Top 8 Resources to Learn How to Avoid Pet Scams in 2026

Author: Elliott Garber, DVM

I’ve dedicated my career to animal welfare and building a community for an ethical, safe, and sustainable ranching life. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. 

Scammers exploit our love for animals, often using fake ads, pet scams, and emotional stories of “sick puppies needing health checks” to pull at your heartstrings. The result is usually financial loss, and sadly, no pet at all. 

The silver lining? You don’t have to be super tech-savvy to protect yourself when looking for a puppy or another type of companion. In this guide, I’ll help you learn how to avoid pet scams, ensuring you bring home a real, healthy pet.

Why Pet Scams Are On The Rise

Scams are prevalent everywhere, particularly with the widespread use of the internet. People are being scammed all the time when trying to buy a wide range of goods and services, including pets. 

After all, animal companions have become household favorites, and scammers are taking advantage of the emotional nature of pet adoption/market to trick victims. Pet scams are on the rise because:

• Increased demand for companionship 
• Online market anonymity
• Nationwide pet adoption options 
• Untraceable payment methods
• Lack of consumer protection in unregulated markets

How to Avoid Pet Scams in 2026

If you’re looking to get a cute dog or another pet and you’re concerned about being scammed, trust that the following eight resources will save you from a pet scam in 2026:

Resource #1: Reverse Image Search Tools

This is going to be your go-to move, and it’s very easy. Right-click on any pet photo and select “Search Google for image.” The results will show you everywhere else that photo shows up online.

If that “unique” puppy photo appears on five different websites with different names and prices, you just caught a scammer red-handed.A 30 seconds search and can save you thousands of dollars. Don’t stop with Google, though! 

TinEye often catches stuff Google misses, and vice versa. I also recommend checking the metadata using tools like Jeffrey’s Image Metadata Viewer to see when and where photos were actually taken. Run every single photo through at least two different tools and check for consistency.

Resource #2: Better Business Bureau Scam Tracker Database

Think of this as having access to thousands of other people’s experiences. The BBB Scam Tracker lets you search by website name, phone number, email. Basically anything the scammer gave you.

You’ll find detailed reports that show exactly how much people lost, what payment methods scammers requested, and what lies they told. You can search by location (scammers often claim to be in specific states), business name, or even partial phone numbers. 

The reports often include screenshots of conversations and copies of fake documents scammers provided. Pay special attention to:

• Reports filed in the last 90 days
• Patterns across multiple reports (e.g., shipping company or identical sob stories)
• Payment methods scammers used 
• The “reasons” scammers gave for needing immediate payment. 

Resource #3: Official Breed Registry Verification Systems

The AKC, Cat Fanciers’ Association, and other official registries maintain databases that scammers cannot fake. These organizations require extensive documentation and facility inspections that fraudsters can’t provide.

When someone claims AKC registration or mentions specific breeding lines, you can verify everything through the registry’s official database. Real breeders have registration numbers, breeding rights documentation, and records going back years. 

Start with the AKC’s breeder directory if you’re looking for dogs, or the CFA’s breeder listings for cats. Legitimate breeders take pride in their registry affiliations and will gladly provide all the documentation you request. 

💡If you’re looking for specific breeds, legitimate registries can help you understand breed standards and connect with verified breeders for breeds like Golden Retrievers or cats to avoid pet scams.

International Registry Cross-Referencing

For imported animals or international breeders, check with organizations like the FCI (World Canine Organization) or breed-specific international registries. These maintain similar standards and documentation requirements that scammers cannot meet.

Be especially cautious with sellers claiming international breeding operations. Verify their credentials through multiple registries and be aware that legitimate international breeders typically work through established import/export partners with verifiable track records.

Resource #4: Secure Payment Protection Services

Here’s the golden rule that’ll save you every time: if a seller insists on wire transfers, gift cards, crypto, or Zelle payments, you’re dealing with a scammer. All these payment methods are irreversible.

These payment methods offer zero protection and are basically impossible to reverse. Credit cards and PayPal Goods & Services (not Friends & Family – that’s what scammers try to get you to use) offer buyer protection that scammers desperately want to avoid.

Legitimate sellers don’t need to incentivize risky payments, as they want secure transactions as much as you do.

Payment Safety Checklist:

• Verify payment method offers buyer protection
• Never use wire transfers or gift cards
• Avoid PayPal Friends & Family
• Document all payment communications
• Keep transaction records and receipts

Resource #5: USDA Pet Transport Verification

If someone wants to ship you a pet, the transport company better be USDA licensed to avoid pet scams. The USDA maintains a searchable database of legitimate commercial pet transporters that are properly licensed and insured.

