Puppy Deposit Scams via PayPal
Fraudulent breeders collect non-refundable PayPal deposits to 'hold' puppies that do not exist, then disappear or manufacture excuses to avoid delivery.
Part of: Puppy Deposit Scams
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Puppy deposit scams are a variant of pet fraud focused specifically on the reservation stage. A buyer finds an appealing listing, is told the litter is popular, and is pressured to secure their puppy immediately with a deposit — often via PayPal — or lose the spot to another buyer.
Once the deposit is paid, the scammer may disappear entirely, present repeated delays, or demand a further balance payment before again stalling. The pet never arrives and the deposit is not returned.
How this scam works on PayPal
Fake breeders post professional-looking listings with breed-standard photos and positive reviews on their own website or social media. When a buyer enquires, the breeder explains pups are going fast and a small PayPal deposit will hold one. Buyers who pay are then told the puppy has a health issue, requires extra vaccinations, or needs a delay of several more weeks — stretching until the buyer gives up or pays more.
Some scammers request partial full-price payments rather than nominal deposits, maximising extraction before they disengage.
Friends and Family requests are common to prevent PayPal chargebacks, with the scammer claiming it is standard for small breeders.
Common red flags
- Artificial urgency — 'another buyer wants this pup' pressure to pay a deposit immediately
- No verifiable physical address for the breeding facility
- Deposit must be paid via PayPal Friends and Family rather than Goods and Services
- Breeder cannot produce a live video of the specific puppy you are reserving
- Contract terms make the deposit non-refundable under almost any circumstance
- Multiple excuses emerge after deposit to explain why the puppy cannot yet be delivered
How to protect yourself
- Treat any deposit request with urgency pressure as a red flag requiring extra verification
- Pay deposits only via PayPal Goods and Services so buyer protection applies
- Request a video call with the specific puppy and a piece of paper showing today's date before depositing
- Use a written contract specifying refund terms and delivery date — share it before any payment
- Search the breeder's name, address, and photos independently before committing funds
- Visit the breeder in person to see the parent animals and living conditions when geographically feasible
How to report it
- Raise a PayPal dispute immediately if the puppy is not delivered as agreed
- Report the listing and the breeder's contact details to the platform where you found them
- File a complaint with your national consumer protection authority and trading standards body
Frequently asked questions
Is a puppy deposit recoverable through PayPal?
If you paid via PayPal Goods and Services you can open an 'item not received' dispute within 180 days. If you paid via Friends and Family, formal buyer protection does not apply, but you can escalate to PayPal's account review team and file a chargeback through your card issuer if a card was used to fund the payment.