Maine Coon Kitten Scam Formula

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

by Carrie Profenno: Author, lifelong Mainer & veteran Maine Coon owner

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 in the comments below:

• 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)

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.

Or, add your comment to report a scammer here.

Top Comments:

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Add Yours:

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FB group scam ~New
by: L Kinney
FB Group - Lovely Maine Coon Kittens in Search of Their Forever Homes - Ethan Cross, Kai Bennett and several others.

Address is an office building in an industrial complex in Irvine, CA. Made a "refundable" deposit of $300 then they wanted an additional $100 for registration.

I refused and asked for my money back - no answer and the FB group has disappeared. I msg'ed several people in the group who had gotten kittens from Ethan and they all said he was legit.

Apparently they are all in on it. All communication was via FB msg and text and was broken English.

Payment was through Apple Pay and when I tried to make a request for the $300 back, Apple Pay said the number was no longer valid.

Didn't find any info on them as scammers so posting this.

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 Maine Coon Kittens. 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."

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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."

Beware of this scammer - Duluth, MN
Beware of Candy Helgeson listed in Duluth, MN

"Purebred Maine Coon kittens for rehoming"
Wants money up front - only $150 and will not tell you were she’s located so you can meet the kittens.

When I called her out as a scammer she became an irate "I'm a Christian". Quoting bible verses to "prove" she wasn't a scammer.

Have you had a recent experience you are researching and want to report to this page?

Warn fellow cat lover and add your comment here.

Comments (continued):

Another scammer popped up
This one just popped up, superiormainecoonkittens.com and looks very similar to the Oakland Maine Coonz Cattery that I was looking at a few hours ago....

Looking for authentic Maine Coon breeder in NYC and Long Island.
Hi, I want to adopt a Maine Coon and have been looking for one for some time but all i get are the fake scammers mentioned in other comments. Can someone please help me find authentic breeders, thanks.

• MC Breeder Directory

For Maine Coon Cat Nation readers, there's a breeder directory of legitimate Maine Coon Breeders. It's under Articles-->Adoption-->Breeder Directory. This is what it looks like:

Visit Our Extensive Breeder Directory:

Find Maine Coon kittens for sale with our exclusive directory of Maine Coon Cat Breeders.

Looking for a Maine Coon breeder near you? We have you covered! Hop on over to our newly updated, extensive directory to see lots of great breeders.

Help
We just lost our sweet Maine coon mix. He was almost 2 and died of unknown causes. Our family is devastated and are looking for a new kitten.

We aren't completely positive how much Maine Coon he had in him, but the more I research the breed, I think he was primarily Maine Coon.

He was a tiny little guy when we got him. He was rescued from a barn just before winter. We aren't looking to show, or to breed. We just want a snuggly, easy-going kitten back in our lives.

I am not sure how to figure out what is a scam and what isn't. If we were promised a kitten and it ended up being a scam, our family would be beyond devastated. Please help.

To Help:
Make a list of who are from this site. Secondly do not give money up front.

Ask to be able to see the kitten in the current environment. A honest breeder will let you visit. Don't just go by a picture. Most claim to be on a registry so look it up.

I wish you the best of luck. If it sounds to good to be true. It's usually is a scam.

New Scam
Maine Coons Lover is a scam! They checked all the boxes.

Big bear main coonz
Big bear main coon looks like the same Oakland main coonz scammesrs. So it seems like these fraudulent people have multiple sites that they use. It's really sad!

I got my kitten!
There are too many scams out there. Tatertot main coons in Minnesota was awesome. I met my kitten and put a deposit down. She will also video chat you if you're unable to meet them. She has a nice contract and a health guarantee. I can't wait to bring my little guy home!

Real thing!!
by: Bev in Minnesota
With all the scams, and I almost got caught in a few, I finally acquired an actual real Maine Coon kitten. He is amazing!! Well socialized, healthy, and thriving. The breeder is not on social media anywhere.

You can text her, but she prefers a phone call. A friend purchased a kitten from her and I got her info from there. You meet for real and exchange actual money. If anyone wants her info I will pass it on.

Current Investigation
by: Chief Investigator KD2
Hello everyone. I am an investigator with Operation Predator Shield, an organization based out of South Carolina. We were contacted by an individual regarding a suspicious Maine coon dealer and believes he was scammed of $800.

