Puppy scams before the holidays: fake breeders, shipping fees, and how to check a seller

What's happened

A puppy is high on many holiday wish lists, and scammers know it. Fake breeder websites and social media ads show adorable puppies at tempting prices. Once you pay a deposit, the "breeder" or a fake pet transport company asks for more money, and the puppy never arrives because it never existed.

The BBB's 2025 Scam Tracker Risk Report, published in 2026, found online purchase scams were the most reported scam type, making up 28.4% of the more than 146,000 scams published on BBB Scam Tracker in 2025. Pets were the second most mentioned product in those reports, with 3,145 mentions, behind only clothing. And 89.3% of people who reported an online purchase scam lost money.

The FTC warns that scammers often advertise purebred puppies for a few hundred dollars when they usually cost thousands. In June 2026, it also warned about fake animal charities and pet "emergencies" using stolen or AI-generated images.

Who's affected

Anyone shopping for a pet online, especially for a popular breed or a gift with a deadline. Holiday pressure helps the scammer: if you want the puppy home by a set date, you're more likely to pay a "rush" fee without asking questions.

How the scam usually works

• The ad: a professional-looking website or social media post, often with photos copied from real breeders, and a price well below what the breed normally costs.
• No visits: the seller says they're far away and the puppy must be shipped, so you can't see it in person.
• The payment: a request for a payment app, wire transfer, gift cards or cryptocurrency. The FTC says only scammers insist on these.
• The extra fees: after the first payment, a "shipping company" emails about crate fees, insurance, vaccinations or a held-up flight. The BBB says victims are often told these fees are refundable. They aren't.

The BBB's own examples show how quickly it adds up. In one report, a buyer paid $650 for a puppy plus $200 for airline shipping, then was asked for $950 more for "pet insurance."

What it means in dollars: a worked example

This is an illustration, not a real case.

Kayla finds a French bulldog puppy for $700, when breeders near her are asking several thousand. She pays a $300 deposit with a payment app, then the $400 balance plus $250 for shipping. A "pet transport" company then asks for $480 for a climate-controlled crate and insurance, and finally $900 for "quarantine," promising it'll be refunded on delivery. She's now paid $2,330, and no puppy is coming.

Because she used a payment app to send money to a stranger, getting it back is unlikely. If she'd paid by credit card, she could have disputed the charges for goods never delivered.

How to check a seller

1. See the puppy, live. Visit in person if you can. If not, ask for a live video call and ask the seller to do something specific, like hold up a note with your name and the date.
2. Run a reverse image search. Put the puppy photos into Google Images or TinEye. If they appear on other sites under other names, walk away. Search a line of the website's text too; scam sites often copy wording.
3. Search the name. Look up the breeder and the transport company with words like "scam," "review" and "complaint," and check BBB.org and BBB Scam Tracker.
4. Pay by credit card. It gives you the right to dispute a charge if the puppy never arrives. Be very wary of anyone who insists on a payment app, wire, gift card or crypto.
5. Stop when new fees appear. Don't pay any surprise fee for crates, insurance, shots or quarantine after you've paid. Contact the airline or shipper yourself using details you've found independently.
6. Consider a local shelter or rescue. You can meet the animal first, and adoption fees are usually posted openly. Check that the shelter is real before you pay anything.

FAQs

Do real breeders ever ship puppies?

Some do arrange transport, but a seller who refuses any visit or live video and insists on shipping is a classic warning sign. Real breeders usually welcome questions and visits.

I've paid. Can I get my money back?

Contact the company you used to pay straight away. If you paid by credit card, dispute the charge. For payment apps, wires and gift cards, report it at once and ask for a reversal, though it may not be possible. Report the scam at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and BBB Scam Tracker.

Is a puppy for a few hundred dollars always a scam?

Not always, especially from a shelter or rescue. But a purebred puppy from a breeder at a fraction of the usual price, with pressure to pay quickly, should make you stop and check.

Puppy scams overlap with other fake-store tricks. Our guide to checking a store before you pay has more tips.

Sources: BBB Institute: 2025 Scam Tracker Risk Report, BBB tip: National Puppy Day (March 3, 2025), BBB study: puppy scams, FTC: getting a pet? Avoid scams (December 16, 2024), FTC: animal lovers, learn to spot this breed of pet scams (June 24, 2026)