Pet Scams Popping Up In Louisiana According to the Better Business Bureau

Financial scams are a growing concern in the United States. A recent Gallup poll shows that 15% of Americans surveyed have a household member who was tricked by a scammer into sending money or providing access to a financial account. That's a wildly high number. That's at least 1 of every 10 people have someone in their house that has been the victim of a financial scam.

The same research looked at how worried we are about falling victim to a scam, and it showed that scams are the second highest worried about crime in America. Only behind the fears of having a crime committed against you while you walk alone at night.

You might think to yourself that getting scammed could never happen to you. Probably because the way that stereotypical scams take place involve someone pretending to be the Prince of a foreign nation in an email, or some kind of fake check in your mailbox. But these scammers are terrible people, and will prey on things you love.

Many scams target people through romantic scenarios. Catfishing victims online, posing as someone they're not. Then asking for money to help "sick family members" or eventually getting the victim to send enough money for the scammer to "travel to meet the person". The money gets sent, and the scammer never gets on a plane, and the scam runs its course.

But these scammers are also willing to pull on the emotional heartstrings of animal lovers.

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is now tracking scams and crimes involving pets and pet adoptions. They have even created a specific tag in their scam database for pet scams. Some of what you will find there is heartbreaking.

In Louisiana alone, there are multiple reports of victims paying large amounts of money to adopt pets they've fallen in love with, only to have the rug pulled out from under them. Victims report arranged pickups that don't take place after payments were made, or "sudden vet issues" that come up after money has been paid. These scams seem much more plausible than emails from princes.

Be careful out there. Make sure you know any person or business that you're going to give money to. Check their references, and trust your instincts. Always remember: if something sounds too good to be true, its probably a scam. If something does happen to you, contact the authorities, and make sure to contact the BBB as well.