Puppy Scams are on the decline but still a problem

St. Louis, Mo., – Puppy scams remain consistently profitable for scammers because their multi-tiered setup allows them to convincingly go back to a consumer several times to ask for money, according to an update of a Better Business Bureau (BBB) study.

So far this year, while pet scams in North America appear to be on the decline, consumer losses are expected to exceed $2 million.That total is down by a third since the peak of more than $3 million during the pandemic in 2020-2021, according to BBB Scam TrackerSM. Pet scam reports to Scam Tracker totaled 1,577 from January through September 2022, on track for a significant decline this year from nearly 4,000 for all of 2021. Average monetary losses are climbing, however, with an average loss of $850 in 2022, up 60% since 2017.

Pet scams historically make up a quarter of all online shopping frauds reported to BBB and are on track to be about 18% this year.

Because purchasing a pet can be such an emotionally charged experience, BBB urges consumers to be on high alert for scams.

Puppy scammers lure people in with fake websites, promises of cute puppies, then ask for more money for shipping or special crates. Consumers say it is easy to be swept up in the emotions of the moment when buying a pet and push forward despite reservations.

BBB Scam Tracker reports show that those who tried to purchase pets without seeing them in person, use hard-to-track payment methods like payment apps, and accept extra charges like shipping insurance or special cages are at an increased risk of being scammed.

Yorkies, Dachshunds and French Bulldogs make up nearly 30% of all puppy scams, according to reports. Consumers mentioned more than 40 breeds, however, meaning that buyers should be cautious when shopping for any breed online.

A Collinsville, Illinois, woman reported losing nearly $3,000 in her attempt to purchase a Doberman pinscher puppy online. After she and her husband committed to buying the dog and paid the breeder nearly $1,000 via Apple Pay and gift cards, a third-party shipper contacted them and requested they rent an airline-approved shipping crate for the puppy. The shipper charged the woman’s credit card for $2,000, despite quoting her a refundable charge of only $1,000. Ultimately, neither the crate nor the puppy arrived.

Many bogus puppy websites, often registered outside of North America, appear and vanish quickly, hampering law enforcement efforts. Prosecutions in puppy scam cases are tough to crack, as perpetrators are often outside of the country. Still, law enforcement arrested a woman in San Antonio for her alleged role in 75 scams. She faces six months in jail.

BBB tips for researching puppy sellers:  

• See pets in-person before paying any money.

• Try to set up a video call to view the animal.

• Conduct a reverse image search on photos attached to ads.

• Research the breed to figure out the average market price.

• Check out a local animal shelter for pets to meet in person before adopting.