How to Outsmart a Puppy Scammer (Like a Bloodhound)

Because the only thing worse than stepping in puppy pee is falling for a scammer's pitch. So, you're finally ready to welcome a four-legged furball into your home. You’ve got the Instagram handle picked out, a list of names like “Waffles,” “Sir Barks-a-Lot,” and “Pickle,” and you’ve bookmarked a $300 designer dog bed your pup will probably never sleep in. You're all set. But before you Venmo someone named "DoggyLove1998” a non-refundable deposit from a sketchy website with one blurry photo and zero punctuation, pause. Let’s talk about how to outsmart a puppy scammer because they're out there, and yes, they’re craftier than a Poodle with a sudoku book.

TRUST YOUR GUT AND USE YOUR BRAIN

If a puppy listing gives you the same vibe as a Nigerian prince offering you gold bars, don’t ignore it. Scammers prey on emotion, and nothing gets the heart racing like the promise of a teacup goldendoodle that looks like it was airbrushed by angels.

RED FLAGS (to sniff out):

• Prices that are “too good to be true” (spoiler: they are).

• Grainy, recycled puppy pics found on 42 other sites.

• Bad, terrible, no good, sounding slightly "off " grammar. Responses that sometimes read like someone asked ChatGPT to write in broken English with a 1997 keyboard. AI is helping the scammer get smarter...so if it doesn't feel right remember to go with your gut and not your heart!

• Kind Regards in their complimentary close or the word "kindly" when asking you for money or info.

• Zero vetting, no questions asked. (“You want this rare $300 Merle Goldendoodle? Sure, just Zelle me and he’s yours!”)

• They forget the puppy that you are looking at on their website or send a different picture all together

  
  

DEMAND PROOF LIKE YANNETTI, AJ, AND ALESSI

Legit breeders don’t just throw puppies at the public like confetti. They’re proud of their dogs and love to show them off (honestly, they’d probably invite you to their puppy's graduation party if they could).

Here are some things to ask for when looking for a puppy:

• Real photos (with timestamp or proof of life: e.g., “Can you take a photo of the puppy next to today’s newspaper or holding a spoon?”).

• Vet records, parent info, and references.

• A video call with the breeder—and the puppy. If they won’t Facetime the pup, it doesn’t exist. Sorry. No video call...TRUTH...the puppy doesn't exsist... MUST I SHAKE YOU??

NEVER PAY IN CRYPTO, GIFT CARDS, OR WIRES

Legitimate breeders don’t ask you to wire funds to their cousin “Marlo” in Moldova or to pay entirely via Bitcoin "because PayPal is broken today."

Acceptable payment methods:

• Reputable platforms (with receipts).

• Contracts with terms.

• A pulse on the other end of the phone ( that speaks English well and doesn't have a foreign accent and their accent matches their location south - southern accent, Wisconsin, New Jersey etc...)

If they ask you to pay before they’ll even give you the name of the dog, RUN. FAST. Like your REAL soon-to-be puppy will every time you call them in the yard.

CHECK THEIR DIGITAL PAWPRINTS

You’re allowed—no, encouraged—to become a full-blown cyber sleuth.

• Reverse image search the puppy pics.

• Check for a legitimate website and social presence.

• Google reviews, testimonials, and (this is key) their name + the word "scam."

You’d be surprised how many shady breeders have Yelp reviews that start with: “I never got my puppy, but I got a nice case of heartbreak and two overdraft fees.”

REPORT, BLOCK, AND SHARE (The Good Kind)

If you spot a scam, don’t just delete the message and cry into your paw-print blanket. Report it to:

• The website hosting the listing.

• The Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

• Local breed-specific groups and forums (they love busting fakes like it’s a hobby).

Then, share what you’ve learned. Because every time a scammer gets ghosted, a real puppy finds their forever home.

FINAL THOUGHTS: DON'T LET THE FAKES STEAL YOUR JOY

Yes, the puppy world has its shady corners, but for every scammer, there are countless amazing, ethical breeders who pour their hearts into raising healthy, happy pups. So take your time, do your homework, and trust the process. The right puppy is worth waiting for—and finding them is way more rewarding than transferring $1,200 to “puppies4lyfe.nokittens.biz”.