. Because the pedigree will list who the original breeder is, there is no reason or purpose in keeping that information private.
The client then went onto explain that the Maine breeder has a small program so that’s why they don’t know their colors. And she said because the Cattery is small, they import to sell kittens when they don’t have kittens. Omg people, don’t be so gullible. Importing is not an easy process, is expensive, and not even worth the process or costs for a small Cattery.
Also, the total kitten price is $1800. Do the math. It’s very complicated to import a kitten and even more now that covid is here. To import alone is around $1400, plus a broker for the paperwork, plus the fee the airport charges for the import. Just to import the Black Smoke male will exceed $1800 (that does not include his adoption fee). So that means neither breeder charged any fee for him. No one is going to go through the process and expense of importing kittens for FREE. Nor is a breeder in Russia going to give a Black Smoke male away and go through the hassle of hiring a courier, setting up the pedigree, or all the vet paperwork and vet bills for free. Black Smokes are in demand everywhere, including overseas.
Please use common sense vs being blindsided cause you wanted a lower price. Scammers make money from gullible people who are also looking for bargain prices. I tried to warn her, she wouldn’t listen.
I have imported 9 pets from overseas and my friends have imported multiple pets too. My daughter has also had kittens imported from Russia. Trust me, it’s expensive, tedious, and only a few airports will now accept these pets. My daughter has to go from Colorado to California because LA was the closest airport that allows importing. Don’t be a victim of scammers, there are obvious multiple RED FLAGS that every victim ignored.
Red Flags: 🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩
Price is too good to be true. I don’t think people understand how expensive breeding is because they aren’t using common sense on the cost of overhead etc. Plus, this is work and the time we invest is not free.
Not providing cat registry information and registered Cattery name. You can confirm a Cattery with TICA and CFA.
Having sales or big discounts. Buy one and get the second kitten discounted or free.
Payment type. Reputable breeders have multiple payment types they accept. This is only tricky when importing, it's pretty limited.
Should have a website that’s very transparent with plenty of pics and videos and their social media page has activity and interaction with past clients. Both pages provide plenty of information about them and their program. I even turn my location on for certain posts so people can see that I am located where I say that I am.
Beware of broken English but they state they are in the USA or are vague about their location. Broken English doesn’t mean they are a scammer, but most foreign scammers are acting like they are in the USA, but they aren’t.
Reputable breeders have an application process. Reputable breeders often have more applicants than they will ever have kittens.
Reputable breeders DON’T use Craigslist. Craigslist is great for scammers and bargain shoppers are an easy target.
Reputable breeders have multiple ways to contact them. I have used the same email address for 16 years. I can be contacted on here, by email, by phone, and through my website.
Lastly, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.