What to do if you were scammed

Act immediately — time matters

If you've sent money for an animal that wasn't delivered, or received an animal significantly different from what was described, act within hours not days. The faster you move, the better your chances of financial recovery. The moment you suspect a scam, stop sending any further money (scammers often ask for additional fees after initial payment).

Step 1 — Document everything now

Before anything else, take screenshots of everything:

• All message conversations on Herpify (and any external channels the scammer moved you to)
• The listing page (or Herpify's cached version if it's been deleted)
• Payment receipts, bank transaction records, or transfer confirmations
• Any email correspondence
• The scammer's profile, username, and any contact details they shared
• Photos of the animal if it arrived in poor condition or is clearly not as described

Step 2 — Report to Herpify

Report the listing and the user to Herpify immediately. Go to the listing and click Report, or go to the user's profile and click Report User. In the message thread, use the three-dot menu → Report. Include as much evidence as you can in your report. Herpify can deactivate the scammer's account to prevent them targeting other users, and can provide evidence to authorities if requested.

Step 3 — Contact your payment provider

If you paid by credit card or PayPal Goods & Services, contact them immediately to initiate a chargeback or dispute. Most providers have a 60–120 day window from the transaction date — the sooner you act, the better. Explain that you paid for goods (a live animal) that were either not delivered or were materially misrepresented. Provide your evidence.

Step 4 — Report to authorities

File a report with:

• Your national consumer protection authority (ACCC in Australia, FTC in the US, Citizens Advice / Action Fraud in the UK)
• Your local police — even for smaller amounts, a police report creates an official record that may be needed for payment disputes
• Your bank's fraud team, if you paid by bank transfer
• If the scammer is using stolen photos or impersonating a real breeder, report to the platform where the photos were stolen from

If the animal arrived but isn't as described

If you received an animal that is sick, the wrong species or morph, or significantly different from what was described: photograph and video the animal immediately upon receipt. Contact the seller in writing via Herpify messages demanding they accept a return and refund. If they refuse, file a payment dispute, report to Herpify, and consult a reptile vet to document the animal's actual condition with a professional assessment.

Preventing this in future

The most reliable protection is communication on-platform (for a documented record), payment via credit card or PayPal G&S (for chargeback rights), and thorough pre-purchase due diligence. See the Safe Buying Guide and the Buying Checklist for the full framework.