As the investigation progresses, we have identified at least 2 US based legitimate MC Breeders whos pictures have been copied from Instagram and Facebook posts and used to create a fictitious breeder/seller profile on Facebook. One in Florida and one in Virginia. We have identified the scammers as potentially working out of China.

If you have dealt with a person who goes by the alias, Keith Carvey Lombardi or have any information, please submit any tips. We also ask that you do not engage or communicate any profiles or accounts with this name as we need it to remain active on the platform until law enforcement has concluded the investigation.

This is an on-going active investigation and we will be working with the FBI Internet Crimes (IC3) on this due to the complexity and large scale of this case.

You may also find us at facebook.com/groups/ops.fb

Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.
KD2- Founder/Chief Investigator.

Thank you KD2
Thank you,
Something needs to be done!

Anyone know Marinette Elagdon?
by: Shannon Hudson

She says she is located in Kileen, Texas

She did not pressure me. She said the kitten was 10 weeks old. She showed me a picture. She asked me if I wanted a male or female, if I was going to use them for breeding, I said no I wanted the kitten fixed.

She said I would have to take care of that with my vet. She said Max was current with his shots and his check up with the vet.

I cannot find anything on her in Kileen Texas or anywhere else. She wants payment by PayPal, venmo, Google pay or cash app.

She refused to give me her cash app until I was ready to pay. She wanted $565.00 with $150.00 up front. She asked for my name, email, address and phone number.

All Scammers Will Tell You They Are Legit
Did you speak to the seller on the phone? Most scammers just message.

Ask for videos' and different pictures of the kittens/cats they want to rehome. Ask why the owner is not looking after this.

Check any pictures provided to see if they are original or taken from another site.

What type or payment do they want. Direct deposit etransfer, paypal, gift cards, or crypto should all be a red flag.

maincoon803@gmail.com scammer
Sandra Miles aka Katrina Riley... Maine Coon kitten scammer.

Facebook Post About Maine Coon Kittens
by: Rebecca
This is not from any website wanting to ship this kitten but rather find a home for these kittens and wants a rehoming fee.

Was told that the post was a scam but have reached out to question the seller to ask if he is legit and responds that he is. How do I make sure he is? I have been looking for a Maine Coon for awhile now. Thanks

Las Vegas Facebook Scammer
by: Dana Duplessis

Kittens for Adoption Las Vegas or
Kittens for adoption Las Vegas

The difference in the Facebook page is the K in kittens is either capitalized or not. The page is the same and the information is identical.

Adoption process is as follows:
- We do send you all information and picture of kittens here for you to choose.
- We get papers and transfer of ownership documents completed which cost $100. If the papers are completed you'll come pickup the kitten.
- You have two week to stay with the kitten. If the kitten can't adapt or you don't longer like the kitten you'll bring it back and get your refund of $100. If the kitten is a good match after two weeks you pay the rest $150 balance.

After she sent me all this info I asked if I could come by to see the litter because I obviously want to make sure I lot the kittens temperament.

Her response is this:

"No. I have to get papers and transfer of ownership documents completed before your arrival here. You'll be able to take the kitten home same day if you come here. After staying with him for two weeks you'll then pay the rest balance if you get the kitten but if you don't like the kitten you'll bring it back and get your $100 refund."

So then she said she's at work and I would be able to pick up the kitten tomorrow.

I tell her this:

"Ummm that just sounds weird. I just don't feel like I need to pay to meet a cat I don't even know if I'll like. That's weird."

Her response:

"Don't be scared please I'm an honest person I can't hurt you."

I tell her "it's ok, I'm good."

Her response:

"Nah don't be scared"

That is how the conversation went. I couldn't attach screenshot but I have them.

I think the moral to the story is: if it sounds too good to be True, it probably is.

$250 for a purebred Maine Coon is too good to be true.

Scammer
by: Ginger
Beware of scammer using name James Morgan. This person scammed me out of several hundred dollars before I realized they were big liars & scammers.

They pretended to be badly hurt in a wreck that never happened. Even sent pictures of wreck & injuries!

Fake Maine Coon
Linda Lindseth and Cythia Morgan are operating in various Maine Coon Cat sites on Facebook trying to sell a cat named Eclypse for $500.00.

