Key takeaways

If a seller will not let you see the animal in person or on a live video call, and wants payment first, walk away. A real puppy does not need a deposit before you can see it.

  • The FTC says fake ads may offer purebred puppies for a few hundred dollars when they often cost thousands, and that victims who pay up front may never get a puppy or their money back.
  • BBB’s 2025 study says over half of pet scams start on a website found through a search engine or social media, and sellers often add fees for crates, vaccinations, taxes, or shipping after the first payment.
  • The FTC calls requests for gift cards, payment apps, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers a major red flag, because those payments are hard to reverse.

Got a name, website, or phone number from the sender or seller? Check the scam directory.

How a pet or puppy scam works

The scam starts with a listing: a popular breed, appealing photos, and a price well below what the breed normally costs. The FTC’s December 2024 alert says purebred puppies may be advertised for a few hundred dollars when they often cost thousands, and that sellers push buyers to commit before the puppy “goes to other homes”. The pressure is the point. It stops you from asking the questions that would expose the ad.

BBB describes the full sequence in its 2025 study. Fake or cloned seller websites appear high in search results or on social media, often with glowing reviews from multiple profiles. The seller “screens” you to seem legitimate. They send many photos, but refuse in-person visits or video calls, and promise shipment after payment. Money is requested through payment services such as Zelle or Venmo. Then come the extra charges: BBB lists vaccinations, temperature-controlled crates, taxes, airline fees, or customs charges, often asked for repeatedly. Some scammers invent emergencies, like a sick or stuck pet, and blame the buyer if they do not pay.

Scamwatch described the same pattern in an earlier alert: the seller says they have moved interstate or overseas and asks for payment for transport or medical costs before delivery, usually by money transfer. If the dog is supposedly overseas, they invent customs or quarantine problems and request more money. Any payments are lost and the dog is never delivered.

The scam has widened beyond sales. BBB also reports lost-pet variants, where scammers contact owners claiming to have found the animal or offering “pet search” services for a fee. The FTC’s June 2026 alert warns about fake emergency calls where someone claims to have your pet, fake donation appeals using stolen or AI-generated pet images, and fake prizes for people who previously gave to an animal cause.

Eight warning signs

  1. A price far below the going rate. The FTC says purebred puppies may be advertised for a few hundred dollars when they often cost thousands. BBB advises researching the breed’s average market price first.
  2. The seller will not allow a visit or a live video call. BBB lists refusing in-person or video visits as a red flag, and advises walking away if the seller refuses a video call.
  3. Pressure to commit before the puppy “goes to other homes”. The FTC lists pressure to act fast as a warning sign. A seller with a real animal does not need you to decide today.
  4. Payment by app, gift card, crypto, or wire transfer. The FTC calls requests for gift cards, payment apps, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers a major red flag. BBB’s study describes requests through Zelle or Venmo. See gift card scams and bank transfer scams.
  5. New fees after you have paid. BBB lists charges for vaccinations, temperature-controlled crates, taxes, airline fees, and customs, often repeated. Scamwatch’s alert describes transport, medical, customs, and quarantine fees. Each payment buys another demand.
  6. A seller far away who promises to ship the animal. BBB advises not buying from out-of-area sellers who promise to ship your pet. Scamwatch described sellers who claim to have moved interstate or overseas.
  7. Photos that appear on other sites, or a seller site with identical reviews. BBB advises running a reverse image search on ad photos to see whether they appear elsewhere, and notes cloned seller sites often show fake glowing reviews. The FTC’s June 2026 alert warns scammers use stolen or AI-generated pet images and videos.
  8. Emotional pressure and invented emergencies. BBB says scammers invent emergencies like a sick or stuck pet and blame the buyer if they do not pay. Stay with the facts: you have seen no animal and you are being asked for money.

Real examples from the sources

BBB’s 2025 study includes victim accounts. These figures come from that study.

Deposit, then “shipping”, then “insurance”

  1. One victim, Heather, sent $3,400 before realising the sale was a scam, according to BBB.
  2. Another, Tracy, sent $1,900 of the $4,500 she was asked for.
  3. A third, Gerald, paid $550 in total and was then asked for $900 more.

The pattern in all three is the same: an initial payment, followed by new costs that must be paid before delivery. Once you notice the second request, the safest move is to stop paying, tell your bank, and report.

The “pet search” offer after you lose an animal

  1. You post that your dog is missing.
  2. Someone contacts you claiming to have found the animal, or offers a “pet search” service for a fee. BBB cites an example fee of $200.
  3. No search happens, or no animal is ever produced.

If a stranger says they have your pet, ask for a clear photo that includes something only the finder could know, and never pay before you have seen the animal. Check local shelters and vet clinics directly.

