Fake puppy / pet sale scam

A scammer posts listings for popular dog breeds (French bulldogs, Yorkies, Goldendoodles, designer breeds) at prices noticeably below market — $500–$1,200 instead of $2,500–$5,000. The photos are stolen from legitimate breeders or stock-photo sites. The "breeder" is happy to ship the puppy.

After you pay the deposit, requests for additional fees start: shipping crate ($650), climate-controlled transport ($890), pet insurance ($425), customs ($300). Each "release" requires another payment. No puppy ever arrives.

The pattern works for puppies, kittens, exotic pets (parrots, reptiles), and even horses. The BBB has tracked it as one of the fastest-growing categories of consumer scam, with median losses of $750 per victim.

By website or classified ad:

"Beautiful AKC-registered French Bulldog puppies. Champion bloodlines. Mother and father on premises. Health guarantee. $950 with shipping included anywhere in the US."

After payment:

"Hi! The crate company says we need a special climate-controlled crate for this season — an additional $650, fully refundable upon delivery. Without it the airline won't fly the puppy."

Then:

"Customs in Atlanta is requiring $425 in pet insurance. Once delivered they'll refund this directly to you."

• Price significantly below market for the breed.
• The breeder won't agree to a video call to show the puppy live.
• Photos appear elsewhere on the internet (reverse image search them).
• The breeder is "out of state" and only ships — no in-person pickup possible.
• Payment requested via wire, Zelle, Cash App, gift cards, or crypto.
• Additional fees keep appearing after the initial deposit.
• The "shipping company" website looks fresh and unfamiliar.
• The breeder's email is on a free domain (gmail, outlook) rather than a real business domain.
• Documentation (AKC registration, vet records) provided as PDFs only, with no verifiable serial numbers.

• Standard puppy scam. Most common; small dog breeds.
• Exotic pet. Parrots, snakes, sugar gliders, etc.
• Stud-fee scam. "Use my champion stud — pay the fee, we ship the semen sample."
• Show-quality scam. Targets buyers willing to spend more for AKC champion lineage.
• Pet rescue scam. Fake rescue organizations charge "adoption fees" for pets that don't exist.
• Lost-pet recovery scam. Targets people who posted about a lost pet. "I found your dog, send the reward and I'll meet you."

1. Reverse-image-search the puppy photos. Match → almost always a scam.
2. Insist on a live video call showing the puppy with the breeder, ideally with the parents in frame. Ask them to show specific things ("hold up today's newspaper next to the puppy"). Scammers can't.
3. Visit in person if possible. Real breeders welcome visits.
4. Ask for the AKC registration number and verify it through AKC.org (for AKC-registered breeds).
5. Check the breeder on the AKC Marketplace, the National French Bull Dog Club, or breed-specific clubs. Reputable breeders are members of breed clubs.
6. Search the breeder's website and email + "scam." Many recur across thousands of victims.
7. Use a credit card to pay — chargebacks are your best protection.

• Stop sending more money. The "release fee" is never the last.
• File a chargeback if you paid by credit card.
• Contact your bank, Zelle, or Cash App if you used those — there are limited but real fraud-claim windows.
• Report to the FTC, IC3, and the BBB Scam Tracker.
• Report to the Pet Scam tracker at petscams.com — they maintain a public database to warn other buyers.
• Talk to your local animal shelter or breed-rescue group — they can sometimes help you find a real, vetted puppy of the same breed in your area.

• Do not wire money for a puppy. Real breeders accept normal payment methods, often in person at pickup.
• Do not pay additional "release" fees in hope the puppy will arrive.
• Do not buy from a breeder who refuses a live video call.
• Do not assume official-looking AKC paperwork is real without verification.

• FTC: reportfraud.ftc.gov — the broadest US fraud intake; reports flow to thousands of law-enforcement agencies.
• FBI IC3: ic3.gov — the right destination when the scam is internet-enabled (phishing, BEC, romance, crypto).
• CFPB: consumerfinance.gov/complaint — for complaints about banks, money transmitters, payment apps, credit cards, debt collection.
• IdentityTheft.gov — if any identity information (SSN, driver's license, account credentials) was shared.
• Your bank or payment platform. Call the number on the back of your card or use the app's in-product help. Time matters — wires can sometimes be recalled within hours; ACH and Zelle are harder but worth trying.

How can I find a legitimate breeder? Start with the AKC Breeder of Merit program, breed-specific clubs (each breed has a national club), local breed-rescue organizations, or established breeders with multi-year online presence and references from owners.

What about reputable rescue organizations? Real rescues are 501(c)(3) nonprofits with verifiable EIN numbers, physical addresses, and adoption applications. Fake rescues collect "adoption fees" via Cash App and ghost. Verify via Petfinder, the Humane Society, or local animal welfare organizations.

The breeder sent a long video of the puppy. Doesn't that prove they have it? Not necessarily — they may have lifted the video from a real breeder's social media. Insist on a live video call with specific real-time tests, not a pre-recorded video.

What about Craigslist puppies? Higher risk. Craigslist hosts both real local rehomes and scam listings. If you do consider one, demand in-person pickup, never ship, and pay cash on arrival.