I realized they were scammers and didn’t lose anything but please beware!

Watch out for Janine Sherman - scam artist
This is for "Anonymous" on May 12, 2024.

Yes, we are familiar with Janine Sherman, and her cattery called Majestic Maine Coon. She gave us a Philadelphia address which we found on Google earth. Obviously this was no cattery.

I had seen, on the Majestic Main Coon, an adorable Maine coon who was male and 3 months old. There was a pixelated picture of the cat. I asked for clearer pictures and a video, which Janine kept forgetting to send. Finally, she sent two pictures which both looked altered.

We had just lost our 15 year old, very loved Maine coon cat a few weeks before, and that put us in a vulnerable position. Janine Sherman needed a $200.00 deposit right away and she needed it as a google gift card and I had to send her pictures of the card right away.

Total cost of cat was to be $800.00. Suddenly the cat needed a $150.00 vet check, also to be paid with another google gift card.

Then we owed the balance of the cat and she wanted $600.00 dollars more. We weren’t able to go to Philadelphia to pick up the cat, so Janine was going to deliver him.

Suddenly she couldn’t so we needed to pay her $600.00 more for some shipper to drive this poor little guy to our house! I said "no $600.00 more for shipping the cat, and send my money back" (this was when I was hoping she was honest).
So I had just paid $950.00 for an $800.00 cat and the only way I could get the cat was to have it shipped to me for $600.00 more.

So we clearly see we were taken, and I was sure that this cat was never in Janine Sherman’s possession. Janine Sherman would never accept a secure, typical means of payment.

We "needed to act fast" before someone else bought the cat.

Janine Sherman would call me all hours of the day and night in her Jamaican accent and I don’t really know what she wanted, except to tell me if her son, who had gotten hold of her cell phone, ever called me that I needed to just hang up and block his number.

I felt like I was in a bad spy movie. This is when I had just had it. This woman, Janine Sherman, is a master scammer.

ON Facebook I saw a man holding an identical cat to the one I paid for and never got. My heart is truly broken.

I had seen her Majestic Maine Coon is on your list of disreputable breeders. I wish I had only seen it earlier!
ALL OTHERS BEWARE OF JANINE SHERMAN.

McKenzy Maine Coon Cattery
Is this one legit? Anyone had problems? I'm looking to maybe buy from them but am still gunshy after being scammed.

Questioning FB Group and admin legit or not
Hi, Does anyone know if the FB group: Free Maine coon kittens for adoption and rehoming, with one of the admins being Karen Christian, is a scam or not?

Thanks in advance.

Scam?
Has anyone dealt with a person out of greenville texas. their email is adoptmainecoonkittys@gmail.com

i have asked for a phone number waiting to see if i get a reply. they look like scammers. also i found a quote n quote main coon re-homimg they say they are in indiana.

they just state Main coon kittens for rehoming the FB page just shows Blond woman holding a kitten PAGE ID is 100375209443497

Janet Fisher on Mainecoon Kiitens for Adoption (FB GROUP)
The transaction met ALL the criteria for a scam.

Gave a Ft Lauderdale number and said she was nearby, gave her brother's PayPal info as her was recently hacked and they work together, wouldn't answer questions about vet used, etc.

Didn't send any money to her but it seemed off, found this page and saved myself heartache and legal fees.

Magdalene Wagner
Sends pics and videos of obvious show cats or kittens. The person will find out where you live and then coincidentally be jussssssst far enough away that you can probably get there.

Then they want a deposit ("refundable") and want Zelle or Apple Pay. They won’t FaceTime. They will stand you a bogus address if you push hard enough for a location.

I reported thus person to FBI, FTC, online scammers and a bunch of other places along with the Zelle and Apple Pay numbers and names they gave me. Then they tried to Facebook messenger call me and told me to stop the "black mail" [sic].

I have screenshots of ALL of this persons posts (going back a couple of years on various sites) and reports others have posted and all messages to me.

Maine coon cats and kittens for adoption/rehoming (Facebook)
Unfortunately they got me, they seemed legit and sent me pictures and videos of the kitten. they asked for a $400 deposit fee and a $350 vet fee&delivery.

By the time i sent the $350 i realized i had been scammed. nothing was adding up, and when i asked for proof of the kitten at the vets office they made excuses and lies.

