How to spot a fake golden retriever puppy

How to Spot a Puppy Scam Online

Puppy buying is at an all-time high so its no surprise that you may be on the search for a new dog right now. But unfortunately, as more people look to buy puppies, puppy scams are also on the rise.

In todays digital world, almost everyone uses the internet for shopping, including finding a new puppy! Dont worry its easy to spot puppy scams online if you know the red flags. And its even easier to find a good breeder when you know what questions to ask. Heres everything you need to know before starting your online puppy search.

What is a Puppy Scam?

Puppy scammers post fake litters online or pretend to be someone theyre not, usually an existing breeder, to take advantage of rising puppy sales. This means that if you arent careful, you could find the perfect puppy, send the breeder your money, and never receive a puppy or any follow-up communication in return.

While many times these fake listings appear on websites like Craigslist, some scammers find ways to position themselves as reputable breeders by stealing personal info from them.

Luckily, its easy to know what to look for to ensure your puppy buying experience is both safe and enjoyable.

What are the Red Flags?

• No phone calls. The seller prefers to handle communication by email and not the phone. A reputable breeder will always communicate with you via phone or video chat (if not in person) before selling you a puppy. Fraudulent sellers are oftentimes outside of the U.S. and may be hiding their phone number by only communicating by email.
• Copycat or stock photos. Photos of the dog or ad text can be found on multiple websites. Search for the text in the listing to see if the seller copied and pasted it from another site.
• Sketchy payment. The seller asks for wiring of money or payment by gift cards. Be awarethat if you choose a non-secure method of payment, it is highly unlikely that you will get your money back. Avoid paying a stranger using apps such as Venmo, as it is harder to get your money back if you dont get what you paid for. Paying by credit card or PayPal are typically the safest options.
• Price is too good to be true. Research the prices for the breed you are considering ahead of time. Purebred dogs sold at deeply discounted prices are typically frauds. If the seller says they register their dogs with a specific organization, you can call the organization to confirm.
• Breeder badges. AKC does not distribute badges to breeders.

How Many People Have Been Affected by Puppy Scams?

According to BBB data, nearly 10,000 scam reports and complaints have come in during the last three years about businesses selling puppies and dogs. The FTC estimates that only about 10 percent of victims report these crimes, so this number could be much higher.

Sixty percent of these reports indicated the consumers never received the pets they purchased, and others received pets that had health or genetic problems and did not receive documentation for their pet.

Scammers love to try to take advantage of people when they are in high emotion situations, said Steve Bernas, president and CEO of BBB serving Chicago and Northern Illinois. The excitement of buying a new pet can cloud good judgement, and victims can be hurt financially and emotionally when they realize they have lost their money, and hopes for a new pet.

How Can I Safely Find a Breeder or Puppy Seller Online?

While scammers are likely to start talking money immediately, legitimate sources will always take time and diligence to make sure the dog you are choosing is a good fit for your family.

• Analyze reviews and referrals.The best sources for purebred puppies will have ample positive reviews or referrals from satisfied puppy owners proving they are legitimate and reputable.
• Meet your breeder or puppy seller.Always ask to talk on the phone or video chat. Meeting in person is great whenever possible.
• Ask questions.Responsible breeders and puppy sellers love to chat and educate about dogs. Ask anything and everything that you might want to know about the breed, the breeder, and the available puppies. Ask about the breed and how your pups parents compare to the official breed standard and other breed traits. How big are the parents? What do they look like? What kind of temperament do they have? Have the parents achieved any AKC titles or awards?
• Ask for proof.Dont be shy responsible breeders will be happy to share information about your puppys parents, and proof of health records and screenings. You should be sure that the puppy has been seen by a licensed veterinarianand know where the puppy is on theirshot-schedule. This will also help you so that you have the proper medical information when you bring your puppy home and you will know what shots are needed next.
• Get documentation.Ensure that before leaving with your puppy, you will receive documentation of your dogs papers. The words American Kennel Club as well as the AKC logo should be clearly visible. If the breeder or puppy seller hesitates to give you papers, this is usually a warning sign.
• Be patient.If they seem anxious to complete the sale or get your deposit as soon as possible, or if you feel like they are pushing you to make a quick decision regarding a puppy, be careful. Such behavior is often a warning sign that the person you are dealing with is actually a scammer, and there is no puppy.

The AKC Marketplace is one of the best places to start your search for a puppy, as long as you are vigilant about the above warning signs. AKC Marketplace conducts thousands of kennel inspections a year and is the only online resource to exclusively list 100% puppies from AKC-registerable litters. If you find anything suspicious while searching for a dog on AKC Marketplace, report the details via email.

