Scam Prevention

Most buyers and sellers on The Aviary Hub are genuine, but marketplaces can attract scammers. Watch out for:

  • Urgent pressure to act quickly, or refusal to meet or video call
  • Sellers who refuse any form of video call, photo verification, or in-person viewing
  • Copied images or inconsistent details between messages and the advert
  • Requests to pay via untraceable methods (e.g. gift cards, crypto, wire transfer to an unfamiliar account)
  • Fake courier or “shipping only” links for a live animal you have not seen
  • Prices significantly below market value for the species or breed
  • Overpayment, or a request to refund the difference
  • Fake bank or payment screenshots offered as proof of payment
  • Requests for a one-time verification code, or links to fake login pages
  • Demands for unnecessary identity documents
  • Requests for a deposit before you have seen the animal in person or spoken directly with the seller

If something feels wrong, trust your instinct, ask more questions, and where possible only complete transactions in person.

Deposits

We strongly advise against paying any deposit before you have seen the animal in person, or at minimum had a genuine live video call with the seller showing the actual animal. A genuine seller will normally understand a buyer’s caution about this. The Aviary Hub does not collect, hold, or have any involvement in deposits or payments between buyers and sellers – if you send money to a seller and something goes wrong, we have no ability to recover it or reverse the payment.

If you think you’ve been scammed

Stop communicating with the other party. Preserve any evidence before doing anything else – screenshots of the advert (in case it is later edited or removed), your full message history with the seller, payment confirmations or bank references, and any phone numbers or account details used. This evidence is what a bank, payment provider, or the Gardaí will need if you report it further.

If you believe you have sent money to a scammer, contact your bank or payment provider immediately – they may be able to stop or trace the payment if you act quickly. If a crime may have been committed, report it to your local Garda station, or in an emergency call 999 or 112.

Please also report the listing or report a concern to us so we can review the seller’s account – we cannot recover your money, but this helps protect other buyers.

Our role

The Aviary Hub is a classified-advertising platform only. We do not hold funds, process payments between users, act as an escrow, or guarantee any transaction. All payments for animals or items are made directly and privately between buyer and seller, entirely outside the Platform.