Lloyds Bank has issued a warning to customers as a rising number of people lose out on around £307 each. It comes as data shows Facebook and Instagram scams involving animals are up 24% this year alone. Lloyds said the most common tactic used by fraudsters is fake adverts, where the potential pet simply doesn’t exist, Liverpool Echo reports.
Research shows people are losing an average £307 to pet scams, with more than half of the cons originating on Meta-owned platforms Facebook and Instagram.
Scammers, the banking giant said, keep tabs on which breeds are in high demand, taking photos from the internet and sharing fictitious information about the animal, such as parentage or medical information, to create the illusion of authenticity.