Now that you are armed with the proper knowledge to start your online puppy search safely, have fun and get ready to bring home your new pet!

Golden Retriever Puppy Scams: How To Spot Scammers?

The global COVID-19 pandemic has changed many things in the world. The dangerous virus has stopped economies, ruined jobs, and confined us to a life in isolation. Naturally, many people suffer from anxiety and depression in these conditions. And this is where dogs and pets, in general, come to help us keep our sanity. Demand for puppies has skyrocketed in the last twelve months, and it can be hard to find an available puppy to buy. As the demand for puppies rose over the last year, so did the number of Golden Retriever puppy scams.

Many people have lost their savings trying to buy a Golden Retriever puppy, only to be scammed by online sellers. This was a particularly frequent outcome around Christmas and New year as most Americans were buying puppies as a present for family members and friends.

In this article, we will explain how to recognize online Golden Retriever puppy scams. But also how to find a legit and safe way to buy a Golden puppy.

Golden Retriever Puppy Scams: Red Flags & Warning Signs

Scammers are really good at their job. They will steal photos of puppies from legit breeders, certificates, identification numbers, and all other details they need to present themselves as the real deal. They will even create websites, Facebook pages, and social media accounts to lull you into a false sense of security.

However, with a healthy dose of skepticism and a bit of research, you will be able to recognize red flags that give away a scammer. These are some of the most common red flags and warning signs you are dealing with a scammer.

Communication only through email, no phone calls

Communication is one of the first things where you can see something doesnt add up. Usually, if you are communicating with a reputable, legit breeder, he will want to meet you, talk with you and see what kind of person you are. Reputable breeders dont sell their puppies to anyone they want to know their puppies will have proper care and treatment. On the other hand, scammers are not interested in a puppys wellbeing. Online scammers are often located outside the USA. They are residents of other countries, and they will try to hide their location and phone number from you.

Stock or copied photos

Fraudulent sellers will also send you photos of their puppies. Oftentimes these photos will be stock or copycat, and you can find them on multiple websites. So when you receive a photo of the puppy, try to search for the text in the listing to see if it was copied from some other website.

Non-secure payment methods

You need to understand the mindset and main goal of an online scammer. He doesnt care that you saved this money for a long time, doesnt care you want to make your daughter happy. He only cares about your money! Once you pay him money, thats it you will never hear from him again. Thats why a scammer will try to convince you to pay him using non-secure, sketchy payment methods. Why? Because you can not get your money back in those cases. Dont get scammed into paying a stranger by gift cards or by using apps like Venmo. If you have decided to make a payment, at least use the safer options like PayPal.

Asking for money to cover additional costs

Most of the time, the online scammer doesnt even have a puppy he is selling to you, but sometimes they will actually send you a puppy. However, they will still try to scam you to pay additional fees and costs due to shipping complications.

Most people are worried about what will happen to the puppy if they dont pay. So, they decide to pay even more money without making a fuss about it. However, some will ask questions, but scammers will threaten them with the possibility of returning the puppy and forbidding them further purchase.

This is too good to be true

Yes, this applies to buying puppies too. If the price and offer seem too good to be true, it is probably a scam. Do the research, check for usual prices of Golden Retriever puppies, and see if the difference in pricing is too big. Trust me, you wont find a purebred Golden puppy on a discount, it is a scam. Also, if your seller claims he has registered his dogs with organizations like AKC, CKC, etc, call those organizations to confirm this info.

So, How Can I Find Legit Breeder Or Seller Online?

Most of the time, people will include emotions when buying a puppy, and this is where fraudulent sellers see their chance. You want to buy a puppy as a gift for your family member, and you will go to any length to do it. This is why so many people fall victim to Golden Retriever Puppy Scams.

If you dont want to be scammed, you need to be patient and diligent. Do the proper research before deciding to buy a puppy. You should demand to meet with the breeder in person or at least talk over the phone or video chat. Ask questions about the puppy, about its parents, about registration, testing. Demand documentation and proof that the puppy is registered. If the seller is not providing you with papers, that is probably a scam.

Research scam tracking websites that have lists and records of scamming websites and breeders. Sites like IPATA, or petscams will help you recognize the scammer.

Create a puppy contract with the breeder. This is one of the most effective ways you can ensure you will not get scammed. A reputable breeder will have no problem with a puppy contract as it is beneficial to all the sides involved. However, a potential scammer will hesitate or refuse to create a puppy contract.

I'm Michael, and I absolutely adore dogs. My faithful companion, Toby, is a Corgi who means the world to me. I'm passionate about building strong bonds with dogs and providing them with all the love and care they deserve.