How to Avoid Online Kitten Scams
A beautiful kitten photo can make you want to act quickly. Before you pay a reservation fee, take time to verify the seller, see the actual kitten, and understand the written terms. Scammers can copy photographs, business names, and legitimate-looking documents.
At TMZ Kittenz N Katz, we encourage buyers to ask questions and use the contact information published on our official website. These checks can help you approach any online kitten listing more carefully.
Verify the seller through independent channels
Type the breeder’s website address yourself instead of relying only on an advertisement or message link. Compare the name, phone number, and email address with information you find independently.
The Federal Trade Commission recommends searching the seller’s name with words such as “complaint” or “scam.” Read more than a few glowing reviews. Look for a consistent history, detailed experiences, and contact information that matches. FTC pet-scam guidance
A polished website or social profile is a starting point for research, not proof that a seller is genuine.
See the actual kitten
Ask for an in-person appointment or a live video conversation showing the kitten. The FTC specifically recommends in-person or video visits as part of checking a pet seller.
During a call, ask about the kitten’s name, age, daily routine, and distinguishing features. A prerecorded clip cannot answer your questions in real time. A seller may reasonably have appointment rules or health precautions, but repeated refusal to communicate or show the animal deserves caution.
TMZ offers in-person visits by appointment. Contact us directly to discuss viewing arrangements.
Check whether the photos were copied
Run a reverse image search on listing photographs. The FTC recommends this to identify images taken from elsewhere.
Finding a photo on several pages does not always prove fraud; legitimate breeders may post across platforms. However, the same kitten appearing under different breeder names, locations, or identities is a reason to stop and investigate. Ask the original business to confirm whether the listing belongs to it.
Understand every payment before sending it
Get the kitten’s full price, reservation amount, balance, and transportation costs in writing. Confirm who will receive the money and what happens if plans change.
Be cautious about pressure to pay immediately, unexpected payment-account changes, or repeated new fees after you have already paid. Verify any last-minute change by calling a number you obtained independently.
Do not assume a payment app or a transaction labeled as a business purchase guarantees reimbursement. Check the provider’s current rules for live-animal transactions before relying on purchase protection. Keep the invoice, messages, agreement, and receipts.
Check credentials and the agreement
Ask about registration and licensing claims, then verify them with the issuing organization where possible. A copied badge or certificate can be misleading. TICA also cautions that a breeder listing does not generally constitute its endorsement. TICA disclaimer
Read the agreement before paying. It should identify the seller and explain the animal or reservation, price, payment terms, and relevant health provisions. Unanswered questions are a reason to pause.
Contact TMZ through our official website
Our website is www.tmzkittenznkatz.com, and our published call or text number is 678-617-1034. You can also reach us at tamira.nickerson@tmzknk.com.
If someone claims to represent TMZ and asks you to use unfamiliar payment details, contact us through the website to verify the request. You can also review our pet-scam information and beware of kitten scams.
If you suspect fraud, stop sending money, contact your payment provider promptly, preserve the evidence, and report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Taking time to verify a seller protects your ability to make a thoughtful decision.
