You found the perfect puppy on a breeder's website or social media page, paid a deposit, and now — right before the pet was supposed to ship — there's a new, unexpected fee: a "temperature-controlled crate," "pet insurance," or "vet clearance paperwork." You pay it to avoid losing the deposit already spent. Then another fee appears. The puppy never existed. Every fee is designed to make the last one feel too costly to walk away from.
Why this scam works
The scam relies on sunk-cost pressure: by the time the second or third fee appears, you've already paid a deposit and emotionally committed to a specific puppy, complete with photos and a name. Walking away feels like losing everything already spent, so most people pay "just one more" fee. Photos are typically stolen from real breeders or previous listings, and the "puppy" never exists in the first place.
5 signs it's a scam
- New fees appear after the deposit — shipping, a special crate, insurance, or "vet clearance," each framed as the last one before delivery
- You can't video call to see the actual puppy live, only pre-made photos or videos
- The breeder has no verifiable physical address or refuses an in-person pickup or a local vet meet-up
- Payment is requested via wire transfer, gift cards, or a payment app, not a platform with buyer protection
- The price is well below typical cost for the breed, especially for breeds that normally cost far more
What to do instead
- Never pay a fee you weren't told about upfront, no matter how close to "delivery" it seems
- Insist on a live video call showing the actual puppy, or better, an in-person visit before any payment
- Search the breeder's photos with a reverse image search — stolen photos often turn up on multiple unrelated "breeder" pages
- Use a local breeder you or someone you trust can visit in person, or adopt through a verified shelter or rescue
- Paste the seller's messages into ScamCheck for a free risk score
FAQ
- I already paid the deposit — won't I lose it if I stop now? Likely yes, but each additional fee you pay only grows the loss. Stop as soon as you suspect it's fake.
- They sent health certificates and vet records. These are easy to fabricate alongside the stolen photos — documents alone aren't proof the puppy exists.
- I already paid multiple fees. Stop immediately, contact your bank or payment provider, and report to the FTC and the BBB Scam Tracker.