Is an online puppy or pet seller a scam?
Pet purchase scams are extremely common online. Before paying, always visit and see the animal in person at the seller's premises.
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Explanation
Pet scams typically involve listings for puppies, kittens, or other animals advertised at attractive prices on classifieds, social media, or fake breeder websites. The seller always has an excuse for why you can't visit — the animal is being held by a transport company, is with a carer, or is abroad. Once a deposit is paid, further fees emerge: cages, insurance, veterinary certificates, customs clearance.
The animal usually doesn't exist. Photos are stolen from genuine breeders or sourced from the internet. The seller continues extracting money until the buyer stops paying. Always visit the animal in its current home, with its mother if possible, before paying anything.
Common red flags
- You cannot visit the animal before purchase
- Price is unusually low for the breed
- Seller is overseas or gives a remote location as an excuse for no visit
- Additional fees appear after initial deposit — transport, insurance, health checks
- Photos appear elsewhere online when reverse-image-searched
- Communication only via messaging apps, not verifiable phone or address
- Pressure to pay quickly before 'another buyer' takes the animal
What to do now
- Do not pay any deposit without visiting the animal in person
- Reverse-image-search all photos provided by the seller
- Verify the breeder through official registries or breed-society databases
- Report the listing to the platform and your national fraud service
- If you already paid, contact your bank immediately
Frequently asked questions
The seller sent me a video of the puppy with today's newspaper. Is that proof?
Videos can be staged or requested from genuine third parties. A visit to see the animal with its mother in its current home is the only reliable proof of existence.
What if the seller asks for a small deposit to 'hold' the animal?
Don't pay it without first visiting. A legitimate seller will allow a visit before any money changes hands.