How do I get my money back after a puppy or pet scam?
Dispute the charge with your credit card immediately. Report to the FTC and the Internet Crime Complaint Center. Puppy scams are a consistently high-volume fraud category.
Last reviewed: 10 June 2026
Explanation
Pet scams typically involve fake online listings for purebred puppies or other animals at below-market prices. The seller collects a deposit or full payment, then either disappears or creates additional costs — fake 'crate fees,' 'insurance,' or 'customs charges' — to extract more money before eventually going silent.
If you paid by credit or debit card, file a dispute immediately for non-delivery of goods. This is a straightforward non-delivery case and most issuers will issue provisional credit while investigating. If you paid additional 'fees' after the initial deposit, include all charges in the dispute.
Preserve all evidence: photos from the listing (reverse image search them — scammers steal puppy photos from breeders' social media), email or text exchanges, payment receipts, and the website URL. Scam pet listing websites are frequently taken down, so screenshot everything before reporting.
Report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov — pet scams have been a specific enforcement focus. Also report to the Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov. If the seller used a legitimate platform to list (Craigslist, Facebook, PuppyFind), report the listing to that platform as well. The American Kennel Club also maintains a puppy scam resource and accepts fraud reports at akc.org.
Common red flags
- Price is significantly lower than breed standard for the area
- Seller says they are overseas and must ship the puppy
- Puppy photos appear on multiple websites with different names — check via reverse image search
- Additional fees appear after initial payment for 'crate,' 'insurance,' or 'customs'
- Seller communicates only via WhatsApp or personal email
- No phone number or verifiable physical address for the breeder
What to do now
- File a credit card dispute for non-delivery of goods immediately
- Preserve all listing screenshots, communications, and receipts
- Report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov
- Report to the FBI's IC3 at ic3.gov
- Report the listing to the platform where it was posted
- Stop sending any additional fee payments
Frequently asked questions
How do I verify a dog breeder is real before paying a deposit?
Visit the breeder's premises in person if possible. Verify their registration with a kennel club (AKC, UKC, etc.). Request veterinary references. Ask for a video call showing the actual puppies. Legitimate breeders welcome verification.
I paid extra fees to get my puppy released from customs — is this normal?
No. Legitimate pet imports do have customs processes, but a seller who requests successive additional payments for insurance or release fees is almost always running a scam. Stop paying immediately and report to the FTC.