Warning: AI-manipulated pet and puppy sale scams
Sellers of pets and puppies that don't exist are using stolen and AI-manipulated photos and videos, including deepfakes, to convince buyers to send a deposit before the animal ever arrives.
Listings for puppies and other pets appear on social media and classifieds sites with appealing photos and videos of the animal. Increasingly, that media is stolen from real breeders or generated and manipulated with AI to look authentic — including deepfake video clips meant to reassure a hesitant buyer that the pet is real and healthy.
After a deposit or “reservation fee” is paid, the excuses start: extra costs for a travel crate, insurance, or vaccinations before the pet can be shipped. Each fee is paid in the hope the pet will finally arrive; it never does, and the listing and seller disappear.
The FTC is warning animal lovers that a seller's unwillingness to do a video call in real time, or refusal to let you view the pet in person before paying, is a strong red flag — as is any request to pay by gift card, crypto, or wire transfer.
What to do
- Never pay a deposit for a pet you haven't seen in person or on a live video call
- Reverse image search photos to check if they're copied from another listing
- Be suspicious of extra “shipping”, “insurance”, or “crate” fees after an initial payment
- Buy locally where you can visit in person, or use a reputable, verified breeder or shelter
- Report suspicious pet listings to the platform and to the FTC