Cutestshihtzu.com

Cutestshihtzu.com appears to be operating a pet breeder scam. The breeder lacks social media accounts, and the website does not list a verifiable physical address. Legitimate reviews about this breeder are absent, and the pet images for sale on the site are not authentic, with identical pictures discovered on other copycat websites during the investigation. The text on various pages is copied from several other fraudulent sites. Moreover, the domain name was registered only 29 days ago. What is a pet scam?

Red Flags:

Domain information:

Date of registration: December 24, 2023
Expiration: December 24, 2024
First detected: January 22, 2024
Registrar: NAMECHEAP INC www.namecheap.com
Hosted by: Dns-parking.com
Ownership: Unknown

What is a pet scam?

Online pet scams are a growing concern, where swindlers use the allure of adorable pet photos to bait potential victims. These scammers advertise pets for sale or claim they are available for free adoption, asking only for shipping fees to be covered. To appear credible, they often set up counterfeit logistics websites that pose as legitimate shipping companies. Communication with victims is typically conducted through text-based platforms such as WhatsApp, Telegram, or Facebook Messenger. Scammers avoid voice calls and steadfastly refuse video chats, which would expose their ruse by not being able to show the pet live.

Once the initial shipping fee is paid, the fraudsters may invent various hurdles, such as customs hold-ups, demanding extra money for clearance or other fabricated costs. This cycle of deceit can persist, draining the victim’s finances and inflicting emotional pain, as they are led on by the hope of receiving a pet that, in reality, does not exist. Victims are often left to grapple with the dual blow of financial loss and the emotional toll of a scam that exploits their love for animals.

Read our full investigation into online pet scams at this link: Pet Scams Exposed

Report Scams to Government Agencies:
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) – Submit a Report
Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) – Submit a Report
U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) –Submit a Report