Ottawa-area shoppers browsing Facebook Marketplace for backyard chickens or farm-fresh poultry are being urged to take extra precautions, after the Ontario Provincial Police issued a public warning about a scam that has already claimed at least one victim in the province.
The OPP says an Ontario resident was defrauded while attempting to purchase chickens through the popular online marketplace, and police believe similar fraudulent listings may still be active. The warning serves as a timely reminder that not every deal posted online is what it appears to be.
How the Scam Works
While the OPP did not release the full details of exactly how the fraud unfolded, marketplace poultry scams typically follow a predictable pattern. A seller posts attractive listings — often at below-market prices — for chickens, ducks, or other birds. They request a deposit or full payment upfront, sometimes insisting on e-transfer or another non-reversible payment method, and then either disappear or claim the animals were lost in transit.
With urban homesteading and backyard chicken-keeping growing in popularity across Ottawa neighbourhoods, demand for laying hens and chicks has risen sharply in recent years — making this an especially appealing lure for fraudsters.
Red Flags to Watch For
Police and consumer advocates recommend watching for the following warning signs when shopping for animals or farm goods online:
- Prices that seem too good to be true — if a seller is offering heritage breed hens at a fraction of the going rate, be skeptical
- Pressure to pay immediately via e-transfer, cryptocurrency, or gift cards
- Reluctance to meet in person or allow you to see the animals before purchase
- Vague location details or a seller who keeps moving the goalposts on pickup arrangements
- No verifiable reviews or history on the marketplace profile
Always insist on seeing the animals in person before any money changes hands. If a seller refuses or makes excuses, walk away.
What to Do If You've Been Scammed
If you believe you've fallen victim to a similar fraud in the Ottawa area, the OPP encourages you to report it to your local police service and to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or through their online reporting tool. Filing a report helps police track patterns and potentially identify repeat offenders operating across multiple platforms.
You should also report the listing directly to Facebook Marketplace, which has mechanisms to flag suspicious sellers and potentially recover your account information for investigators.
Stay Smart When Shopping Locally Online
Facebook Marketplace remains one of the most popular platforms for local buying and selling in Ottawa, and the vast majority of transactions are legitimate. But as the platform has grown, so has its appeal to scammers — particularly in categories like pets, livestock, and farm goods where buyers are emotionally invested and sometimes willing to act quickly.
A little patience and due diligence goes a long way. Meet sellers in public places when possible, bring a friend, and never pay in full before you've confirmed you're getting what you paid for.
Source: Global News / Ontario Provincial Police
