MaineCoonCatteryPaws.com Exposed: Inside the Cat Scam

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Written by: Thomas Orsolya

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MaineCoonCatteryPaws.com claims to be a breeder of purebred Maine Coon kittens, but in reality operates an elaborate scam designed to steal money from unsuspecting cat lovers. This extensive investigation reveals how this fraudulent website functions and provides advice for avoiding becoming a victim.

mainecooncatterypaws.com scam

Overview of the MaineCoonCatteryPaws.com Scam

At first glance, MaineCoonCatteryPaws.com appears to be a legitimate business selling Maine Coon kittens. The site displays photos of fluffy Maine Coon kittens along with details like name, age, gender, and price. An “About Us” page describes their mission to “produce healthy, socialized, confident kittens.”

However, beneath this innocent facade, MaineCoonCatteryPaws.com is an intricate scam operation. Here’s how it works:

  • Scammers steal photos of Maine Coon kittens from legitimate breeders and pet owners across the internet. They copy details like breed, age, and price to make listings appear authentic.
  • Victims contact the site to purchase a kitten through an online form. Scammers respond quickly to seem legitimate and pressure buyers to send payment upfront via wire transfer, gift card, or cryptocurrency.
  • Once payment is sent, the scammers disappear. No kitten is ever shipped, and victims’ money is long gone. Calls and emails to the site go unanswered.
  • The criminal network behind MaineCoonCatteryPaws.com manages an array of fake pet sales sites to cast a wide net for victims. Different sites advertise various dog breeds, exotic pets, horses, and more.

This scam network is designed to steal money while leaving few legal traces back to the criminals. The site provides no legitimate contact details, physical address, or identities of owners. As soon as one site gets risky, they simply vanish and reappear under a new name.

How the MaineCoonCatteryPaws.com Scam Works

The criminals behind MaineCoonCatteryPaws.com have honed their skills to manipulate and deceive victims masterfully. Here is an inside look at their devious tactics.

Building an Appearance of Authenticity

The first priority is making the site appear totally legitimate as a breeder. To accomplish this, the scammers:

  • Steal photos convincingly: Images of Maine Coon kittens are stolen from real breeders and pet owners, varying sources. Details like breed, birthdate, and price are added to mimic real ads.
  • Copy legitimate business details: The site includes an “About Us” page, policies, contracts, and guarantees that mirror language from real catteries.
  • Hide true identities: No real names, addresses, or contact info beyond a web form are provided. WHOIS data is masked through proxy registration. This prevents tracking the criminals.
  • Leverage social media: Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok accounts with stolen kitten photos attract victims. Positive comments are faked to further legitimize the “business.”

This convincing facade is designed to make victims trust the site as a real breeder so they willingly send thousands for a kitten.

Casting a Wide Net for Victims

Once the site appears believable, the scammers leverage various tactics to reach as many potential victims as possible:

  • Search engine optimization: Keywords like “Maine Coon kittens for sale” are used liberally to rank high in Google and Bing. Location info draws in nearby shoppers.
  • Active social media accounts: Regular posts on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok keep the scam top of mind. Followers are encouraged to visit the site.
  • Classified listings: Free sites like Craigslist, Hoobly, and Newspapers.com are leveraged to cast a wider net.
  • Fake breeder ads: Ads impersonating real Maine Coon breeders are created with their stolen website photos. This intercepts searches.
  • Selling dreams: Ad copy plays up ideas like family-friendly dispositions, dog-like personalities, and being low-shedding and hypoallergenic. This hooks shoppers.

This multi-channel promotion ensures the scam reaches the maximum number of potential targets.

High-Pressure Sales Tactics

Once contacted, scammers apply targeted sales tactics to encourage rapid payment:

  • Instant engagement: Sales reps respond immediately, asking for the buyer’s phone number to “discuss kitten options.” This makes them seem eager to do business.
  • Push for deposits: Buyers are heavily encouraged to put down a non-refundable deposit to “reserve” the kitten they want before someone else takes it.
  • Upsell pricier kittens: More expensive “breeder quality” or “show quality” kittens are pushed over cheaper pets. Victims pay more for a supposed premium product.
  • Urgency to send payment: Reps push for payment via wire, gift cards, Zelle, or cryptocurrency, claiming the kitten will ship immediately after. Credit card payment is refused.
  • Refusal of in-person meeting: Scammers decline any offers to meet the kitten or breeder in person before paying, insisting on shipping. This avoids revealing their lack of actual kittens.

These tactics pressure victims into sending lump-sum payments before they detect the scam. Once the money is gone, so are the scammers.

MaineCoonCatteryPaws.com FAQ

If you interacted with MaineCoonCatteryPaws.com or have additional questions, check these frequently asked questions:

Are there any real Maine Coon kittens for sale on this site?

No, MaineCoonCatteryPaws.com does not sell any actual Maine Coon kittens. No cats will ever be shipped to buyers. All photos are stolen, and any “breeders” you interact with are fictional identities used by scammers. This site’s sole purpose is to steal money.

