Fraud Alert (Getty Images)
The Better Business Bureau serving the Canton Region and Greater West Virginia warns consumers about a fraudulent monkey adoption business using a Canton, Ohio, resident’s home address as their business address.
BBB received two complaints for “General Monkeys for Adoption” in April 2024. One consumer reported seeing an ad listed on Facebook mentioning “monkeys for adoption” that linked to a website, generalmonkeysforadoption.com. The consumer was directed to purchase a money card for $150 and then arrange pickup at the address listed online. Additional money was requested for the permit and adoption papers, but it was declined. A partial refund was to be provided after purchasing a gift card. The consumer never received delivery of the monkey or a refund.
BBB investigated General Monkeys for Adoption and found that the business is not registered with the Ohio Secretary of State, and proper licensing for the business regarding the sale of exotic animals, specifically the breeds of monkeys listed on the business website, has not been found.
A reverse image search of photos found on Yelp and the business’s website match other apparent “adoption/rehome” businesses, none of which appear legitimate.
A warning has been placed on the BBB Business Profile for General Monkeys for Adoption to alert consumers of the existing issues.
BBB has contacted General Monkeys for Adoption but has not received a response.
To avoid falling for pet fraud scams, BBB recommends the following tips:
- Avoid buying a pet without first seeing it in person.
- Only send money to people you trust and have met in person. Use a credit card if you need to dispute the charges.
- Conduct research on the business and the price of the pet they are selling to ensure it is fair. Think twice if an advertisement offers a deeply discounted price—it could be a scam.
- Only purchase from a reputable dealer. Check BBB Business Profiles on BBB.org for complaints and customer reviews before purchasing.
- Conduct a reverse image search of the picture of the pet you are considering. If the same picture appears on multiple websites, it’s likely a fraud. You can also search for distinctive text from ads or testimonials to see if the seller copied it from another website.
For more resources and tips to avoid falling for pet scams, visit BBB.org/PetScams. Consumers can also visit BBB.org/ScamTracker to report if they have been scammed, or to look up a scam.