Report a scam

Pet and puppy adoption scams: warning signs, what to do and where to report

Do this now

  • Stop any pending payment if the seller is pushing gift cards, wire transfer, cryptocurrency or a payment app before you have seen the specific animal on a live, unedited video call.
  • Do not send a further “insurance,” “vet,” “crate,” “customs” or “return” fee after an initial payment — a second fee after the first payment is the scam continuing, not a step toward delivery.

This cornerstone covers pet and puppy adoption scams: fake or non-existent sellers who advertise a specific breed or animal online, collect payment for the pet, shipping, insurance or paperwork, and then never deliver a real animal. Both the Federal Trade Commission and the Better Business Bureau treat pet scams as a large and growing category, with BBB Scam Tracker recording thousands of related reports and estimating that a majority of sponsored pet advertisements online may be fake.

The key point

Pet and puppy adoption scams almost always separate the buyer from the animal: contact happens by message or email, the seller is unable or unwilling to do a convincing live video call, and payment is requested through a method that is hard to reverse. Listing photos are frequently stolen from a real breeder, shelter or previous owner’s post — a reverse-image search often surfaces the same picture attached to other sellers, other prices or other breeds.

Treat the request to pay before a live, real-time video call of the actual animal as the core signal, not the price or the backstory. Reputable breeders, rescues and shelters expect buyers to verify the animal and the seller before money changes hands, and will usually support a video call, references or an in-person visit.

Warning signs to notice

  • Signal 1: The seller cannot or will not do a live video call showing the actual animal, only sending photos or short pre-recorded clips.
  • Signal 2: Payment is requested by wire transfer, gift card, cryptocurrency or a person-to-person payment app with no purchase protection.
  • Signal 3: The price is well below the breed’s typical market rate, often justified by a story about needing to rehome the animal urgently.
  • Signal 4: A courier, airline, “customs,” crate or pet-insurance fee is requested after the first payment, before any delivery.
  • Signal 5: A reverse-image search shows the same photos used in other listings, under other names, locations or prices.

A checklist cannot certify that a seller, listing or website is genuine. The combination of signals and the amount at risk matters more than any single detail.

Safer next steps

  1. Ask for a live, unedited video call of the specific animal, in a setting that matches the claimed location, before sending any payment.
  2. Run a reverse-image search on the listing photos, and search the seller’s name, phone number or email together with the word “scam.”
  3. Pay by a method with purchase protection where possible, and avoid wire transfer, gift cards or cryptocurrency for a pet purchase.
  4. Arrange an in-person visit, or an independent local contact to view the animal, before completing payment for a higher-value breed.
  5. Stop paying as soon as a second, unplanned fee is requested — treat any “release,” “insurance” or “customs” fee after the first payment as confirmation of a scam.
  6. If payment has already been sent, contact the bank, card issuer or payment app immediately to ask about a dispute, chargeback or recall.

Important: A real breeder, rescue or shelter does not need a “delivery,” “customs” or “insurance” fee paid after the purchase price to release an animal that has already been paid for.

Questions that create a useful pause

  • Has the seller shown the actual animal on a live video call, or only sent photos and pre-recorded clips?
  • Does the payment method offer any purchase protection or dispute route if the animal never arrives?
  • Is a new fee being requested that was not part of the original price or agreement?

Evidence to preserve—only when safe

  • Save the full listing, seller messages, claimed location and any phone numbers or email addresses used.
  • Keep payment confirmations, amounts, dates and the method used for every payment sent.
  • Record the outcome of a reverse-image search on the listing photos, including any other listings the same photos appear in.

Do not send further payment merely to “test” whether the seller is genuine — treat a second unexpected fee as the point to stop.

Where to report

  • Report the payment to the bank, card issuer or payment app used, and ask about a dispute or chargeback.
  • Report the listing to the marketplace, classifieds site or social platform where it appeared.
  • File a report with the national fraud-reporting body for the country where the payment was made.

Use independently found official contact details. Never rely on a number or link supplied by the seller.

Supporting another person

If someone you know is arranging to buy a pet online, help them ask for a live video call and check the seller’s photos and details before any payment is sent, without implying they have already been careless. If a payment has been sent, focus first on contacting the bank or payment provider, then on reporting — not on reconstructing exactly how it happened.

What may happen next

Some pet-scam sellers reappear under a new name, phone number or listing once a buyer stops responding, sometimes offering a “replacement” animal or a refund that requires yet another fee. Treat any follow-up contact from the same seller, or an unsolicited “recovery” offer, as part of the same scam rather than a genuine resolution.

Frequently asked questions

Is it safe to pay a deposit before seeing a puppy or kitten in person?

A modest, protected-method deposit after a genuine live video call is a normal part of buying from many legitimate breeders and rescues. A full payment requested before any video verification, or only by wire transfer, gift card or cryptocurrency, is the higher-risk pattern.

What if the seller has a website that looks professional?

A polished website does not confirm a seller is genuine — many pet-scam sites are built quickly using templates and stolen photos. Check how long the domain has been registered, search the business name plus “scam” or “review,” and still insist on a live video call.

Can the money be recovered once it has been sent?

It depends on the payment method. Card payments and some payment apps offer a dispute or chargeback route; wire transfers, gift cards and cryptocurrency are very difficult or impossible to reverse. Contact the payment provider as soon as possible regardless of the method used.

Sources and review record

This cornerstone provides general safety information, not legal, medical or financial advice. Emergency, reporting and provider procedures can change.