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By rdnewsNOW staff

Pet Scams

BBB warns popular dog breeds targets for scammers

Nov 19, 2025 | 11:28 AM

French bulldogs, dachshunds, German shepherds.

According to the Better Business Bureau (BBB), these dog breeds are some of the most popular lures scammers use to bring in unsuspecting targets. The organization notes, it can be hard to tell the difference between real advertisements and fake ones.

Reports to the 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.

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The BBB says it 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.

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Key findings:

• Scammers come from all over the world, mainly targeting North Americans
• Fraudulent websites can appear at the top of search results, confusing buyers

Red flags of a pet scam include:

• 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 sophisticated enough to fake out an in-person meeting. Video calls can also be a strong deterrence against fraud in nearly all cases.
• Use reverse image search. Many scam websites are impersonations of real businesses. Search 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 a 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.