I confronted them of scamming and they denied up until they blocked me. Always trust your instincts. I reported to the fbi page through zelle(i’m sure they won’t do anything about it)

They were listed as "Maine coon cats and kittens for adoption/rehoming" on facebook.

I normally wouldn’t have fell for these types of traps but everyone was excited and wishful thinking, if it seems to good to be true it 100% is.

Thankfully i was able to get my $350 back through my bank/zelle but i am out $400. Please be careful.

I thought i would put their fake emails/phone number they used
nookiehp1998@gmail.com(Alfred Daniel) [fraudulent]
Kiarawinsley32@gmail.com( Kiara Winsley) [fraudulent]
260-573-2419 (Brady Hornback) [fraudulent]
They said they were based in Greensboro,AL.
The phone area code is from Indiana, when they claim Alabama.

Magdalene Wagner
She told me she was in South Carolina. Told her I would drive to her and pick up kitten. She said no that wasn’t permitted. The would be delivered to me.

Never heard from her again. Luckily I sent no money.

Magdalene Wagner
Had pictures of two adorable show quality kittens. Said one was 7 mos and the other 8 mos. Wanted a deposit via Zelle.

I told her I’d bring it in person and she got angry saying it sounded like I didn’t trust her. Said she lived in Gallup, NM and gave me a random address that I had a friend in Gallup check out.

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Amazing giant Maine coon cat community

Anyone heard of Janine Sherman?

Harlequin haven paws
They got me. They have at least two Zelle accounts. One under Sophia kardonski and another under Kyle serage.

They do not have any cats. They scam you out of your money and run. They ask for a deposit.

If it’s under $1000 dollars Zelle doesn’t flag it. So they ask for it in smaller increments. I was attempting to buy two Maine Coons from them. I didn’t listen to them and attempted to send over large amount. It got flagged as fraud.

I looked further into to them and found this site. Unfortunately I’m out at least $450 for the deposit.

Once I asked for a video chat before clearing the $1000 they ghosted me. Good thing I have some contacts in the FBI. They will be listed as a cyber criminal.

Hopefully they will catch them. I don’t like people like this. My kids were excited. I learned my lesson. If it’s too good to be true. Then it is.

We didn’t want to wait 6 month to a year for a Maine Coon. But it looks like that is what it will take.

Magdalene Wagner
I was considering a cat from a Magdalene Wagner on Facebook group page... until I saw someone on here say she talked to the same lady in GEORGIA.

She told me she was in Albany, NY ... assuming because she saw my state through Facebook. So if anyone has seen her on Facebook, I would be aware.

She had great back story about her cats, but no one on the inherent can be trusted anymore.

Things to ask a breeder
by: Annelise
In addition to the scam red flags listed here, there's some important questions to ask a breeder:

1. Have both parents been genetically tested for conditions that effect Maine Coons? There’s at least 5 conditions that are genetically passed on to offspring that will result in a lot of vet bills and heartache.

2. Have both parents had echocardiograms? Cardiomyopathy is a common affliction in adult Maine Coons.

Bear in mind that not all Maine Coon breeders have done due diligence in assuring the health of the kittens they’re selling. I’ve personally run across this twice in my research for reputable breeders.

another from FB
by: Robert Entinger
Linda Morgan is another scammer out there on Facebook.

She hits quite a few red flags, with pricing, writing style, and then a deposit requirement via pay pal or venmo or other quick run pay service.

She hooks you with pictures on FB and then had to change them up because she already adopted those out. Total scam!!! People like this need to be punished

Red Flag
Just wanted to add what I just discovered while trying to find a Maine coon kitten: kittylandkittens and meowoff.us are the same people.

They have the same pics of kittens on both pages and while I was reading through the kittylandkittens page in their about us it says "at meowoff" instead of "kittylandkittens".

Just wanted to give heads up the site seems pretty legit with location and phone number and email.

Another Scammer- Beware
On Facebook- Mainecoon kittens for adoption and rehoming. Charging $900 and after payment says they need $1100 for transport insurance. His name is probably fradualent-Steve Cruize out of Pennsylvania.

Main coons for sale in alabama
by: Robert Entinger
This site is a complete scam. They claim alabama, give addresses all over, need $$$ upfront, issue receipts with AKC on them and then disappear after the deposit us made.

