BBB warns pet scams persist as fraudsters target buyers of popular dog breeds

French Bulldogs, Dachshunds and German Shepherds: These breeds are some of the most popular lures scammers use to bring in unsuspecting targets. And it can be hard to tell the difference between real advertisements and fake ones.

Reports to BBB show thousands of fake websites and social media pages for pet scams including many where scammers have stolen a legitimate business' identity to fool potential buyers. Median losses top several hundred dollars, with fraudsters lying to empathetic buyers about animals being hurt if they don’t hand over more money. BBB examines patterns of reports, reviews the amount of money lost and shares stories from those caught up in the scams so consumers can avoid them.

Key findings

—Scam Tracker reports pet scams have decreased over the last two years but remain an issue.

—Scammers come from all over the world, mainly targeting U.S. citizens.

—Businesses can protect themselves against most of these scams with proper training and education.

—Fraudulent websites can appear at the top of search results, confusing buyers.

One West Virginia consumer reported to the BBB Scam Tracker that they found a seller advertising puppies online. They were asked to pay a $450 deposit that was described as fully refundable. The seller shared photos and videos of the puppies and provided an address for pickup. When the consumer arrived, the seller was not there and stopped cooperating. The consumer never received the puppy or a refund.

Red flags of a pet scam include the following:

—Popular breeds are available for incredibly low prices.

—The seller refuses to meet in person or take a video call.

—Extra charges for cages, vaccinations and other shipping costs.

—The word “teacup” is used in an advertisement.

—High-pressure tactics are meant to make the buyer think the animal will be harmed.

BBB has tips to avoid pet scams

—See pets in person. Most scams are not sophisticated enough to fake out an in-person meeting. Video calls also can be a strong deterrent against fraud in nearly all cases.

—Use reverse image search. Many scam websites are impersonations of real businesses. Search for the photos used online or sent to you to see if they appear anywhere else online.

—Understand market prices. Many pet scams offer animals at deep discounts. Knowing what an animal should cost can help raise alarm bells if the price is suspiciously low.

—Check out your local shelter. Many buyers have no preference for breeds. If not, an in-person visit to a local shelter can be a surefire way to avoid scams.