Is that puppy or pet listing a scam?
Pet sale scams are among the most emotionally costly frauds targeting families and individuals. A listing for a purebred puppy, kitten, or exotic bird appears on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, or a purpose-built 'breeder' website. The price is slightly below market — just enough to seem like a good deal without triggering suspicion. The breeder claims to be out of state, deployed overseas, or on a mission trip, and is unable to let you see the animal before payment.
After the deposit is sent, a cascade of additional fees materialises: a specialised travel crate, pet insurance for the flight, a customs clearance charge, a veterinary health certificate. Each payment is followed by another. The animal does not exist. The photos are stolen from real breeders — often reverse-searchable on Google Images.
The emotional dimension of this scam is severe. Victims have not just lost money — they were emotionally committed to a specific animal they were told was waiting for them. This is a deliberate feature of the deception.
🚩 Red flags to watch for
- ▶The seller cannot let you see the animal in person or via live video call with the specific puppy on screen.
- ▶Reverse image search of the puppy photos finds the same images on other websites under different seller names or breeds.
- ▶The price is below what reputable breeders typically charge for the same breed.
- ▶After the initial deposit, additional fees appear: 'vaccination certificate', 'specialised shipping crate', 'pet insurance required for the flight'.
- ▶Payment is requested via wire transfer, Zelle, Cash App, or gift cards — not a traceable, reversible method.
- ▶The breeder's website was registered very recently (check whois.domaintools.com), has stock photo 'team members', and vague or copied content.
✅ What to do
- 1Never pay for any animal you haven't seen in person. If a breeder cannot show you the specific animal on a live video call before payment, do not proceed.
- 2Reverse image search all photos before paying anything.
- 3Verify the breeder through a breed club or registry: reputable breeders in the US are often members of AKC-affiliated clubs; in the UK, through The Kennel Club's registered breeder scheme.
- 4For any additional fee after the initial deposit: stop. This is the signature of an advance-fee pet scam.
- 5If you've already sent money, report to the FTC (reportfraud.ftc.gov), your state attorney general, and the IC3 (ic3.gov).
📣 Where to report (by country)
🇺🇸 United States
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- Action Fraud
- Police Scotland — call 101
🇦🇺 Australia
🇨🇦 Canada
🌍 Everywhere else
- Contact your local police and your bank immediately
- If money was sent, ask your bank about a recall request — act within hours
Got a suspicious message right now?
Paste it into our free AI checker for an instant pattern analysis
No account needed · Free to try · Privacy-first
Check your message free →No tool is a guarantee. AI pattern detection is a guide, not a verdict — always use your own judgment.
Common questions
Can breeders legitimately ship puppies?
Yes — legitimate in-state and interstate puppy transport exists. But reputable breeders typically allow visits first, can provide verifiable references, are registered with breed clubs, and use established commercial airlines or licensed pet transporters. They do not request unusual pre-payment fees or use untraceable payment methods.
The breeder sent me photos and videos of the puppy. Doesn't that prove it's real?
Not if those photos and videos are stolen from a real breeder. Right-click any image and search it on Google Images. Ask for a live video call showing the puppy alongside today's newspaper or a specific handwritten sign — something that couldn't be pre-recorded.