Maine Coon Kitten Scam:

Current Tactics, Red Flags and List of Reported Scammers to Avoid

by: Carrie Profenno / Author, Mainer, Maine Coon Mama!

There is a Maine Coon kitten scam going around. At first, I didn't even recognize it!

I had noticed recently that on our FaceBook page, we began getting comments with links to a "pet service" where kittens are available.

Identifying a Scammer:

Here, we decode the scammers' formula and warning signs to beware of on your kitten adoption journey. Then review our ever-growing list of scammers submitted by readers.

And lastly, visit our exclusive directory of registered, legitimate breeders. Let's get to it!

What is a Kitten Scammer?

We are not talking about a backyard breeder, or someone who might sell you a cheap and possibly unhealthy kitten.

These scammers do not have kittens. They have fake websites, fake photos, and pressure you into making a money deposit before the kitten is "gone."

They promise to ship you a low cost or cheap kitten, but there is no kitten. Then, they ask for more money - for fake reasons like health or shipping insurance, veterinary expenses, upgraded pet carrier and more.

By the time you realize something is wrong, they have your money and disappear.

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At first glance they look like a small hobby breeder. I thought, "how great; people are finding and using the MCCN™ social community on FB to connect!" Well, it seems I was a bit naive.

I've received emails from our MCCN community friends informing me of a Maine Coon kitten scam which is gaining traction right now.

It's not simply one perpetrator or one site that can be taken down, it's a formula. 

And when they show up on a trusted site like ours in the form of an advertisement or comment, they have already snuck in.

It can be like chasing one's tail to look for them and remove them when they crop up.

These con artists are definitely too close for comfort.

Maine Coon Kitten Scam Red Flags vs. What to Expect From Real Breeders

These are things that, when taken together, should prompt you to research further, and proceed with caution.

Be wary of:
A pet service that has no real website, just a page on a free platform like FaceBook. It may be a new page.

The one I'm looking at as an example is about 3 weeks old. This is because they get reported, shut down, then make a new one.

Below is a sample of scammers on our FaceBook page. They are hidden and/or removed immediately. Note the language and similarity in their messages. Do not interact with any comments like these:

• On a page I am currently evaluating, there is no phone number or physical address, even no breeder name.

• Sometimes, they may have multiple cheap websites - each under a different fake name of a non-existent cattery. These web pages will be missing the 'things to look for' we'll discuss later.

• If you ask (reply in the comment section) where they are located, or what their prices are, or who they are, they reply with "message us directly for more info" or "check inbox" or "pm for details."

Nowhere on their page can you see that this is a cattery located in a specific location run by a particular person.

Something in their grammar or presentation isn't quite right. Here are some that I found:
🚩"pure Maine Coon kittens for rehoming" (the use of "rehoming" isn't right in this situation)
🚩"we would be pleased to satisfy you and others." or
🚩"inbox this page if you need a baby." - not professional.

It looks like they use the same paragraph, copied and pasted in all their posts. Sometimes they don't capitalize or even properly spell the breed name, instead using mainecoon, main coon, maine coone and the like.

• Who runs the page? If you can't find an administrator that's a red flag.

If you do, are they located in a part of the world where frauds tend to originate?

The user I mentioned earlier, who commented on the MCCN FB post was from Cameroon, West Africa. Many frauds originate there.

• There will be no visiting permitted, and no physical address. (in some cases they will actually use the address of an unsuspecting homeowner, so double check it.)

• These swindlers are eager to sell kittens. They seem to have one, or a selection of them, currently available for anyone who asks.

A real breeder on the other hand, plans litters in advance, perhaps only a couple litters per year. They have a waiting list.

• If you've compared prices, the scam price is low. It's a good deal in comparison.

A Maine Coon Kitten Scam Formula:

You see an ad, comment, or link on a site you know and trust, and you want an adorable kitten.

They will want to ship right away. This is because they want you to send the money right away while you're looking at a cute picture, before you have time to dwell on the specifics that don't feel right.

They will want to use a payment method you don't normally use and provides no fraud protection for instant money transfer.

Once they have the money, there will be additional shipping and delivery company fees.

Then, the "kitten" may get sick. There will be a cost for vet bills, insurance, or special shipping for the ill kitten.

By the time you figure out it's a fraud, it may have cost over $600, or much more. There was never a kitten.

Real Maine Coon Breeders

What to Look For:
A legitimate breeder will usually have a fleshed out website. They'll have an About Us page that tells you how they got into breeding.