Legendary maine coonz cattery
by: Stacy
Website is a complete SCAM , do not use them . I was just scammed for $1250.00. And I did not pay attention to the Red Flags.

Will be filling a police report even though I know I won’t money back. But, these people need to be stopped, and pray for what they are doing.

OMG, these people are sophisticated in the way they are scamming people. Not only did they get me for $1250.00, we figured out the same scammers are acting like the courier service that is shipping the kittens.

They now are asking for another $1,000 for a crate with air conditioning. Of course I did not send them any money. The scammers actually called us from a Parma, Ohio phone number. I answered and all they said was check your email and hung up ?? Weird, right.

Obviously they did that so the phone call could not be traced . Funny they had an African accent just like someone else commented on. I checked out the pet courier service that contacted us , Fake names .

On their web page it had names and phone number and an address from Oklahoma , but the phone number when called showed up as a Parma, Ohio phone number. When I called the number it was all automated, and to leave a message. So as of today they are persistently sending us messages about how urgent it is that we need to pay.

COMING2UPETCOURIERSERVICE.COM (FAKE)
( JAMES ROBERTS MANAGEMENT COMPANY) FAKE
(ZELLE )Email Laekbg@gmail.com (fake)
Registered as Laeticia Kabongo (Fake)
Phone number (440)345-6385 (Fake)

Mj Maine Coon Cattery
Has anyone bought a kitten from here. I am looking for an actual breeder and I dont know who to trust. Thanks for any info or recommendations.

Favor Maine Coon Home
Does anyone have experience with https://favormainecoonehome.com/? They have a lot of red flags, no address, no phone number on site, they did provide one via email but still. Their About Us section is the biggest red flag as it says Bridget Maine Coon Home and not Favor and I see "Bridget Maine Coon Home" On the scammer list.

Are my instincts right? Is this fake?

Maine coon scammer
Purrfectpawsome kitty palace
Coming 2u pet delivery

Scam
Purrfectpaws kitty palace and coming2u pet currier
Total scam artists

Mega paws Maine Coon cattery
Does anyone know if http://megapawscattery. com/ is a scam or not?

Blossom coon cattery
I'm not going to lie I've been scammed twice. But this time was different. I sctually searched for legit catteries. Blossom coon cattery came up. Beautiful kittens. Only an email address was given info@ blossomscoonscattery.com

First, why did they add s to blossom and coon. I found that odd. They replied fast with questions about me and my family. I added that I had been scammed and that I had questions them.

Location, more pics newbborn to now, delivery options and their vets name. They reassured me allxwas legit and that the carrier had given them coupons for free delivery via plane. Wow cool but I had one more question: were they willing to do a video call them the kitten and me. Response was to be reassured we are legit and very happy to answer questions.

No without that call I cant. I haven't heard anything else. I contacted TICA they said the names Mark Freeman and Mary Helms or anyone with iinitial NB are with that cattery. I'm grateful for their help. again the website was believable.

Bad People
I found a Facebook page with Maine coon kittens for adoption and rehoming. The admin. Is Evelin Charlotte, but she is referred to as he, him his.

I found a beautiful kitten I wanted. I was told it was $399.00 for the kitten, 199.00 for shipping and she would be delivered the next day.

The next day I was told I needed to pay 500.00 for insurance. I paid everything but the insurance and that was stopped due to security issues.

The people kept calling, and I mean about every 5 to minutes wanting me to go get gift cards. I called my bank and they said it was their security service identifying the number I was trying to send it to as a ghosted phone number.

I was contacted by the local police and the FBI. It was all a scam and I was out 550.00 . When the shipper called me again I told him the FBI had contacted me and I didn't want anything more to do with them.

He said my money would be returned. Great way to make a grandma feel stupid and I am still without a companion. Be careful.

Scammer
Blossoms coon cannery home. Is there website. Asked to many questions so they stopped communicating with me. Offered free shipping that day. Cats travel with cat nanny’s to the airport of choice for free from Texas to Indiana mind you. They also was selling me breeding rights for $400 for a total of $1300 for a Maine coon kitten. Big red flag. blossomscoonscattery. com/

Another Scam
Hi, I WOULD LIKE TO add to your list as a Maine Coon scam. KATIE MOORE admin for Facebook group "Maine Coon kitten for Adoption.Rehoming"

BUYERS BEWARE... She will collect your money and never send the kitten. The last part of this scam is to connect you with a delivery service which was also fraudulent CARGO LINK COURIER which demanded a $500.00 insurance fee from us after the pretend breeder submitted the kitten to them.

