Data from Santander indicates women and customers aged 46 or older are particularly likely to be targeted by these scams. Common tactics used by scammers include asking for money upfront as a deposit, requesting funds to cover delivery of a pet, or money to cover vet bills and immunisations. Claims received by Santander have involved a range of animals, from desirable breeds of cats and dogs, such as miniature dachshunds and cockapoo puppies, to parrots, reptiles, fish, and horses.
Santander UK urged people to be wary of social media adverts, which it said is a common place for criminals to post fake ads for pets, though the specific platforms or online sites where these listings are most prevalent remain unknown. The bank recommended doing background checks on the seller and the pet, reverse image searching photos, asking to see the animal before buying, and being cautious about upfront payments. Dr Rasha Kassem, who leads the Fraud Research Group at Aston University, said Santander's figures highlight a sharp increase in pet-related fraud.
The emotional nature of pet purchases makes this fraud particularly effective. Buyers are often motivated by urgency and attachment, which criminals exploit.
She also noted that as with most fraud, the figures are likely to understate the true scale due to under-reporting. The exact number of customers affected by the £160,000 in pet scam losses in Q1 2026 has not been disclosed, and it is unclear whether other banks or financial institutions have seen similar increases in pet scam losses. Additionally, how Santander's data on pet scams compares to national fraud statistics or reports from other sources, as well as what law enforcement actions, if any, have been taken against the scammers behind these frauds, remain unknown.