Side Note: A fake "About Us" page will be vague. It will not be about the actual "breeder" (because they are not breeders). Instead, it will use many words and have no substance or information.

They'll show photos of, and names of, their breeding cats - Kings and Queens. You can see the lineage of cats, and photos of the parents. You'll see their name and location.

The cattery will be registered with organizations such as TICA (The International Cat Association) & CFA (Cat Fancier's Association).

You can go on the TICA and CFA websites and cross-reference that the cattery is indeed registered there.

If there is only a FB page for the cattery, they display something in their about section, even if they choose not to show their home address, or name.

There will be something, such as a link to their website, email address, mention of their location, and what organizations they are registered with so you can do that cross-reference.

There will be multiple ways to contact them.

This is another reason we recommend looking for a new kitten locally. Even if they aren't allowing cattery visitors, you can see that it's a real place, with real local people and local references.

A responsible breeder will usually only have a few litters in their breeding program per year. Their website and social media will likely be filled with photos of kittens that are already spoken for, and info about planned litters for the future. 

You can expect to join a waiting list. Adopting a purebred kitten requires time and patience!

On their FB, there will be posts from previous customers sharing comments and photos of their Coonies as they grow. You can click on these profiles and verify they are real people. 

Their feed will be full of real people who they clearly have established relationships with and have sold to in the past. Ideally, you are looking at a local breeder and some of these comments are by "friends of friends."

If a breeder does have a kitten available, they'll have photos of it from newborn to recent. They will be happy to send a video, or do a video call.

A Maine Coon kitten scam, on the other hand, usually has one photo of a kitten between 6-12 weeks of age. They probably won't be able to send more pictures of it at various ages.

To sum up, when you're looking for a new kitten, you're looking for a registered Maine Coon breeder.

And when looking for a breeder, look for transparency. Their website tells you all about them. Their social media shows you all about them.

All the information is there for anyone to see and double check. No direct message is required to find out who they are or where they are located.

At this point, it's tempting to say these liars must be easy to spot. But it's only easy if you already know about them!

If you don't, and your guard isn't up, it's all too easy to assume you're being told the truth.

Update:
Savvy Scammers: Tactics in 2024

After following links in social comments, and visiting the sites in ads, I see that there are many of these hustlers. They have attractive websites, too.

If I didn't know what to look for, I'd think these were legitimate sites.

Identify a Fake Website:

Fake Facebook Groups

The other Maine Coon Kitten scam tactic is fake Facebook groups and fake Facebook accounts "recommending" a group or "breeder." They do this for all breeds, in fact.

The group will post non-existent kittens for sale. The admin may be impersonating an actual breeder. Just don't visit or join groups unless you know them.

Do not thank or interact with anyone you encounter like this. Here is an example: 

Groups like these (all banned today) are banned daily from our Facebook page. They are quickly replaced by new, identical ones.

Note the similar language such as Main Coon Kitten for Adoption and Rehoming. They all contain some variation on these words.

(Maine Coon Cat Nation members do have a private Facebook group. You can easily confirm that Maine Coon Cat Nation™, an established and reputable site, is the admin of the group.)

They like to follow our page due to its high follower count and credibility. 

Maine Coon kitten scam red flags on an internet website:

Website design has gotten more convincing. Look for these clues that something is off:

🛑 They will say they are a small home cattery in North America or United States. That's not enough. A real breeder tells you their state and town, or at least their region/county within the state.

🛑 They don't display their first and last, full name, so you can confirm their identity. Just "us" and "we" and "our family."

In Summary - Scammers Will:

🚩 Be eager to ship you a kitten, create a sense of urgency.

🚩 Want to use a non-secure method of direct electronic payment. Maybe even money order or gift cards.

🚩 They will want to use text, direct message on social media, and email. Most of them will not be keen on voice calls.

➤ Remember that there is no valid reason for a breeder not to have a video call if you request one.

➤ Online, (website or social) it should be very easy to find their location, real reviews, and full legal name.

Related:

• What is a Backyard Breeder?

• Directory of Breeders (find a breeder here)

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Key Takeaways:

• There is no such thing as Maine Coon Kittens for sale at $300.

• There are no breeders who are "not asking much" for kittens - yes, I saw this posted by a con artist.

• There are no real Maine Coon kittens to be found through Facebook comments or posts or groups that contain any variation or combination of: "kittens, rehoming, free, affordable, for adoption, in need of new homes" or any similar phrase.

• Don't even ask around, just be assured they are thieves.