A horrible experience overall which cost us $990.00.

scammed for 1000.00
by: Shelly Jopp
Buyer beware a cautionary tale. I just got scammed out of 1000.00 from another group I am a member of.

Beware Hayley Adams (so called breeder and likely one of many names) and the group is Maine Coon kittens for adoption and rehoming.

This literally just happened to me. Looks like I am blocked from the site now as well. My guard was down because I have been a member of the group for a few months and have always seen glowing testimonials about this Hayley.

Now in retrospect I am pretty sure all the testimonials are faked. She is scamming real people like myself daily.

She got 1000.00 out of me before my alarm bells finally kicked in (should have sooner all the flags were there).

I will be making a Police report and giving all the information to my bank today.

Standard Pet Carrier BC
I thought I bought a kitten from Havenmainecoons in Victoria BC, paid deposit, recieved email from carrier company as when she was to arrive etc.

She never came, no customers service just send more money for better grate cause she is vomitting. So they wont send her out of Vancouver.

Breeder is no help, wont speak to us on the phone. Neither place would let me send a friend I have In Vancouver who could pick up kitten. and now we have nothing.

Clowntown Cattery - SCAM?
by: Lisa
Has anyone had experience with Clowntown Cattery? I started working with Linda last week. Cascaded thru all the steps I now know are related to the kitten scam.

Lower cost for rehomed 4year old; immediate shipment; carrier demands $1,590 for "insurance" and now I have a $2k thermal crate. Cat is still at point of origin.

And breeder has no concern for the fact that the cat has been somewhere in holding for 4 days as I look for alternatives. So very disheartening!

ARGGH!

MAINECOON CATTERY PAWS - Legit?
Has anyone heard anything about MAINECOON CATTERY PAWS? While the website is fleshed out, they do not provide location.

Be wary
Unfortunately, I was one of the people that was scammed in a big way.

The name of the company that I was working with was PURRFECT Maine Coon Kittens. First, they told me they were located in Dallas Texas.

I told him I was in Houston and could drive up and pick up the kitten when they told me they were in Boston Massachusetts. I sent them the money for the cat.

And then after that, they told me that they needed a special cage crate for the kitten that was going to be 100% refundable and that range between $1500 to 2500. It was at that point that I realized that I was being scammed.

I did contact the Better Business Bureau in Massachusetts, and filed a complaint against this company but like so many other people who are looking for Maine coon kittens.

I did realize that there are slew of websites that present in the same way. All I can say is be very careful.

And if I were doing this again, I would , make sure that I could see and hold the cat prior to giving any money. It was a huge learning for me, and hopefully will not be repeated by one of you. Good luck.

Is this a scam?
Ortega Giant Maine Coon Kittens
No name, phone numbers and/or address
Just an email address
They had many pictures of 11 week old Kittens and a short video for each
Please help

Is this a scam???
Does anyone have any info on Mckenzy Maine Coon Cattery? I am interested in purchasing a kitten from them. Thanks!

Scammed by legendary Maine Coonz cattery
Wished I had of seen these before I looked. No names. Brief answers. Words spelled wrong. No phone number. Wouldn’t give me shipping courier or number. Said they’d send receipt and did not.

Legendary maine coonz
Hi I really been looking for a Maine coon that caught my attention and felt like mine. I came across Bob on this site. Started emailing back a couple times. I asked where they were located and was just given Oklahoma. I looked and did not see it.

I answered questions they requested and response back after telling me they will feel comfortable letting me adopt the "baby" they quickly jump to being shipped and using a courier to deliver to my home.

Payment was also requested but only using GooglePay. Advised if I don't have to download and connect my bank account then they will send their bank details.

This was odd to me having only 1 pymt form as well as no pymt options even listed on their site. No names had been listed or given.

