A practical legal article in the Philippine setting

I. Overview: What counts as an online pet trading scam?

Online pet trading scams usually involve a seller, breeder, “rescuer,” or courier who uses social media, chat apps, or e-commerce platforms to deceive a buyer. Common patterns include:

Non-delivery after payment – you pay for a puppy/kitten/bird/exotic pet, then the seller disappears.
Bait-and-switch – you receive a different animal (age, breed, health status) from what was advertised.
Fake “reservation fees,” “shipping,” or “crate” charges – the scammer keeps adding fees.
Phantom couriers or “pet transport” agents – a second scammer pretends to be a logistics company requiring extra payment.
Stolen photos / fake pedigrees – ads use photos from legitimate breeders or abroad.
Sick or unvaccinated pets sold as healthy – the animal arrives ill or dies shortly after.
Group-admin “assurance” scams – “verified sellers” in groups turn out to be fake.

Even if a pet is eventually delivered, deception about material facts (breed, health, papers, location, price) can still be actionable.

II. Laws that can apply

Online pet scams are usually prosecuted through general fraud laws plus cybercrime-specific rules, and sometimes animal welfare and consumer protection laws.

A. Estafa (Swindling) – Revised Penal Code

The core criminal case is typically Estafa under Article 315. Estafa covers defrauding another by false pretenses that cause damage. In pet scams, this can include:

pretending to be a legitimate seller/breeder,
showing fake photos/claims,
taking payment with no intention to deliver, or
misrepresenting the animal materially.

Key elements you must show:

False pretense or fraudulent act (before or during the transaction);
Reliance by the buyer (you were induced to pay);
Damage or prejudice (loss of money, medical costs, etc.).

B. Cybercrime Prevention Act (RA 10175)

When estafa is committed through ICT (internet, social media, messaging apps, online payments), it becomes Estafa via Computer-Related Fraud. RA 10175 allows:

higher penalties (generally one degree higher),
specialized cybercrime investigators,
preservation and disclosure orders for digital evidence.

C. E-Commerce Act (RA 8792)

RA 8792 recognizes electronic data messages and electronic documents as valid evidence and transactions. This helps in proving:

online offers and acceptances,
chats, emails, receipts, screenshots, and payment logs.

D. Consumer Act (RA 7394) and DTI rules

If the seller is a business (even informal), false or deceptive online advertising and unfair sales acts can trigger administrative complaints with the DTI. This is particularly relevant for:

mislabeling breed/health status,
fake registration papers,
refusal to honor refunds.

E. Animal Welfare Act (RA 8485 as amended by RA 10631)

A scam sometimes overlaps with animal cruelty or neglect, for example:

shipping animals in inhumane conditions,
selling severely ill animals without care,
using pets as mere “props” in repeated fraudulent listings.

You can report these to BAI, local veterinarians, or LGUs, aside from a fraud case.

F. Other possibly relevant laws

Data Privacy Act (RA 10173): if your personal data is misused, doxxed, or sold during the scam.
Anti-Money Laundering (RA 9160 as amended): banks/e-wallets may be asked to flag suspicious scam accounts (usually through law enforcement).
Local ordinances: some cities regulate pet selling/breeding; violations can support administrative action.

III. What to do immediately after you suspect a scam

1. Stop further payments

Scammers often pressure victims with “final fees.” Do not send more money.

2. Preserve evidence (most important step)

Create a clean evidence folder. Save:

a. Seller identity & presence

profile name, username/handle, URL
screenshots of profile, posts, and ads
phone numbers, email, IDs sent
group name and admin or “vouch” posts

b. Communications

full chat history (scrolling screenshots)
voice notes (download files)
call logs, if any
any promises of delivery/refund

c. Transaction proof

bank transfer slips
GCash/Maya/other e-wallet receipts
remittance records (Palawan, Cebuana, etc.)
screenshots of payment confirmation
reference numbers

d. Animal listing details

ad photos/videos
stated breed, age, vaccinations, papers
price and agreed terms
location and delivery claims

e. If a pet was delivered sick

veterinary records, diagnosis, lab tests
photos/videos of condition
receipts for treatment
death certificate/necropsy if applicable

Tip: Keep the original files and note dates/times. Avoid editing screenshots.

3. Report to the platform

Use Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Carousel, Shopee/Lazada, etc. reporting tools:

report the profile and listing
submit proof where possible
ask group admins to remove and log seller details

This helps stop repeat victims, but platform reports are not a criminal filing.

4. Notify the payment channel

Contact your bank/e-wallet immediately:

request account freeze/hold if still possible
report the recipient as a suspected scammer
ask for a transaction history certification

Banks/e-wallets usually need a police/NBI referral before releasing certain data, but early reporting can still block withdrawals.

IV. Where to report in the Philippines

You can report to multiple agencies; these are not mutually exclusive.

A. PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG)

Handles online fraud cases, takes complaints, and performs digital tracing. Suitable for:

Facebook/online marketplace scams
e-wallet transfer scams
courier add-on scams

B. NBI Cybercrime Division

Especially useful for:

organized or repeat scam networks
scams involving multiple victims
tracing digital footprints and coordinating with platforms

C. DOJ Office of Cybercrime (OOC)

The DOJ-OOC coordinates cybercrime prosecution and can assist with evidence preservation orders. Some complaints are routed here through prosecutors.

