Maine Coon scams are one of the most common pet fraud categories online. Every week, families lose hundreds or thousands of dollars to fake "breeders" selling cats that do not exist. As a legitimate European Maine Coon breeder, we have seen every trick in the book — and we are sharing them all so you never become a victim.

Red Flag #1: The Price Is Too Low

This is the single biggest warning sign. A genuine, health-tested European Maine Coon kitten from a responsible breeder will cost between $3,500 and $8,000 depending on the bloodline, color, and breeder reputation. If you see a "Maine Coon kitten" listed for $800, $500, or anything that seems drastically below market rate, it is almost certainly a scam.

Scammers use low prices to attract buyers quickly. They will often say things like "rehoming fee only" or "we just want a good home" to explain the low cost. Do not believe it.

Red Flag #2: They Refuse a Live Video Call

This is our personal non-negotiable rule: before any money changes hands, you must do a live FaceTime or video call where you see the actual kitten in real time. Not photos — a live call.

Scammers use stolen photos from real breeders. A live video call where the kitten moves, breathes, and interacts with its surroundings in real time cannot be faked. If a "breeder" makes any excuse to avoid a live call — they are too busy, their camera is broken, they are in a different time zone, the kitten is at the vet — that is a scam. Full stop.

Red Flag #3: Wire Transfer, Zelle, or Crypto Only

Legitimate breeders accept payment methods that provide buyer protection. Scammers specifically demand payment methods that are irreversible and untraceable: wire transfers, Zelle, Cash App, Venmo (friends & family), cryptocurrency, or gift cards.

These payment methods offer you zero recourse if the kitten never arrives. Once you send the money, it is gone. A responsible breeder will accept a credit card, PayPal (goods & services), or other traceable, protected payment methods — especially for the initial deposit.

Red Flag #4: No Social Media Presence or Reviews

Real breeders who have been operating for any length of time have a digital trail. They have Instagram accounts with years of photos, Facebook reviews, Google Business reviews, and testimonials from past buyers. If a breeder has no social media presence, a brand-new Facebook page, or asks you to look at a website that was clearly created last week — be very suspicious.

Search for the breeder's name, their cattery name, and their phone number. Real buyers leave real reviews. Scammers have none — or worse, they have fabricated five-star reviews with obvious fake accounts.

Red Flag #5: The Photos Do Not Match

Run a reverse image search (Google Images or TinEye) on any photo a suspicious "breeder" sends you. Scammers routinely steal photos from legitimate breeders, Instagram accounts, and cat shows. If you find the same photo attributed to a different breeder in a different country, you have your answer.

Red Flag #6: Unusual Shipping Stories

A common scam progression: you pay a deposit for a kitten, then receive a message that the airline requires additional insurance, a special crate, a veterinary clearance fee, or some other invented charge before the kitten can "be released." These additional fees keep coming until you stop paying. No legitimate kitten transaction works this way. Additional fees after a deposit has been paid for invented reasons are a textbook scam escalation.

How Rare Maine Coons Operates

We require a FaceTime call before any commitment. We have years of Instagram documentation. Our past buyers leave public reviews you can read. We accept secure payment methods. And we are always reachable by phone at 818-934-4657. If any breeder you contact cannot match these basics — walk away.