The emergency call about “your pet”

  1. A caller claims to be law enforcement or an animal hospital and says they have your pet after an emergency.
  2. They may play stolen or AI-generated photos or video.
  3. They insist the only way to pay is gift card, payment app, cryptocurrency, or wire transfer.

The FTC’s June 2026 alert calls that insistence a red flag and says it is a scam. Hang up, then phone your vet or the shelter on a number you look up yourself.

How to check a pet seller before paying anything

  1. Search the seller’s name, business, phone number, and email with words like “review”, “scam”, or “complaint”, as the FTC advises.
  2. Run a reverse image search on the photos. BBB says that if multiple pet sites use the same picture, it is probably a scam.
  3. Insist on seeing the animal in person. BBB advises seeing the pet before paying anything. If that is impossible, insist on a live video call and walk away if the seller refuses.
  4. Ask a vet, a local breeders’ association, or a rescue group about the seller. Scamwatch suggests seeking advice from people in the industry.
  5. Compare the price against what the breed normally costs. A very low price, or the word “teacup” in ads, is a flag BBB lists.
  6. Consider a local shelter or breed-specific rescue. The FTC notes many animals of all breeds and ages need homes, and adoption usually costs a small fee.
  7. Pay in the way that gives you the most protection and never by gift card, wire transfer, or crypto. Ask your bank which protections apply to your payment method.

If you already paid or gave details

If you sent money or details, act quickly. These steps draw on the FTC’s and BBB’s guidance.

  1. Stop paying. Every further “fee” is another loss. Do not send money for crates, shipping, or insurance, however urgent the message.
  2. Contact your bank, card provider, or payment app at once and ask what can be done. If you used a gift card, wire, or crypto, contact the issuer or provider immediately. The FTC explains steps by payment method on its what to do if you were scammed page.
  3. Save the evidence: the ad, photos, website address, emails, receipts, and the payment account details.
  4. Report the seller site. BBB suggests filing with BBB Scam Tracker and reporting the website to Petscams.com, which tracks fake pet sellers and works to get fraudulent sites taken down.
  5. Beware of “recovery” offers. See recovery scams.
  6. Protect your details. If you gave ID or banking information, tell your bank. In Australia and New Zealand, IDCARE offers free help.

How to report it, step by step

  1. Write down the timeline: where you saw the ad, when you first made contact, each amount you sent, and each fee they requested.
  2. Collect proof: screenshots of the listing and messages, the seller’s website, payment confirmations, and any shipping or vet documents they sent.
  3. Report to your payment provider and note the claim reference.
  4. File with the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (or 877-FTC-Help), and with BBB Scam Tracker. The FTC says to report pet scams there.
  5. Report the website to Petscams.com and to the platform or search engine that showed the ad.
  6. Report to the agency for your country from the list below, and to your state attorney general if you are in the US.

Where to report

More help from official sources

BBB’s figures come from reports to BBB Scam Tracker, which BBB says undercount real losses. The Scamwatch alert is from 2013, so its details may be dated. Scambaba is an independent educational project. Reporting and recovery options depend on where you live. How these guides are researched is on the editorial policy.

Frequently asked questions

How can I tell if a puppy ad is a scam?

Check the price, the seller, and the photos. The FTC says fake ads may offer purebred puppies for a few hundred dollars when they often cost thousands. BBB says to run a reverse image search, insist on seeing the animal in person or on a live video call, and walk away if the seller refuses.

Why do sellers keep asking for more money after I paid?

BBB says sellers often add charges for vaccinations, temperature-controlled crates, taxes, airline fees, or customs, and may ask repeatedly. Scamwatch described the same pattern with customs and quarantine invented fees. The first payment is rarely the last request.

Is paying a deposit to “hold” a puppy safe?

Not before you have verified the seller and seen the animal. BBB’s study says scammers send many photos but refuse in-person or video visits, and ask for payment before shipping. Check the seller, then see the animal first, and treat any new fee as a warning sign.

How do I report a pet scam?

Report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, as the FTC advises, and to BBB Scam Tracker. BBB also points to Petscams.com for reporting fake pet seller websites. In Australia use Scamwatch, in the UK use Report Fraud, and in Canada the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.

Can I get my money back after sending it by app, gift card, or crypto?

It is difficult. The FTC says these payment types are hard to reverse. Contact your bank or the payment provider immediately, report to the FTC, and be wary of anyone offering to recover the money for a fee.

What if someone contacts me saying they found my lost pet?

Be cautious. BBB describes scammers who claim to have found a lost pet or offer a “pet search” service for a fee, with one example of $200. Ask for proof, do not pay in advance, and check shelters and vet clinics directly.

What is the safest way to get a pet?

The FTC suggests considering a local shelter or breed-specific rescue, and says adoption usually costs a small fee. If you choose a breeder, visit in person, check them with a vet or breeders’ association, and use a payment method that is not a gift card, wire, or crypto.