I already sent money to MaineCoonCatteryPaws.com. What should I do now?

If you paid by credit card, contact your card issuer immediately to report the fraud and request a chargeback. If you paid through wire transfer, gift cards, Zelle, or cryptocurrency, contact your bank and police to file an internet crimes report. You can also report to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center. Unfortunately, it is very unlikely you will recover money sent through these irreversible methods.

Why are there so many 5-star reviews for this site online?

All positive reviews for MaineCoonCatteryPaws.com are fabricated by the scammers to appear legitimate. Do not trust them. Real customers report payment theft with no kitten received.

Can I adopt the kitten I want from a shelter instead to save money?

Since this site sells no actual kittens, there is nothing to obtain from them. But you can certainly check local shelters and Maine Coon rescues if you hope to adopt this breed at a much lower cost than buying from online scammers.

Is there any way I can get back at the scammers?

Unfortunately, scammers make themselves very hard to identify and prosecute. Your best recourse is preventing more victims by reporting fraudulent sites whenever found and sharing warnings online. The more awareness spread about these scams, the less victims they can deceive.

What To Do if You Are A Victim of MaineCoonCatteryPaws.com

Falling victim to this scam can be devastating, both emotionally and financially. Here are the most important steps to take:

Step 1: Stop All Contact Immediately

If you are in the process of “purchasing” a kitten, cease all correspondence with the scam representatives right away. Do not provide any additional payments or gift cards. The longer contact continues, the greater your financial risk.

Step 2: Report the Fraud

File a scam report with the following agencies:

  • FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3): www.ic3.gov
  • Better Business Bureau Scam Tracker: www.bbb.org/scamtracker
  • Federal Trade Commission: www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov
  • Your local police department

Provide all details of your experience, including website info, payment methods, and any scam representative names used. These reports help build cases against the criminals.

Step 3: Attempt Payment Reversals

If you paid by credit card, call your card issuer immediately to report fraudulent charges and request a chargeback. For bank wire transfers, call your bank to see if the transaction can be reversed.

Unfortunately, payments via gift card, Zelle, PayPal Friends & Family, cryptocurrency, or other irreversible methods are nearly impossible to recover. But reporting is still important.

Step 4: Warn Others About the Scam

Prevent this scam from victimizing others by reporting your experience on consumer warning sites, social media, and cat enthusiast forums. The more people informed, the fewer victims there will be.

How to Avoid MaineCoonCatteryPaws.com and Similar Pet Scams

While MaineCoonCatteryPaws.com may eventually vanish, plenty of copycat scam websites and online ads persist. Here are critical tips to avoid becoming victimized when buying pets online:

Research Seller Reputations Extensively

  • Search for negative reports and scam warnings associated with the website, phone numbers, and sales representatives. Ethical breeders have a trail of satisfied customers.
  • Verify breeding registrations and credentials. Organizations like The International Cat Association have breeder directories that can be checked.
  • Insist on references from past buyers. A refusal could indicate a scam.

Do Not Trust Online Information Alone

  • Call to confirm the physical address. Fake pet scams never have a legitimate address you can visit.
  • Insist on video chatting with the breeder and seeing the actual pet for sale before providing any money or data. Refusal is suspicious.
  • Reverse image search all pet photos. Scammers reuse stolen photos across multiple scam websites. Matching images indicate fraud.

Take Precautions When Sending Payment

  • Never pay by wire transfer, gift cards, Zelle, PayPal Friends & Family, or cryptocurrency for pets. These are irreversible methods favored by scammers.
  • Always pay by credit card if possible. Debit cards lack strong fraud protections that credit cards provide.
  • Do not pay any shipping fees until the pet has been received and examined by your vet.

Stay vigilant, verify everything, and walk away from sellers who refuse transparency or try to rush you. Taking your time to find an ethical breeder is worth it.

The Bottom Line on MaineCoonCatteryPaws.com

This in-depth investigation leaves no doubt that MaineCoonCatteryPaws.com is a fraudulent scam operation. No Maine Coon kittens are for sale on this site – only heartbreak and financial loss await victims. Report this illegal website far and wide to protect unsuspecting cat lovers from its deceit. By informing ourselves, we can ensure these scammers have a much harder time victimizing additional buyers in the future.

How to Stay Safe Online

Here are 10 basic security tips to help you avoid malware and protect your device:

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    It's essential to use a good quality antivirus and keep it up-to-date to stay ahead of the latest cyber threats. We are huge fans of Malwarebytes Premium and use it on all of our devices, including Windows and Mac computers as well as our mobile devices. Malwarebytes sits beside your traditional antivirus, filling in any gaps in its defenses, and providing extra protection against sneakier security threats.

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    Keep your operating system and apps up to date. Whenever an update is released for your device, download and install it right away. These updates often include security fixes, vulnerability patches, and other necessary maintenance.

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  8. Choose strong passwords.

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To avoid potential dangers on the internet, it's important to follow these 10 basic safety rules. By doing so, you can protect yourself from many of the unpleasant surprises that can arise when using the web.

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