{"id":28380,"date":"2026-03-19T15:40:45","date_gmt":"2026-03-19T15:40:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rcourihay.com\/staging\/?p=28380"},"modified":"2026-05-14T15:01:33","modified_gmt":"2026-05-14T15:01:33","slug":"fake-emotional-support-animal-letter-risks-scams-and-legal-reality","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rcourihay.com\/staging\/blog\/fake-emotional-support-animal-letter-risks-scams-and-legal-reality\/","title":{"rendered":"Fake Emotional Support Animal Letter: Risks, Scams, and Legal Reality\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\" aria-level=\"1\"><strong>Fake Emotional Support Animal Letter: Risks, Scams, and Legal Reality\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\"> <img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-24036 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/rcourihay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/post-2-1024x576.png\" alt=\"emotional Support Dog\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">An <a href=\"https:\/\/rcourihay.com\/blog\/can-i-get-a-service-dog-for-anxiety\/\">emotional support animal<\/a> (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\u00a0don&#8217;t\u00a0have to worry about pet fees, eviction, or other issues with landlords.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">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.\u00a0What&#8217;s\u00a0more, sometimes you can end up with a fake ESA letter on accident if\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0not careful.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Thankfully, this guide has your back. Read on to stay safe when looking for an ESA letter.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 aria-level=\"2\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What An ESA Letter Is (and What It\u00a0Isn&#8217;t)<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335559738&quot;:360,&quot;335559739&quot;:120}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Before we jump into the world of fake ESA letters, it\u00a0helps\u00a0to 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.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">For an ESA letter to be valid, LMHPs need to sign their name and provide their license number.\u00a0What&#8217;s\u00a0more, in some states like California, they need to\u00a0maintain\u00a0a professional relationship with you for at least 30 days.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Emotional\u00a0support\u00a0animal letters also need to include details about yourself, your condition, and your pet. These letters\u00a0also must\u00a0be renewed every single year\u00a0in order to\u00a0remain legitimate.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4 aria-level=\"3\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">What an ESA Letter Must Include<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335559738&quot;:320,&quot;335559739&quot;:80}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Emotional\u00a0support\u00a0animal letters need to include a few things\u00a0in order to\u00a0become legitimate. The information a legitimate ESA letter must include is as follows:<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\u25cf\" data-font=\"\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u25cf&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">A statement of therapeutic needs.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\u25cf\" data-font=\"\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u25cf&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The date the ESA letter is issued.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\u25cf\" data-font=\"\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u25cf&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"3\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Your LMHP\u2019s license number, contact information, and signature.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\u25cf\" data-font=\"\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u25cf&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"4\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Official letterhead.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\u25cf\" data-font=\"\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u25cf&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"5\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Information about your emotional support animal, such as color and species.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\u25cf\" data-font=\"\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u25cf&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"6\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">A state that explains that your pet provides emotional support.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\u25cf\" data-font=\"\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u25cf&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"7\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Confirmation that you have a qualifying disability and that\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0under an LMHP&#8217;s care, but without listing the diagnosis.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Depending on your state, you may also need a statement that includes the length of time\u00a0you&#8217;ve\u00a0been under an LMHP\u2019s care.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 aria-level=\"2\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What Are the Risks of Using a Fake ESA Letter?<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335559738&quot;:360,&quot;335559739&quot;:120}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">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.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Some\u00a0additional\u00a0risks of using a fake ESA letter include:<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\u25cf\" data-font=\"\" data-listid=\"2\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u25cf&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">A damaged relationship between you and your landlord.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\u25cf\" data-font=\"\" data-listid=\"2\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u25cf&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Pet fees being imposed on you.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\u25cf\" data-font=\"\" data-listid=\"2\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u25cf&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"3\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Having to leave or get rid of your pet.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\u25cf\" data-font=\"\" data-listid=\"2\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u25cf&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"4\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Even being required to pay the remaining rent on a lease after you have already been evicted.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Depending on your state, you may notice other legal fines and penalties, so keep this in mind.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 aria-level=\"2\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Signs an ESA Letter Is Fake<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335559738&quot;:360,&quot;335559739&quot;:120}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">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,\u00a0it&#8217;s\u00a0already off to an illegitimate start. Learn more about some\u00a0additional\u00a0signs of fake ESA letters below.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4 aria-level=\"3\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Instant Approval<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335559738&quot;:320,&quot;335559739&quot;:80}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">When your ESA letter is approved instantly, especially in California or other states with 30-day relationship laws for LMHPs,\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0not getting a real ESA letter. Fraudulent sites may even skip the telehealth part and just have you take a quick quiz.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4 aria-level=\"3\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Lack of Polish<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335559738&quot;:320,&quot;335559739&quot;:80}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Like any\u00a0scam, a lack of polish is a big red flag. If the letter is missing certain information, like a LMHP\u2019s license, has incorrect spelling, or claims that your pet is a \u201cservice animal,\u201d are signs that the letter is fraudulent. ESA letters should be unique, personalized, and professional.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4 aria-level=\"3\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">You Register or Certify Your ESA<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335559738&quot;:320,&quot;335559739&quot;:80}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Many platforms offer ESA certification and registration, and these can be\u00a0useful\u00a0products and services in the right situation. However, if the site suggests that registration and certification\u00a0is\u00a0the same legally as an ESA letter and can be substituted for an ESA letter, then they are a\u00a0scam.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p aria-level=\"2\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Avoid the Risks of Getting a Fake Emotional Support Animal Letter<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335559738&quot;:360,&quot;335559739&quot;:120}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">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\u00a0don&#8217;t,\u00a0it&#8217;s\u00a0important to choose the right provider.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">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.\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/emotionalsupportanimal.com\/emotional-support-animal-esa-letter\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">EmotionalSupportAnimal.com<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0only\u00a0connects you to LMHP licensed in your state who\u00a0know\u00a0how to assess someone for an ESA and provide a legally qualifying letter.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Once you get your legal ESA letter, make sure that you remember to renew it yearly so ensure that your rights are\u00a0maintained.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Fake Emotional Support Animal Letter: Risks, Scams, and Legal Reality\u00a0 \u00a0 An emotional support animal (ESA) provides relief for people who struggle with mental [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":28356,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1994],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-28380","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-opinion-columns"],"acf":{"full_width":false,"header_transparent":false,"header_white":false},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Fake Emotional Support Animal Letter: Risks, Scams, and Legal Reality\u00a0<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Fake Emotional Support Animal Letter: Risks, Scams, and Legal Reality\u00a0 \u00a0 An emotional support animal (ESA) provides relief for people who struggle with\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Fake Emotional Support Animal Letter: Risks, Scams, and Legal Reality\u00a0\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Fake Emotional Support Animal Letter: Risks, Scams, and Legal Reality\u00a0 \u00a0 An emotional support animal (ESA) provides relief for people who struggle with\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/rcourihay.com\/staging\/blog\/fake-emotional-support-animal-letter-risks-scams-and-legal-reality\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"R. 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