A puppy or pet scam is a fake online listing that uses a stolen or invented photo of an animal to collect money for a pet that does not exist. According to the Federal Trade Commission, scammers post ads for puppies especially, often pricing purebred dogs at a few hundred dollars when they normally cost thousands, and pressure buyers to act fast before the “listing” is gone. If you pay, you will not get a pet, and getting your money back is unlikely.
Warning Signs to Watch For First
These signals should make you stop before you send any money:
- The price is far below what the same breed normally costs.
- The seller wants payment only through gift cards, a payment app, cryptocurrency, or a wire service like Western Union or MoneyGram.
- The seller refuses a live video call or will not let you visit the puppy in person.
- New fees appear after you pay, such as charges for a special crate, insurance, or “vet certification” before shipping.
- The seller pushes you to decide immediately because other buyers are supposedly waiting.
- The same photos appear in more than one listing, or a reverse image search shows the photo elsewhere online under a different name.
How the Scam Usually Works
The pattern is consistent. A listing appears on a classified site, social media, or a website built to look like a breeder’s page. The seller answers quickly, tells an emotional story, and asks for an upfront payment for the puppy or an “adoption fee.” Once you pay, the seller invents a new cost, usually tied to shipping, health paperwork, or a special travel crate. Some victims pay several rounds of fees before realizing no puppy is coming. The seller then stops responding, and the website or account often disappears.
How to Verify a Seller Before You Pay
- Ask for a live video call. Request to see the actual puppy and the person claiming to be the breeder, in real time, not a pre-recorded clip.
- Search the seller’s name and the business name. Add words like “scam,” “complaint,” or “review” to your search and see what comes up.
- Visit in person when possible. A legitimate breeder or shelter will let you see the animal and its living conditions before any money changes hands.
- Reverse image search the photos. If the same puppy picture shows up on other websites or under other names, that is a strong sign of a fake listing.
- Check how you’re asked to pay. Gift cards, payment apps, cryptocurrency, and wire transfers are all hard to reverse. A willingness to demand these methods only is a major red flag.
- Consider a local shelter or rescue first. An online search will point you to shelters and breed-specific rescues in your area, where you can meet the animal before paying an adoption fee.
What to check before acting on Puppy Scams and Pet Fraud
- Seen the puppy on a live video call, not just photos or a pre-recorded video.
- Visited in person or confirmed a real, verifiable local address for the seller.
- Searched the seller’s name and business name for scam reports.
- Reverse-searched the puppy’s photo for duplicate listings elsewhere.
- Confirmed the payment method is traceable, not a gift card, crypto, or wire transfer.
- Gotten everything in writing, including the total price, before sending any money.
How to act on what you know about Puppy Scams and Pet Fraud
- Will the seller do a live video call and answer questions about the puppy? If no, treat the listing as high-risk and stop.
- Does the seller only accept gift cards, a payment app, cryptocurrency, or wire transfer? If yes, do not pay.
- Has a new fee appeared after you already paid something? If yes, stop paying and move to the reporting steps below.
- Can you visit in person or verify a real local address? If no, treat this as an added risk and verify everything else twice.
- Already sent money and now suspect a scam? Go straight to the reporting section.
If you’re weighing a private online seller for anything, not just a pet, our guide on verifying a seller’s real shipping and contact information covers red flags that carry over directly to pet listings.
If You Already Paid a Pet Scammer
- Stop sending any further payments, even if the seller claims the puppy is “stuck” and needs one more fee.
- Save every message, the listing itself, screenshots, and any payment confirmations. Our guide on saving records for a dispute walks through what to keep.
- Contact your bank, card issuer, or payment app right away to ask about reversing the charge or disputing it.
- If you paid with a gift card, contact the retailer that issued it as soon as possible.
- Report the scam to the FTC and the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, covered in the next section.
Where to Report a Puppy or Pet Scam
Two federal resources take these reports directly:
- The Federal Trade Commission. File a report at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. This helps the FTC track patterns and can support law enforcement action.
- The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), at IC3.gov. IC3 accepts reports from victims or from someone filing on their behalf. Have ready: your contact information, the seller’s name, website, email, and any phone numbers used, the payment method and amount, and copies of your messages with the seller.
You can also report the platform where you saw the listing, such as the marketplace or social media site, so it can remove the ad and investigate the account.
Who Should Be Extra Careful
Anyone searching for a pet online can be targeted, but a few situations carry more risk: buying a specific breed that is in high demand or expensive, shopping during the holidays when emotional pressure is higher, and responding to an ad that showed up on social media rather than a known, established breeder or rescue’s own site. A seller who creates urgency, such as claiming another buyer is about to take the puppy, is using a common pressure tactic to get you to skip verification steps.
What remains uncertain about Puppy Scams and Pet Fraud
This article summarizes general guidance from the FTC and the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center. It does not evaluate any specific seller, breeder, rescue, or website, and it cannot guarantee that following these steps will prevent every scam. Scam tactics change over time, so always use current judgment alongside these general guidelines.
Reader questions on Puppy Scams and Pet Fraud
Is it a scam if a breeder asks for a deposit?
Not automatically. Some legitimate breeders do ask for a deposit to hold a puppy. The difference is verification: a real breeder will typically allow a video call or in-person visit and will not demand payment only through gift cards, cryptocurrency, or a wire service.
Can I get my money back if I already paid a pet scammer?
It depends on how you paid. Payments made by credit card sometimes can be disputed with your card issuer. Gift cards, wire transfers, and cryptocurrency payments are much harder to recover. Contact your bank or the payment provider as soon as you suspect a scam.
Should I report the scam even if I did not lose money?
Yes. Reporting a suspicious listing to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov or to IC3.gov, even without a financial loss, helps investigators identify patterns and can protect the next person who sees the same ad.
Is it safer to adopt from a shelter instead of buying online?
Adopting through a local shelter or a breed-specific rescue lets you see the animal in person before paying any fee, which removes much of the risk that comes with an online-only transaction. It is not a guarantee against every kind of fraud, but it is one of the more direct ways to verify what you’re getting before you pay.
Educational Disclaimer
This article is for general educational purposes only and is not legal advice. It does not evaluate or endorse any specific seller, breeder, rescue, or website. If you believe you have been the victim of a puppy or pet scam, contact your bank or payment provider, the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3.gov, or a qualified attorney for guidance specific to your situation.
