Before you fall in love, take a closer look.
A second look at pet listings and seller messages.
NO SIGN-IN
Check a listing
Share the details
Paste a listing or seller message and answer a few quick questions.
Spot warning signs
See possible red flags based on common pet scam patterns.
Know what to ask
Get a clear next step so you can move forward safely.
Are those photos stolen? Check in 30 seconds.
Many fake listings use photos taken from real breeders. A reverse image search shows where else a photo appears online. We don't run this for you, but it's quick.
On your phone
- Press and hold the puppy photo, then save it.
- Open the Google app and tap the camera icon (Google Lens).
- Pick the saved photo and look at the matches.
On a computer
- Right-click the photo and choose “Search image with Google,” or save it.
- Or upload it at Bing Visual Search or TinEye.
- Look for the same photo under other names, cities or older dates.
Same photo under a different seller or city? Treat that as a serious warning sign. No matches doesn't prove the photo is real.
Tips & questions to ask
Ask the seller
- Can I meet the pet and a parent in person before I pay anything?
- Can we do a live video call where you say my name and show the pet?
- Can I see the vet records, with the clinic name so I can call them?
- What is the full price, including every fee?
- Can I pay in person, or by credit card?
Safer ways to bring a pet home
- Meet the pet before any money changes hands.
- Pay with a credit card or in person, not gift cards, wires, crypto or “friends and family” app payments.
- Check local shelters and rescues. You can meet pets there first.
- Be careful with shipping-only sales and new fees that keep coming.
- A live video call helps, but it isn't proof on its own.
Rehoming your pet? Watch for buyer scams too.
Common tricks: a fake payment screenshot or email instead of money in your account, “I overpaid, please refund the difference,” a check for more than the price, a “shipping agent” you have to pay, and asking for a code sent to your phone. Wait until the money actually shows in your account, and never share verification codes.
Is every deposit a scam?
No. Some real breeders take deposits. The risk is paying before you've met the pet, or paying in a way you can't get back. Ask for a written agreement and pay with a method that offers protection.
Think you found a scam? Report it.
If you already paid, call your bank or payment app first. Then report it so others are warned.
Also report the listing on the site or app where you found it, and to your local police.
About
Puppy Listing Check is an education tool. It looks for common warning signs in what you share and suggests safer next steps. It does not verify sellers, broker adoptions, or accuse anyone of a crime. A listing with no warning signs is still not verified.
Privacy: everything runs in your browser. Nothing you paste or answer is sent, saved or tracked. There are no accounts.