Seller Safety: Avoid Overpayment & Code Scams

When selling a pet, everyone wants their furry friend to end up in a loving home. The emotional investment in finding the right family makes sellers naturally helpful and trusting—exactly what scammers count on.

PetClassifieds contributes official data to the FTC Consumer Sentinel Network and works to fight fraud across the web. While automated filters catch most threats, understanding these common schemes helps sellers stay ahead of potential fraudsters.

Overpayment and Fake Check Scams

This old trick keeps fooling pet sellers because it feels so legitimate at first. The “buyer” contacts you, seems genuinely interested in your pet, then explains they’ll send payment plus extra money to cover shipping through their preferred pet transport company. The check arrives looking completely official—watermarks, bank logos, everything seems right.

But there’s a catch that’s cost sellers thousands. That professional-looking cashier’s check is completely fake. The scammer wants you to wire the “shipping money” to their courier service before anyone picks up your pet. Sometimes they’ll even send someone to collect the animal after you’ve sent the money, thinking everything went smoothly.

Banks Release Fake Money First, Ask Questions Later

Here’s where things get messy. Your banking app shows the deposit went through, money appears in your account, and everything looks fine. Federal regulations require banks to make funds available quickly, usually within a day or two. The problem? Banks need weeks to confirm whether that check holds any real value.

When the bank finally discovers the check was counterfeit, they yank all that money back out of your account—including whatever you already spent or wired to the scammers. You’re stuck paying back the full amount, even though you were the victim.

Red Flags to Watch For

1. Payments that exceed the agreed price
2. Urgent demands to wire money immediately
3. Third-party handlers for pickup or payment arrangements
4. Generic messages that work for any pet listing

Protection Strategies

1. Accept only cash, verified bank transfers, or meet at their bank
2. Avoid wiring money to strangers under any circumstances
3. Work directly with actual buyers, not their “representatives”
4. Allow up to 10 business days for complete check verification

While overpayment scams cause the biggest financial losses, verification code schemes target sellers much more frequently.

Google Voice Verification Code Scam

This scam plagues every major online marketplace, from social media to classifieds sites. Anytime a phone number is posted publicly on the internet, automated bots can scrape it within minutes. Someone claims they need to confirm sellers aren’t bots or scammers themselves. They’ll send a six-digit code to the seller’s phone and ask for it back as “proof of legitimacy.”

The single most effective way to stop this is simple: don’t make your number public. By keeping your phone number hidden and using our internal messaging system, you add a powerful layer of security.

What actually happens when you share that code? The scammer just used your phone number to set up a Google Voice account that forwards to their real number. Now they’ve got what looks like a legitimate local phone number tied to yours, which makes their future scams way more convincing to other victims.

How to Protect Yourself

1. Verification codes stay private, always
2. Forward suspicious texts to 7726 (SPAM) for carrier blocking
3. Use PetClassifieds messaging instead of sharing phone numbers—it keeps communication within protected systems

If You’ve Been Victimized

Recovering a hijacked number involves creating a Google Voice account and adding the phone number back as the linked line. If Google warns it’s “already in use,” that confirms the scammer’s involvement. Complete the setup process to regain control, then visit Google’s account recovery page for extra help.

Additional Safety Measures

Real buyers stand out pretty easily. They ask specific questions about temperament, health records, or breed characteristics. Scammers send copy-paste messages that could work for any listing. Genuine interest shows through requests for additional photos or meetups, plus natural conversation flow rather than robotic scripts.

Keeping all communication on PetClassifieds matters more than people realize. Security filters only work on platform messages—sharing phone numbers and switching to texting abandons that protection entirely. When someone pressures quick decisions or makes weird requests, trust those instincts and walk away.

What We’re Doing to Help

We work around the clock to filter listings and block scams before they reach you. We also share fraud data with the FTC and work directly with police on active cases. Our goal is to handle the technical security so you can focus on your pets.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does a buyer want to send me a 6-digit code? They’re attempting to authorize a Google Voice account setup using someone else’s phone number. Legitimate buyers never need to “verify” sellers through codes.

How long does it really take for a cashier’s check to clear? Money might appear within 24 hours, but banks can reverse fake check deposits weeks later and hold recipients responsible for the full amount. “Available” doesn’t equal “cleared.”

Is it safe to accept a check if I wait for it to clear? For online sales involving strangers, checks carry significant risk regardless of waiting periods. Cash during pickup or secure platform payments provide the most dependable protection.

Report Suspicious Activity

When encountering suspected fraud:

1. Don’t engage: Avoid engaging with suspicious contacts
2. For SMS/Text Scams: Forward the message to 7726 (SPAM). Do not report these to us—we cannot identify or block users based on phone numbers alone.
3. For Website Messages: Report users through our contact system but only when the suspicious contact happened through PetClassifieds messaging
4. Document everything: Screenshot those weird messages, save email addresses, write down phone numbers

Dealing with scammers is frustrating, but if you stay alert and stick to these guidelines, you can stop them in their tracks. Focus on finding that perfect family for your pet—the legitimate buyers are out there.