Scams are way too common in this day and age. Puppy scams have been going on for decades. I remember back in the 90s when I spotted my first scam. They reached out wanting one of my puppies and said they were going to send someone to pick up the puppy. When I asked about payment, they stated that the person picking up (which they called a courier) would bring a cashier's check. They then said that the check was for the amount of the puppy and for the payment of the courier, so they asked me to pay the courier for them. Well, the dilemma is that I didn't take checks, or cashier's checks for payment at all for that matter, but it doesn't take a brain surgeon to figure out this sounded sour. Over the course of the next year multiple breeders fell victim to this and lost puppies, as the cashier's checks were fake, so they never received funds, then they were also out the money for the courier, but even worse they had no idea where their puppies were. That last part alone is devastating enough to think about. Since then, scammers are just getting smarter and smarter. Below we will offer some tips. 

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While these tips are not failproof they are good ways to help identify a scam. 

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1. Ask if they have a business license. 

• Most breeders do not buy it never hurts to ask. Especially if you see a professional website such as ours. You can usually look up the business on their states website as well to check if they do in fact have a business license. We have a business license, FYI.

2. Call and speak to the people selling. If they cannot answer basic questions about the puppy and its parents then that's a red flag.

3. Ask to do a video call with the puppy.

• A video with your name on a piece of paper is not enough. DO A LIVE VIDEO CALL! Scammers will go ask the breeder they stole the photos from for a video with your name on a piece of paper and then turn around and send you the video. SO LIVE VIDEO CALLS ONLY!

4. Check photos for inconsistencies.

• Meaning are the photos similar in type and style. If you're seeing one picture that is a professional studio type photo, and then another photo from a cell phone out in the dirt, and then in other the photos you're seeing three different style types of couches, and 4 different styles of kitchens, well, RED FLAG!

• Breeders have photo style types. Taking photos is a type of art and each person's style will reflect that in their photos so they will be consistent to that style. 

• Most people don't have 6 couches or 3 kitchens in their home. If one couch and kitchen is ultra sleek and modern and the other has red roosters and farm decor, you can probably assume that those belong in the same household. 

5. Ask how they accept payments.

• If they accept credit cards that's a good sign that they are legitimate. A business has to undergo a verification process and provide business documents that are verified in order to take credit card payments online. Additionally, credit cards offer all card holders fraud protection. If you place an order online and do not receive the product then you will be refunded the amount you paid. By law they cannot make you pay for something that you did not receive. So trust that they did their homework when approving the merchant. 

• Bank wire is also usually safe. All wires go through the Federal Reserve, so they are traceable to a person and attached to a social security number. Even business accounts. Make sure that the bank account is in the US. You do not have protection for bank accounts outside of the US. Defrauding someone with a bank wire is a federal crime so people would have to be pretty stupid to do this. 

• ​Do they offer financing? If they offer financing that means they have been verified and found to be legitimate business by the finance company. Additionally, by law finance companies cannot make you pay for something you did not receive. So, trust that they did their homework when approving the merchant.

​6. Look for watermarks on photos. This is not failproof as many times the scammers will cover it with another image. But if a watermark says Smiths photos and you're on Johnson's website. Red Flag and Id jump on over the Johnson's website and give them a call. 

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We hope these will help you a bit when wondering if a puppy seller is legit or not.