untrappable

Puppy scam: that online puppy probably doesn't exist

Editorially reviewed · Last updated July 21, 2026

Yes — this is a scam. The surprise crate fee is the tell — the puppy in the photos was never yours, and usually never existed.

Bella's flight today — crate fee required before boarding
S
Silver Creek Frenchies
adoptions@silvercreek-frenchies-pups.com
9:21 AM
Great news — Bella is checked in and ready to fly to you this afternoon! Your $650 payment is received. The airline now requires a climate-controlled travel crate for French Bulldogs: a $980 fee, fully refundable on delivery. Please pay by Zelle within 2 hours so Bella doesn't miss her flight: skyway-pet-transport.com/crate/BE7741
Pay refundable crate fee
The Email, as received

Other versions you might get: A purebred at a few hundred dollars when the breed sells for thousands; a “breeder” who only communicates by email or text; a fake pet-transport company emailing that your puppy is stuck at the airport and needs food, water, or “pet insurance” fees; or the same scam with kittens, exotic birds, or reptiles. The ladder of fees is the constant — each payment buys you a new emergency.

What to do right now

  1. Stop paying. Whatever the story — crate, insurance, airport food — the next fee is not the last one, and paying it won't produce a puppy. BBB's study found the demands continue as long as the victim keeps sending money.
  2. Verify what you can. Reverse-image-search the puppy photos and paste the ad text into a search — stolen photos and copied listings are how these operations scale. Ask for a live video call with the puppy; a real breeder will happily do it, and AKC says a reputable seller always talks by phone or video before selling.
  3. Try to claw back what you sent. Call your bank or the payment app immediately; for a wire, call MoneyGram (1‑800‑666‑3947) or Western Union (1‑800‑325‑6000); for gift cards, call the issuer and say the card was used in a scam.
  4. Report it. File at reportfraud.ftc.gov — and if a real breeder's name or kennel was impersonated, let them know so they can warn others.
  5. Next time, buy where you can look. Meet the breeder, the puppy, and ideally the mother in person — or adopt from a local shelter or rescue, where the FTC notes animals of every breed and age are waiting.

How to make sure it never bites you

Puppy scams find people at their most eager — BBB's study estimates a large share of sponsored pet ads in search results may be fraudulent, so even careful shoppers land on fakes. Slow the purchase down to the speed of a video call and the scam falls apart; then lock down the contact details your search exposed: how to protect yourself.

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Stop the next one at the source

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Frequently asked

I paid for a puppy and now they want a crate or insurance fee before shipping. Is it a scam?
Yes — this is the defining move of a puppy scam. BBB's study documents the exact ladder: after your initial payment come demands for a special travel crate, insurance, vaccinations, even food and water at the airport, each urgent and often “refundable.” There is no puppy waiting at the airline. Stop paying, try to reverse what you sent, and report it.
How do I know if an online puppy seller is real?
Insist on seeing the animal — in person or on a live video call — before any money moves; BBB calls that the single best protection. Then check the details: reverse-image-search the photos, search the seller's name plus “scam” or “complaint,” and confirm any claimed registrations by calling the organization. AKC notes it doesn't issue “breeder badges,” and a seller who will only email is a red flag.
The puppy is a purebred for $600 — is that too good to be true?
Almost certainly. The FTC's alert notes scam ads offer purebreds for a few hundred dollars when they often cost thousands — the discount is the hook, and the “savings” come back as shipping and crate fees for a dog that doesn't exist. Research the breed's real price range first, and treat a deep discount from a stranger as the warning, not the win.
Can I get my money back from a puppy scam?
Sometimes, if you move fast. Contact your bank or payment app immediately and ask them to reverse the transfer; for wires call MoneyGram or Western Union, and for gift cards call the issuer. Money sent by wire, gift card, or crypto works like cash, so recovery isn't guaranteed — which is why stopping the *next* fee matters most. Report it at reportfraud.ftc.gov either way.
Where should I look for a puppy instead?
Somewhere you can see the dog. Meet the breeder in person, ask questions — responsible breeders expect them, per AKC — and get health records and registration documents at pickup. Or skip the search entirely: local shelters and rescues have animals of every age and breed, adoption fees are small, and nothing about the transaction happens by wire transfer.

Related scams

Sources

A public service

Help protect someone else

Scams spread because people stay quiet about them. If this could have fooled you, it can fool someone you know — a parent, a friend, the family group chat. Passing it on is the easiest good thing you'll do today. It's safe to forward, and stands on its own as a record for a bank or the police.