Buyer Education

How to Avoid Puppy Scams: Red Flags Every Buyer Must Know

Puppy scams are one of the most common internet fraud categories. Learn to recognize fake breeders, stolen photos, fake shipping companies, and other tactics designed to steal from dog lovers.

March 5, 2024 · 9 min read

The Puppy Scam Epidemic

The FBI and FTC report that pet scams are among the most financially damaging consumer fraud categories in the United States, costing Americans tens of millions of dollars annually. The COVID-19 pandemic dramatically increased demand for puppies — and with it, a massive increase in fraudulent online listings. Understanding how these scams work is your best defense.

Common Puppy Scam Tactics

• Prices far below market value — a 'deal' that seems too good to be true almost certainly is
• Photos that appear elsewhere online — scammers steal photos from real breeders and rescues
• Refusal to video call — they'll claim their camera is broken or internet is poor, but photos and videos they've 'taken' appear fine
• Pressure to pay immediately or lose the puppy — urgency is a manipulation tactic
• Payment via gift cards, cryptocurrency, Zelle, or wire transfer only — these are untraceable and unrecoverable
• Fake shipping companies — after you pay a deposit, you're told shipping requires additional fees, insurance, or a 'crate deposit'
• No contract, no health records, no registration papers
• Generic, poorly written email responses that don't answer specific questions
• Location that keeps changing — one moment they're in Georgia, the next in Texas

How to Reverse-Image-Search Puppy Photos

One of the fastest ways to catch a scam is to reverse-image-search the puppy photos you're shown. In Google Images, click the camera icon and upload or paste the photo. If that same image appears on multiple websites, forums, or social media accounts with different breeder names, it's stolen — and the 'breeder' is a scammer.

What Legitimate Breeders Always Provide

• A real, established website with detailed information about their breeding program
• Active social media accounts with a consistent, verifiable history over multiple years
• Willingness to video call and show you the puppies and environment live
• Clear communication — they answer specific questions specifically
• A written contract with health guarantee terms
• Veterinary records, vaccination history, and health test documentation for parents
• References from previous buyers — real people you can contact
• A return policy — they'll take the dog back, always

Payment Red Flags

Legitimate breeders accept common payment methods — typically a deposit via PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, or card, with the balance due at pickup or delivery. A breeder who insists exclusively on wire transfer, gift cards, or cryptocurrency is almost certainly running a scam. Gift cards are specifically mentioned by the FTC as a signature scam payment method.

What to Do If You Suspect a Scam

• Stop all communication and payments immediately
• Report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov
• File an IC3 complaint at ic3.gov (FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center)
• Report the listing to the platform where you found it (Facebook, Craigslist, Google, etc.)
• Report stolen breeder photos to the original breeder if you can identify them — they want to know

How Star Struck Puppies Operates

Every family who inquires with us is welcome to video call and see our home, our dogs, and our puppies live. We have years of real social media history, documented health testing, signed contracts, and a return policy — always. If you're evaluating another breeder and want a second opinion on whether something seems legitimate, reach out to us. We're happy to help.