Scam library · Shopping · Seniors
Puppy scam: fake online pet sales
You find the perfect puppy or kitten on a website or social media page. The seller is kind, sends more photos, and the price is reasonable. You pay a deposit by Zelle or gift card. Then the 'pet transport company' emails: you need to pay for a climate-controlled crate, insurance or vaccinations before delivery.
There is no puppy. The photos are stolen, and the transport company is the same scammer.
What the message looks like
From: Pet Express Air Delivery <petexpressair.dispatch@gmail[.]com>
Subject: Delivery delayed: crate payment required
Your puppy is at our Denver terminal. Per regulations, a climate-controlled crate is required before it can continue.
Pay $850 (refundable on delivery) via Zelle within 3 hours to avoid boarding fees.
How this scam works
The scam is built to keep you paying. Each fee is presented as refundable or required by law, and you're told the pet is stuck at an airport, suffering, unless you pay right away.
Pet scams surge during holidays and when people are lonely or grieving a pet. They often use the seller's location far away, so visiting isn't possible.
Many fake pet sites look professional, with testimonials, health guarantees and photos of 'happy families'. They're often registered only weeks before, and the same puppy photos show up on several sites under different breeder names. Some scammers even advertise specific popular breeds, like French bulldogs or Yorkies, because buyers expect to pay more and to wait.
If you've lost money, you're not alone and it's not foolish: these scams are designed to tug on exactly the feelings that make someone a good pet owner.
Red flags
- A seller who won't meet in person or let you visit.
- Payment by Zelle, Cash App, gift cards, wire or crypto.
- Extra fees for crates, insurance or permits after the deposit.
- Photos that appear elsewhere online when reverse-searched.
- Urgency about the animal's health or comfort.
How to tell it’s fake
- Reverse image search the pet photos.
- Insist on a live video call with the pet, or visit in person.
- Consider adopting from a local shelter or rescue you can visit.
What to do if you clicked, paid or shared info
Don’t panic, and don’t blame yourself. These scams are built by professionals. Act quickly, one step at a time.
If you clicked a link or called back
- Stop communicating and don't send more money.
If you paid
- Contact your bank or payment app right away. Report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to ic3.gov.
If you shared personal info, a password or a code
- If you shared your ID or address, watch for follow-up scams.
Where to report and get help (U.S.)
If a message seems legit and you’re still not sure, get a second opinion before you act. Reporting helps stop scammers, even if money can’t be recovered. If you are in danger, call 911.
- Your bank or card issuer
Call the number on the back of your card or on your statement, not one from the message. Ask them to stop or reverse the payment and to watch the account. - Federal Trade Commission (FTC) · ReportFraud.ftc.gov
Report the scam and get a step-by-step recovery plan. - FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) · ic3.gov
Report scams that happened online, especially if money was lost. Include phone numbers, websites and payment details. - AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline · aarp.org helpline
Free, for anyone of any age: trained volunteers help you sort out next steps. 877-908-3360, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern. - IdentityTheft.gov · IdentityTheft.gov
If you shared your Social Security number or someone opened accounts in your name.
How Gmork Scam Guard would warn you
In Chrome or Edge on your computer, Scam Guard checks pet seller pages and emails you have open, noticing newly created sites, stolen photo patterns and pet transport fees. It warns you before you pay. If a seller seems legit and sweet, get an expert second look anyway.
Scam Guard can miss things, so the checks above still matter. See what it warns about and what it keeps private.
Questions people ask
- How do I know a puppy seller is real?
- See the animal in person or on live video, meet the seller, and avoid payment methods that can't be reversed.
- Are pet shipping fees normal?
- Real breeders may arrange transport, but repeated surprise fees after payment are a scam pattern.
- Can I get my money back?
- Contact your bank or payment app right away. Credit cards offer the best protection.