I emailed back asking why not Paypal to secure my funds since it was a good amount of money … its been over a day now and no response. I had started doing more investigating and seen a post from someone else here that they were a scam.

https://blossomscoonscattery.com/available-kittens/

I think I found one Scam site
My first clue was a kitten named Steve. Steve was a Calico but they said he was a male. The prices would attract an impulse purchase but with some reverse image search I saw they were using Pics from heiressMaineCoons? I REALLY WANTED THAT ODD EYED CALICO NAMED STEVE.

Lisakittycoons.com
I decided to go online to look at Maine Coon kittens for sale and this website popped up quickly. The kittens looked adorable as most do.

I was interested in purchasing a kitten. I sent my contact information on one particular kitten. They responded quickly. They wanted additional information. Where I was located, did I have a vet, have I owned a cat, etc. I answer and was quickly qualified for a kitten.

I needed to sign the contract and send a payment right away to hold the kitten. When I tried to call the number on the contract it just beeped busy.

The contract said they were in Kansas. I asked if I could speak to someone in person. Someone finally agreed to call. The number came up as spam. When I answered I could barely hear the guy.

To make a long story short, I signed the contract and went to send the money Zelle and my bank stopped the payment!! The email address came up as spam!!

I got lucky! I am finding many of these types of websites. I never knew.

Purrfect Maine Coons FAKE SITE
https://purrfectmainecoonkittenshome.com/available-kittens/

This group sends out an auto email when you respond asking about information you'd typically get asked by a breeder but then sends an auto reply about how impressed they are with your background and how the kitten you requested is available.

I have done research on many sites and still want to get a kitten from a breeder but in this instance, they sent out a contract and the signature does not match the name or the cash app name.

I decided to do a quick check because my nerves got the best of me and saw their cash app had only existed 1 day and that one of pictures for a 12 week old kitten was 3 months old.

All in all, make sure you talk to people on the phone and/or video before doing any business you feel uneasy about.

My experience with breeders thus far before this incident had always been pleasant and happy to discuss the dog/cat in question over the phone or video chat to exchange information and do any Q/A. I reported them through cashapp.

Mrs. Morton's cattery
by: Teresa Brewer
Have you heard of a Mrs Morton's beautiful ragdoll and maine coon kittens before? I would like to know if she is legit!

Maine coon scammer in Georgia? — Magdalene Wagner
Been texting this lady for a bit about a kitten. Then she asked for $300 down to hold the kitten, even though we were meeting in 2 days. Found her on FB, but weird thing is, I couldn’t find her name on the kitten group once I told her I wasn’t going to pay anything down until I met the kitten.

So not sure of her validity. She is a "small home cattery" that would not disclose her address (which I understood because it’s her home) but she wouldn’t even give me a city.

Then she asked me if I wouldn’t Apple pay, would I consider Venmo. I just declined, but the phone she gave me was (470) 519-5798 with the name of Shelly Fox.

Be vigilant!

Purrfectpawsomekittypalace.com
Scam!
Found this website on a google search for Maine coon cats for sale in Alberta. They said they were from Montreal

They contacted me and said the kitten I was interested in was still available. That he was $980 , $800 for the cat $180 for shipping.
We agreed and paid by e-transfer.

Then the shipping company emailed us (probably the same person, Coming2u pet courier service) and said they needed $850 for an electronic thermal crate of which $800 would be refunded upon delivery.

We paid that by e-transfer as well. Then they said it was in Vancouver and we needed to pay $1500 for insurance. I never paid that.

Then I contacted the cattery again using a different name and email address and enquired about the same kitten, (that was already supposed to be shipped to me) and the response back was that it was still for sale and the price was $980 ready for shipping overnight.

Sandro Miles / Sandra Miles, Teleah Moorer are SCAMMERS
They took the $800 for the cat then the day the shipper was gonna pick it up they wanted $1000 in pet insurance.

I told her it was a Valentine's gift for my disabled veteran husband I didn't have another $1000 to pay the insurance. I have messaged her several times with no response. Everyone needs to report her to Zelle and your bank.

Another scam
by: Claudia
Another website that had to be a scam:

Polydactylmainecoonforsale.com

They have a huge list of kittens all 10 weeks old. Many "satisfied" customer reviews that sound like someone doesn’t speak English well. Talk about using Zelle -red flag right there. All the kittens are $450. No location-shipping available, all the red flags.