D. Local Police Station / Barangay Blotter

You can:

file a blotter entry to document the incident
obtain an initial police report This is helpful for banks/e-wallet disputes and as a first record.

E. DTI (Administrative complaint)

If you want refund/order enforcement and the seller is operating as a business or marketplace seller, DTI can address:

deceptive sales
unfair trade practices
online consumer complaints

F. BAI / LGU Veterinary Office / City Vet / PAWS-type NGOs

If animal welfare violations are involved:

inhumane transport
sick/abused animals
illegal selling without permits These reports can run parallel to fraud.

V. How to file a criminal complaint (step-by-step)

Step 1: Prepare an Affidavit-Complaint

This is a sworn narrative of what happened. Include:

Your details Name, address, contact number, valid ID.
Respondent’s details Whatever you know: name used online, phone number, account details, location claimed, bank/e-wallet number.
Chronology
- when you saw the ad
- what was promised
- how you paid
- what happened after payment
- attempts to contact seller
- outcome (no delivery / wrong pet / sickness / refusal to refund)
Evidence list (attached) Label annexes clearly:
- Annex “A” – screenshots of ad
- Annex “B” – chat logs
- Annex “C” – payment proof
- Annex “D” – vet records (if applicable), etc.
Your prayer Request investigation and prosecution for:
- Estafa (RPC Art. 315)
- Computer-Related Fraud / Cyber-Estafa (RA 10175)
- other relevant offenses

Have it notarized.

Step 2: File with the proper office

You may file:

directly at PNP-ACG or NBI Cybercrime for investigation, then referral to prosecutors; or
directly at the Office of the City/Provincial Prosecutor (with or without prior police/NBI filing).

Step 3: Attend clarificatory interview / case build-up

Investigators may:

ask you to identify the accounts
request original files
coordinate with banks/platforms via legal process

Step 4: Prosecutor’s Inquest/Preliminary Investigation

For most online pet scams, it goes through preliminary investigation:

respondent is required to submit a counter-affidavit
prosecutor decides if there is probable cause

Step 5: Court case

If probable cause is found, an Information is filed in court and trial proceeds.

VI. Venue: Where should the case be filed?

For cybercrime and estafa, venue can be:

where you reside,
where the scammer is located (if known),
where the transaction or damage occurred,
or where the digital system was accessed.

Practically, victims often file:

in their city/province of residence, especially in cybercrime cases where venue rules are broader.

VII. Civil remedies: Getting your money back

Criminal cases can include civil liability automatically. But you can also pursue:

A. Separate civil action for damages

If losses are significant (price paid + vet bills + emotional distress in some cases), you may claim:

actual damages (payments, medical costs)
moral damages (when clearly justified by fraud and bad faith)
exemplary damages (as deterrent, in proper cases)

B. Small Claims (if within threshold)

If your claim is within the small claims limit, you can file a simplified civil case without a lawyer. This works best when:

the respondent’s real identity and address are known,
you’re mainly after refund.

VIII. If the seller is anonymous or using fake IDs

That’s common. Still file. Cybercrime investigators can:

trace linked numbers and wallet accounts
request platform data
cross-match other complaints

Your evidence of payment and chats is usually enough to start a case.

IX. Special situations

1. The pet arrived but was sick or died

Possible actions:

Estafa / cyber-estafa if sickness/papers were misrepresented.
Animal Welfare complaints if neglect/cruel transport is involved.
DTI complaint if seller is a business and refused refund.

Vet documentation is crucial.

2. The scam includes a fake courier

File against both if possible. Even if you only know the courier account, include it—cybercrime units treat it as part of the fraud chain.

3. You found multiple victims

Encourage them to file separate affidavits. Multiple complainants:

strengthen probable cause
support “syndicated” angles in practice (even if formally charged as multiple estafa counts)

X. How to write a strong affidavit-complaint (practical tips)

Use simple, chronological narration.
Quote key false statements from the seller (briefly).
Match each claim with an annex.
State exact amounts and dates.
Avoid speculation; stick to what you saw, paid, and received.
If possible, include a timeline table at the end.

XI. Prevention (also useful to show “due diligence”)

Before buying pets online:

Verify identity
- ask for live video with the pet and today’s date
- request breeder permits/registration if claimed
- check for consistent location and history
Avoid pressure tactics
- “last slot,” “many buyers,” “ship today only” are red flags
Use safer payment
- cash-on-pickup
- escrow-style platforms
- avoid paying full amount upfront to unverified sellers
Check welfare and legality
- ask for vet records, vaccination card, deworming
- confirm transport method is humane and lawful
Search images
- stolen photos often appear elsewhere

Even if you missed these steps, you can still be a victim of estafa; prevention is not a legal requirement, just a safety practice.

XII. Key takeaways

Online pet trading scams are usually prosecuted as Estafa under the Revised Penal Code, upgraded to Cyber-Estafa / Computer-Related Fraud when done online.
Evidence preservation (ads, chats, payment proofs, vet records) is decisive.
File reports with PNP-ACG or NBI Cybercrime, and pursue prosecutor filing for criminal action; use DTI and animal welfare channels when applicable.
You may seek refund and damages through criminal civil liability, separate civil cases, or small claims if identity is known.

If you want, I can draft a template affidavit-complaint you can fill in with your facts.