Puppy Scams Are Real — and They’re Breaking Families’ Hearts
- Serge and Veronika
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
Puppy scams are not rare, and they’re not obvious. They are widespread, sophisticated, and emotionally devastating—especially for families who are simply trying to do something joyful: welcome a puppy into their home.
I want to talk about this openly, honestly, and from experience. This post is meant to educate, not shame. If even one family avoids heartbreak because of this information, it matters.
What a Puppy Scam Really Is
A puppy scam is not a disagreement about breeding philosophy, price, or preferences. A puppy scam involves non-existent people selling non-existent puppies online, with the sole goal of collecting deposits.
There is no breeder. There is no puppy. There is no future pickup day.
Scammers often collect deposits from dozens or hundreds of families—sometimes using the same fake puppy listing repeatedly—before disappearing entirely.
Why These Scams Are So Convincing
Many people assume they would “know better.” But the truth is, scammers don’t rely on ignorance—they rely on emotion and familiarity.
Here is something we see again and again:
Families contact us first. They ask thoughtful questions. They receive honest, detailed answers.They understand what ethical breeding involves.
But then comes the hesitation.
“It’s more than we expected.”
So they go online to “just look.”
And what do they find? Photos that look very familiar. Descriptions that sound very similar. Sometimes images that actually belong to us or other real breeders—stolen and reused without permission.
At that point, families feel confident:
“We already spoke to a real breeder. This looks the same. Why wouldn’t it be real?”
And that’s where the scam succeeds.
The Price Trap
One of the most common red flags in puppy scams is unrealistically low pricing.
Scammers know that price hesitation creates vulnerability. They position their fake puppies as:
“Much cheaper”
“Just trying to find good homes”
“Not about the money”
“Urgent situation”
Real breeding is expensive. Ethical breeding involves:
Health testing
Proper care
Time, labor, and expertise
Raising puppies correctly
Scam puppies are cheap because they don’t exist.
The Emotional Stories
Another common tactic is the “sad story”:
A breeder passed away
An owner died suddenly
A family member is “helping rehome”
Puppies are “almost free” because of tragedy
These stories are designed to lower defenses and create urgency. When emotions are high, verification gets skipped—and scammers know this.
Emotion does not equal legitimacy.
Stolen Photos, Stolen Words, Stolen Trust
Scammers don’t just steal photos. They steal:
Entire advertisements
Puppy descriptions
Health information
Breeder bios
Even breeder names
Some families tell us:
“The puppies looked like yours. Some photos even felt like they were.”
That’s because they were.
This is why reverse image searches, live video calls, and long-term social media history matter so much.
The Most Heartbreaking Part
The hardest stories are not about money.
They are about children.
Families come back to us in tears—not just because they lost a deposit, but because they had already told their kids:
“Your puppy is coming.”
They bought supplies. They prepared names.They counted days.
And then the seller vanished.
That kind of disappointment is crushing—and completely avoidable.
Why I Care So Deeply About Education
We don’t all agree on what puppies should cost. That’s okay. Honest disagreement is normal.
What is not okay is families being deceived, robbed, and emotionally harmed by people who never had a puppy to begin with.
This is why I spend so much time educating families on:
How to evaluate breeders
How to verify legitimacy
How to slow down and ask the right questions
And it’s why I am relentless about protecting our space online.
A Reality Check: Scammers Are Everywhere
Every single day, scammers attempt to operate on our own social media pages.
They leave comments. They promote fake puppies. They message families directly.
Every day, I block them .Every day, I delete those comments.
That alone should tell you how widespread this problem is.
If scammers are trying to sell fake puppies on a real breeder’s page, imagine how many are operating unchecked elsewhere.
Due Diligence Is Not Optional
Buying a puppy should never be rushed. It should never be pressured. And it should never rely on emotion alone.
A real puppy will still be there tomorrow. A real breeder will welcome questions. A real breeder will want to know you, too.
Why This Post Exists
This education is not about fear. It’s about protection.
I want families to:
Save this information
Share it
Talk about it
Ask better questions
Avoid heartbreak
If you’re searching for a puppy—or know someone who is—please take your time. Verify everything. Trust your instincts. And remember: due diligence protects dreams.
Because welcoming a puppy should begin with joy—not loss.
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