Maine Coon Kittens for Rehoming & Adoption
Candice Johnson
Hello, my husband very much wants a Maine Coon kitten and I can't tell if the company is a scam or not.

The person contacted me via FB and said they are located in Broadnax, VA. This is legitimate - they are 3 hrs from where I am located.

However today the person keeps using the word okay a lot and will not provide me with a phone number. I get ok hold on. The kitten looks to be about 3 months old and her name is Belle. I was told she would be $300 - $250 for her and $50 to transfer her legal papers.

Is this normal practice? As suggested on your site, I asked for more pictures and the kitten is in different poses on a grey couch. They sent about 4 pictures.

I tried to find them on the BBB, no listing and no website. They said we could come get her as soon as we wanted her.

I don't want to pay anything upfront, especially if this is a scam. Any suggestions? Has anyone heard of this group?

Bridget Maine Coon Home
I was scammed by www.bridgetmainecoonhome.com
Same scam as others have mentioned, I paid $650+200=$850 for kitten and shipping.

Only accept Zelle & CashApp. So many Red Flags, and for some reason I did not pick up on it fast enough. Scammer name on bank account was Daniel Rivera. Address given was 3309 Haynes Ave, Midland, TX 79707

I finally caught on when I received a request to rent or buy an air-conditioned crate for travel at the cost of $1200 - $2600! I said no, and told the scammer I wanted a refund of my $850.

Didn't hear from them again. Filed a police report, and I'm now researching to try and find out who is behind these scams so I can slap them with a criminal charge and a big fat lawsuit! Wish me luck!

Maine Coon Kittens for Adoption -Facebook
Total scam.

$1000 with $500 deposit.

They asked where I live before telling me where they are from.

Poster of kitten for sale is Elena Victoria the person who IMd me as a Diana Lyne and the PayPal belongs to a person b with another name.

I was asked to use friends and family to "avoid complications later."

Red Flags all over the place.

Another scam! Beware if Bridget Maine coon home
I’m pretty sure this site Bridget Maine Coon Home is a complete scam!

The pricing is super low at 600, 650, 760, and even 1100 for a pair!

They list TICA but no number, no contact info but an email, and while I immediately knew it was a scam, others may not and the beautiful kittens they show on their website are not quite right….the backgrounds are not the same and you can tell these are not their pics.

I wish there was someway to report them so I’m coming here in hopes that no one is scammed by these scam artists!

It’s sad taking advantage of someone this way and they need to be stopped!

Almost scammed
by: Kim W
I wanted to warn people about 2 different people who were with the Facebook group Maine Coon kittens for adoption and rehoming.

They are Mary Belle and Sandra Milo.

I had contacted Mary Belle and she had kittens for sale. Lots of pictures of people with kittens thanking her on the group site . Kitten would be $550.

I said there were a lot of scammers out there and would like to meet the kitten in person.

She was "Very offended" and said she was legitimate and people had stolen cats from her before and she was a woman and had to protect herself.

She claimed she lived in Sedona and we were going to meet at the police station. She wanted me to send her money as a deposit.

I said if I liked the kitten I would pay her in cash, she wanted gift cards also. I refused.

We were supposed to meet at 5:00 pm, my granddaughter and I waited for 30 minutes. No reply to texts/messages.

Next day she messaged me hello, sorry for late response. She called through messenger app, said she could hear me talking. Very creepy, blocked her and left that group.

My granddaughter was so disappointed and upset that someone would try to scam me.

I had also texted with Sandra Milo but she did not respond to me after I asked if we could meet in person, just ghosted me.

I want people to be aware these 2 ladies are not legitimate. They still have posts every few days on the group site from other people claiming how great they are.

I had no idea that Maine coon scammers was such a big thing. Its unfortunate since lots of people can’t afford 2000.00 or more for a kitten.

Grace adorable coons
Went through a questionnaire, signed paperwork, got photos and videos and put a deposit and got scammed.

Adorable Maine coon whom I spoke to about scamming companies and I had 45 emails back and forth and when it was time to ship my fir baby they stopped communication

I sent their info to the federal trade commission
Lost my money
Trafton Williams in Kansas is nothing but a scam

graceadorablecoonscattery@gmail.com
Witcha Kansas
I had another person go on their site and they showed the cat I already paid for and said it was ready to be sold later

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