Scammers create fake shipping companies with official-sounding names and professional websites. Always check before agreeing to any shipping arrangement. Consider that the USDA database includes: 

• License numbers
• Inspection records
• Compliance history for legitimate transporters

You can search by company name or license number to verify credentials. Real transport companies will readily provide their USDA license numbers. 

Insurance verification is equally important. Legitimate transporters carry comprehensive insurance for the animals in their care. 

You can verify insurance coverage through independent verification services or by contacting the insurance company directly. You can also make sure the breeder has a IPATA membership. Members undergo background checks and must maintain spotless records to keep their membership. 

Resource #6: Community-Powered Scam Alert Networks

Facebook groups, Reddit communities, and breed-specific forums have become incredibly powerful weapons against scammers. These communities share real-time alerts, verify legitimate breeders through personal recommendations, and maintain blacklists of known fraudulent operations.

Join breed-specific groups where experienced owners actively help newcomers avoid scams. These people have seen every trick in the book and can spot red flags you might miss. They also personally know reputable breeders and can provide you with verified recommendations.

💡 Ask questions about specific sellers, share suspicious interactions, and help build the collective knowledge base. The more active these communities are, the better they protect everyone.

Community networks are particularly valuable when researching specific breeds like French Bulldogs that are frequently targeted by scammers due to their high value and popularity.

Resource #7: AI-Powered Listing Detection Tools

AI tools like ScamAdviser.com are becoming increasingly effective at identifying fraudulent websites. 

They analyze dozens of factors, such as domain age, hosting locations, content patterns, user behavior, and generate risk scores. A website created last week, claiming to be an established breeder with decades of experience gets flagged immediately. 

These tools can also detect when the same “breeder” uses slightly different contact information across multiple platforms. AI can detect these linguistic fingerprints even when scammers try to vary their approach.

Resource #8: Join Creatures for a Secure Marketplace

Finally, the most powerful tool I can recommend is joining Creatures.com, the platform I founded to create a fraud‑resistant marketplace for pets and livestock. By combining veterinary expertise with secure transaction systems and community verification, this platform creates a fraud‑resistant environment where buyers and sellers can connect safely.

Creatures offers a wide range of features, including:

• Veterinarian‑Founded Credibility: Professional oversight and medical expertise that scammers cannot replicate.
• Permanent ID System (“VIN for Animals”): Each animal has a tamper‑proof identity record across its life phases.
• Secure Transactions: Built‑in payment protection eliminates risky wire transfers and gift card payments.
• Community Verification: Buyers connect with verified breeders, veterinarians, and influencers who validate legitimacy.
• All Species Covered: From dogs and cats to birds, reptiles, and exotics, Creatures ensures legitimacy across the marketplace.

💡 Choose marketplaces that enforce verification and transparency. By joining Creatures, you’re part of a community built to protect both buyers and animals.

Building Your Personal Pet Scam Defense System

Now that you know the tools, you need a systematic approach. Create a personal checklist and never skip steps, regardless of how legitimate a seller appears.

The 48-hour rule is crucial: always wait at least 48 hours between initial contact and any payment. Use this time to complete your verification steps and allow the initial emotional excitement to settle, so you can think clearly.

During those 48 hours, run photos through reverse searches, check the seller against BBB Scam Tracker, verify any registry claims, and research their online presence. Contact them with specific questions about their breeding program and the specific animal you’re interested in.

Complete pet buyer protection checklist:

• Wait 48 hours before any payment
• Run all photos through reverse image search
• Check BBB Scam Tracker database
• Verify registry claims and credentials
• Confirm USDA transport licensing
• Research seller in community forums
• Require video call with pet present
• Verify veterinary health certificates
• Use only protected payment methods
• Document all communications

How to Avoid Pet Scams in 2026

Pet scams prey on our deepest emotions一the desire to love and care for an animal. Scammers have weaponized this beautiful human instinct, but you don’t have to be their next victim.

The resources I’ve shared aren’t just tools, they’re your first-line protection against sophisticated fraud operations. Use them systematically, trust your gut when something feels off, and remember that legitimate sellers want to prove their credibility as much as you want to verify it.

Your future pet is worth the extra time and effort to verify sellers properly. Don’t let scammers steal your money, your trust, or your dreams of pet ownership!