Is a pet transport or shipping fee request for a puppy I bought online a scam?
Almost certainly yes. Escalating transport and insurance fee requests for a pet that has not arrived are the signature of an online puppy scam.
Last reviewed: 1 August 2026
Explanation
Online pet scams begin with appealing listings — often for rare or pedigree breeds — at attractive prices. After payment, the 'seller' claims the animal is at a transport company and requires additional payments for shipping, insurance, customs clearance, or a special crate. Each request is followed by another before the pet can be released. The pet does not exist. Scammers use stock photos and fake transport company websites to keep victims paying. A genuine pet transaction with a legitimate breeder or rescue organisation involves viewing the animal in person or via live video, paying directly to the seller, and never encountering escalating transport fees.
The fee ladder is scripted in advance: shipping, then a 'thermally regulated' crate, then insurance, then customs — each framed as the last obstacle, each 'refundable on delivery', and each followed by another. A fake courier site with a working tracking page often supports the fiction, and some victims are eventually threatened with animal-abandonment penalties to extort a final payment. The animal in the photos was never theirs to sell.
The emotional investment is the trap's mechanism — by the second fee, you are rescuing a specific puppy you have named, not evaluating a transaction. That is why the viewing rule has to be absolute: money moves only after you have seen the animal live, in person or on an interactive video call, with the seller demonstrably present alongside it.
Common red flags
- Pet cannot be viewed in person — seller only shows photos or short videos
- Shipping fee request arrives after initial payment
- A 'transport company' contacts you separately demanding fees
- Breed is rare and price is below what reputable breeders charge
What to do now
- Stop all payments immediately
- Do not pay any transport, insurance, or clearance fees
- Report the seller to the platform and your national fraud authority
- If you paid by card, contact your bank about a chargeback
Frequently asked questions
Can I find a legitimate pet breeder online?
Yes — reputable breeders are often registered with breed clubs and always allow you to visit and see the puppy with its mother before any payment. Never buy without a viewing.
The transport company has its own website with live tracking. Doesn't that prove the shipment exists?
No — fake courier sites with functioning tracking numbers are built as part of the scheme, often reused across many victims with the details swapped. A website proves only that someone made a website.