Fake Emotional Support Animal Letter: Risks, Scams, and Legal Reality
An emotional support animal (ESA) provides relief for people who struggle with mental health disorders. This is why ESAs continue to be popular, and with an ESA letter people who need their support don’t have to worry about pet fees, eviction, or other issues with landlords.
While this may be the case, it has also led to an increase in organizations that offer a fake emotional support animal letter at a fraction of the price. What’s more, sometimes you can end up with a fake ESA letter on accident if you’re not careful.
Thankfully, this guide has your back. Read on to stay safe when looking for an ESA letter.
What An ESA Letter Is (and What It Isn’t)
Before we jump into the world of fake ESA letters, it helps to know what a real one is supposed to be. Emotional support animals need to come from a licensed mental health professional (LMHP) who has a license in your state.
For an ESA letter to be valid, LMHPs need to sign their name and provide their license number. What’s more, in some states like California, they need to maintain a professional relationship with you for at least 30 days.
Emotional support animal letters also need to include details about yourself, your condition, and your pet. These letters also must be renewed every single year in order to remain legitimate.
What an ESA Letter Must Include
Emotional support animal letters need to include a few things in order to become legitimate. The information a legitimate ESA letter must include is as follows:
- A statement of therapeutic needs.
- The date the ESA letter is issued.
- Your LMHP’s license number, contact information, and signature.
- Official letterhead.
- Information about your emotional support animal, such as color and species.
- A state that explains that your pet provides emotional support.
- Confirmation that you have a qualifying disability and that you’re under an LMHP’s care, but without listing the diagnosis.
Depending on your state, you may also need a statement that includes the length of time you’ve been under an LMHP’s care.
What Are the Risks of Using a Fake ESA Letter?
The worst part about a fake ESA letter is the fact that you can end up with legal penalties, lease agreements being revoked, and even eviction. That is why it is so important to make sure that your letter meets the legal requirements.
Some additional risks of using a fake ESA letter include:
- A damaged relationship between you and your landlord.
- Pet fees being imposed on you.
- Having to leave or get rid of your pet.
- Even being required to pay the remaining rent on a lease after you have already been evicted.
Depending on your state, you may notice other legal fines and penalties, so keep this in mind.
Signs an ESA Letter Is Fake
There are a handful of warning signs you can take into consideration when looking at an ESA letter. For example, if your LMHP is not licensed in your state, it’s already off to an illegitimate start. Learn more about some additional signs of fake ESA letters below.
Instant Approval
When your ESA letter is approved instantly, especially in California or other states with 30-day relationship laws for LMHPs, you’re not getting a real ESA letter. Fraudulent sites may even skip the telehealth part and just have you take a quick quiz.
Lack of Polish
Like any scam, a lack of polish is a big red flag. If the letter is missing certain information, like a LMHP’s license, has incorrect spelling, or claims that your pet is a “service animal,” are signs that the letter is fraudulent. ESA letters should be unique, personalized, and professional.
You Register or Certify Your ESA
Many platforms offer ESA certification and registration, and these can be useful products and services in the right situation. However, if the site suggests that registration and certification is the same legally as an ESA letter and can be substituted for an ESA letter, then they are a scam.
Avoid the Risks of Getting a Fake Emotional Support Animal Letter
If you want to avoid the risks of a fake emotional support animal letter, we always recommend choosing a reliable provider. This is easy if you have a therapist or LMHP professional you work with already, but if you don’t, it’s important to choose the right provider.
If you decide to work with an online LMHP, make sure you are searching for them with a reputable organization that can make sure you are connecting to someone who knows what they are doing. EmotionalSupportAnimal.com only connects you to LMHP licensed in your state who know how to assess someone for an ESA and provide a legally qualifying letter.
Once you get your legal ESA letter, make sure that you remember to renew it yearly so ensure that your rights are maintained.