• Expect to pay in the thousands, and read our page on the cost of purebred Maine Coons for more info.

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Let's work together to spread the word about this Maine Coon kitten scam:

Our community has identified these scam artists on our accompanying comments page:

• Maine Coons for Adoption Near Me (Facebook group)
• Dark Paws Maine Coon Kittens
• Big Bear Maine Coon Cattery
  
• Elite Maine Coon Kittens
• Big Bear Main Coonz 
• Bridget Maine Coon Home
• Casey's Coons
• Oakland Maine Coonz Cattery / Oakland Coons Cattery
• Royal Maine Coon Cattery
• Charm Maine Coon Kittens
• Favor Maine Coon / Favor Maine Coon Home
• Chloe Maine Coon Cattery
  
• Neighborly Maine Coon Kittens
• Taylor's Maine Coon
• Giant Coon Ranch
• Blossom Coon Cattery
• Maine Coons in need of new homes (Facebook group)
• Kittens for Adoption Las Vegas
• Legendary Maine Coonz Cattery
• Elena Victoria or Diana Lyne (Facebook group)
• Mary Belle and Sandra Milo (Facebook group)
• Grace Adorable Maine Coon
• Andy’s Maine Coon Kittens
• cutemainecoonforsale
• Prestigious Coonz Cattery
• Harlequin Haven Paws
• Majestic Maine Coon
• Olga Karmov
• Elizabeth Champion
• GJ Maine Coon Kittys
• Fluffy Mainecoon Kitty Paradise
• maincoonkittenforsale.org
• cutemainecoonforsale.com
• Sandra Miles on FB (also known as Mia Fredrick or Katrina Riley)
• Hayley Adams
• Skymaincoon.com
• darkmainecooncattery - Ferlando Carpenter
• Ragel Maine Coon
• Fresh Home Paws Cattery
• mainecooncatterypaws.com & furpawsmainecoons.com
• Heaven Sent / Love Zone Mainecoon Cattery / Dreda Mainecoon
• Gizmo Coon Cattery
• meganmainecoonhome.com
• Janine Sherman
• Linda Lindseth and Cythia Morgan (FB)
• James Morgan
• FB group: Free Maine coon kittens for adoption and rehoming, admin: Karen Christian
• Janet Fisher (FB group)
• Purrfectpawsome Kitty Palace
• Coming 2u Pet Delivery / Coming2u Pets Courier Service

Maine Coon Kitten Scam Warnings From Our Friends:

Here are some of the most recent and most helpful scam warning comments from readers on this site. Thank you to everyone who is joining in on exposing these con artists!

This page continues to grow, so remember to check back for updates.

Top Comments:

Inquiring about Big Bear Cattery
by: Golden Goddess Cats Cattery
"I am a TICA and CFA Registered Cattery in WA state. I had someone asking me if Big Bear Cattery is legit.

They are selling their kittens for $500. No reputable breeder that provides quality food, supplements, genetic testing, etc would be selling their kittens for anywhere near that price.

Their website doesn't show where they are located. Anyone have knowledge about them. I'm tired of scammers. Scammers started using my cat photos to scam people 😞"

Big Bear Main Coonz
"Big Bear Maine Coon looks like the same Oakland Maine Coonz scammers. So it seems like these fraudulent people have multiple sites that they use. It's really sad!"

Cattery Scam
"Bigbearmainecoons.com is a scam.

"I'm in California, so I thought this was in Big Bear, CA. As I said in my first email to them that I was going to be in big bear next week and wanted to make arrangements to see the cats.

They email me back with no word of appointment but wants info if I will be a good adopter. After I sent that they sent me a email saying I am chosen to have the cat but they are in Oklahoma!!

And it will cost $200 to fly him to me. Of course asking for money up front. I knew right away it was a scam then saw on line about all the cat scams!"

Big Bear Maine Coon Cattery is a SCAM
"I had been asking them about one of their kittens the last few days - it felt a bit fishy so I did a reverse image search and found the same kitten photos posted on Facebook 3 years ago.."

Casey's Coons
"They have scammed numerous people including my best friend. Beware. At one time they were legitimate, it doesn't seem like they are anymore."

Oakland Maine Coonz
"These people are definitely scamming and I hope they go to prison for life."

Another one to Avoid - Royal Maine Coon Cattery

"https://royalmainecooncattery.com/kittens.html#

They have LOTS of data that looks great, when I call though I always get a text saying I am busy at the moment. please text me" then while looking at the [photos] I noted you can click to buy. Right on that one picture.

