Spot it. Stop it. Report it.
Pet scams are real. Here is how FriendaPet protects you, and the red flags to watch for anywhere you shop.
How we protect you
Four layers of protection
Payment held until arrival
When you reserve a pet through FriendaPet, your payment is held in our Buyer Protection Hold. The seller is paid after you tap Confirm Receipt and upload a photo of your pet.
Messages stay on the platform
Chat inside FriendaPet. No phone numbers or emails are needed until you are ready, and we flag messages that appear to share off-platform contact details.
Sellers are verified
Listers confirm a government-issued ID and a real bank account through Stripe before they can publish a listing.
Anyone can report
You don't need an account to report a listing. Our team reviews every report within 24 hours.
Red flags
Trust your gut. If any of these show up, pause and report it.
Asks you to move off-platform
Wants you to text, email or pay somewhere else instead of in FriendaPet messages.
Pressure to decide fast
Urgency, inconsistent details, or a meeting spot that feels unsafe.
No video call, vague answers
A real seller can show you the pet and answer specific questions about it.
Photos that look off
Unnatural lighting, odd backgrounds, or eyes that don't look real. Flag it for our team.
Paying safely
How to pay
Do
- Pay through FriendaPet's secured Stripe connection
- Pay cash in person, when you have the pet in hand
- Wait to tap Confirm Receipt until you are satisfied
Never
- Western Union or wire transfers
- Gift cards
- Venmo, Zelle or similar apps when you haven't met the pet
Don't confirm receipt until you're satisfied. After a seller has been paid, refunds depend on that seller's own policy, shown on their profile.