Does Anyone know of a Breeder who is REAL!??!?!?"

Another one to add to the list
"Charm Maine Coon Kittens is also a scam. They are located in Texas and meet all the criteria listed above. Thank you for your post as it saved me a lot of money and grief."

Oakland Maine Coonz Cattery
"Not sure about this breeder. Kittens are all 11 weeks old and they are asking only $500.00.

My first email I asked where they are located. Of course there was a form I had to fill out stating which one I was interested in. They responded to me with info about the it.

I sent a second email that before I continue I wanted to know their location because it is not on their website. Being Oakland is in the name I was thinking California or Maine.

Nope they told me they are in Bethany, Oklahoma. I'm not sure about this business so I am going to wait and keep looking. Oh I found this site over a week ago and only one kitten is gone out of I believe seven for sale."

Favor Maine Coon Home
"Another fake site almost scammed me I literally was just about to send $850 to them too."

Chloe Maine Coon Cattery
by: Jen M
"Found this one on instagram initially and then saw a facebook page also under same name.

Initially skeptic bc of the "deal" of a kitten for only $900! She/they claimed they were giving away 3 kittens for a special price bc they realized some couldn’t afford to pay the normal prices cattery charge.

So I contacted asking about this and asked about the location of the cattery- they said West Virginia, when I asked if they had a website- no answer- she changed the subject and asked about my experience with [the breed].

Asked for my info: name, address, number, email
Asked for a $300 deposit to hold kitten.

And when I asked if I could use bank transfer or similar- she said she preferred Apple Pay or cash app or Zelle - then when I mentioned Zelle she said she preferred Apple Pay.

The fact that she didn't have a webpage, and all the pics look like they are from over seas(I notice little things like plugs on walls aren't US plugs outlets) and other things that aren't common in the US.

When I looked at the owner info on the facebook page- it's from Cameroon (Africa)!!!!

So I messaged them today and asked why they have a Cameroon facebook page and why they don't have a webpage… and geee... all the sudden no answer!

Be careful for all the scammers- I almost fell for it- but I trusted my gut... and thank god I did!!"

Neighborly Maine Coons
"https://neighborlymainecoonkittens.com/
These people took my brother for $4,000.

They tried everything that is listed above and were still trying even after he called their bluff. Pictures are still there for the cat he bought.

He paid everything on Apple gift cards."

Taylor's Maine Coon
"Has a website, cheap prices, wants to ship right away. Says they will be vet checked but he said they can be to me by tomorrow.

Sent me a photo of a drivers license for a Talor Ivy Johnson in Pine Ridge Arkansas. Sending and asking all kinds of details. Some seems good but some stuff is fishy."

Giant Coon Ranch: https://giantcoonranch.com/
"I was attempting to purchase... The seller took money via cashapp and had me send it to various people.

It got to a point that they wanted additional money - $1,500 for a special shipping crate that was not disclosed at the beginning, and at that time I was done since I was very skeptical of how they were doing business.

I had already paid them $3,340 for two kittens and shipping costs.I asked for a refund and it was not given. Instead I get text message asking me for an additional $555.00 processing fee to process my refund again another fee that was never disclosed at the beginning.

Their whole way of doing business is very sketchy. Melissa Tenant is a scam artist. They operate a Facebook site at https://www.facebook.com/groups/1352101642032469 and they have a website at https://giantcoonranch.com/

They have a google voice phone number that they never answer you leave a message and then you get either a text message or Facebook Messenger message back.

They also use the BBB (Better Business Bureau) logo in an attempt to gain legitimacy for the fraudulent business.

Their phone number is an Oregon number but Melissa Tenant supposedly lives in Ladd, Illinois."

Hayley Adams:
"This person took me for $450. They even sent me a contract and had somebody reach out to me that supposedly got one of her kittens.

When I went to send the rest of the deposit after I got the contract all of a sudden Apple Pay flagged my payment for fraudulent number.She then began to send me other phone numbers that I could send the money to. I'm still in the process of getting back my 450 through Apple Pay."

Another Maine Coon Kitten Scam Artist
"Beware of a person goes by the name of Elizabeth Champion in Arkansas-greenwood/ft Smith area one hundred percent scam. Was a Facebook post."

With 250+ comments, warnings, and stories from our readers, we've moved the rest to the next page!

Hop on over to read them and join in the discussion: Frauds and Fake Sites

Top of: Maine Coon Kitten Scam

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