A puppy scam needs three things. We removed all three.
A scammer needs a puppy that can't be verified, a seller who can't be identified, and a payment that can't be traced. On Pawrade every puppy is examined by a licensed vet before it travels, every breeder holds a verified merchant account they had to qualify for, and every payment runs through PetPay, and no breeder is paid out until your puppy is delivered.
An unverifiable puppy, an unidentifiable seller, an untraceable payment. Here every puppy is vet-examined before travel, every breeder is verified, and no breeder is paid out until your puppy is delivered.
A puppy that doesn't exist. A breeder who isn't real. A payment you can't trace.
- Every puppy is examined by a licensed vet and documented before it travels; a puppy that doesn't exist can't pass an exam.Every puppy vet-examined and documented before travel.
- Every breeder is identity-verified, screened, and signed to our No Puppy Mill Pledge before listing.Every breeder identity-verified and screened before listing.
- Every payment runs through PetPay: card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Klarna or bank transfer. The breeder isn't paid out until your puppy is delivered. Never a wire, never an app transfer to a stranger.Every payment through PetPay; breeder paid out only after delivery.
- Every conversation runs through Pawrade and is tracked. A real person answers daily, 9AM–11PM EST.Every conversation tracked; real people daily 9AM–11PM.
Every dollar goes through PetPay to a verified merchant account. Never to a stranger.
Only payment methods that can be traced and disputed, into accounts a breeder had to qualify for, and the breeder isn't paid out until your puppy is delivered.
One total, travel included, shown before you pay. Nothing added afterward. Crypto arrives soon via Stripe, never to a wallet address. Card dispute rights · CFPB ↗
One total, shown before you pay, travel included. Nothing added afterward.
Never on WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal or Messenger. We reach you from (888) 729-8812 or @pawrade.com. Anything else is not us. Why these methods can't be reversed · FTC ↗
Never on WhatsApp, Telegram or Messenger. We reach you from (888) 729-8812 or @pawrade.com. Anything else is not us.
One total, shown before you confirm. Fraud and identity checks run.
Tied to one puppy, one breeder. The breeder isn't paid out until delivery.
Licensed-vet exam, Health Report, travel arranged by us.
Your 72-hour vet visit activates the health guarantee.
1 · You pay through PetPay. Fraud and identity checks run.
2 · Payment is secured to your puppy. One puppy, one verified breeder, paid out only after delivery.
3 · Puppy is examined and travels. Vet exam, Health Report, travel arranged by us.
4 · Delivered and on record. Your 72-hour vet visit activates the health guarantee.
The 8 red flags of a puppy scam
Most puppy scams follow the same script: a stolen photo, a story, a price that's too good, and a payment you can't get back. The Better Business Bureau has reported that as many as 80% of sponsored pet ads online may be fake, and the FTC counts pet scams among its most-reported online shopping frauds. The threats aren't only fake puppies: fake breeder profiles built on stolen photos, real breeders who are unethical mills, and "couriers" that exist only in email. Tap any flag to see how it plays out, how to check, and the source.
Same script every time: a stolen photo, a story, a too-good price, an unrecoverable payment. Tap a flag.
Send it to us. We'll tell you if it's real, even if it isn't ours.Found a listing somewhere else? Send it to us and we'll tell you if it's real.
Call or text (888) 729-8812 →Scams work by removing verification. Our process is nothing but verification.
Each line on the left is something a scammer, or an unethical breeder, relies on. Each answer on the right is a rule in our program, not a promise.
| What a scammer needs | What Pawrade does instead |
|---|---|
| A payment that cannot be traced or disputed | Card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Klarna or bank transfer, only through PetPay.com, into a breeder merchant account that passed payment-processor onboarding. The breeder isn't paid out until the puppy is delivered. Payment → |
| A puppy that exists only in stolen photos | Every puppy is examined by a licensed veterinarian 3–5 days before travel and documented on a signed Veterinary Health Report. Puppy First → |
| A fake breeder profile built on stolen photos | Breeders are identity-verified, screened, and must qualify for a merchant account before listing, a bar a stolen-photo profile can't clear. The pledge → |
| A real breeder who is really a puppy mill | Every breeder signed the No Puppy Mill Pledge and agreed to our protocol: 8 weeks and 2 lbs minimum, licensed-vet exam, a finding stops travel. One violation ends the partnership. Puppy First → |
| Fees invented after the money is sent | One total, including travel, shown before you confirm. Nothing is added afterward, and we never ask for payment outside PetPay. |
| A 'courier' that only exists in email | Travel is arranged by Pawrade, flight nanny or ground, and the cost is in your total. You never pay a transport company directly. Our process → |
| Conversations that vanish with the seller | All communication runs through Pawrade and is tracked. A PetPay Customer Advocate has a direct line, daily 9AM–11PM EST. |
| No recourse once the money is sent | A tracked transaction, a Customer Advocate with a direct line, a 3-year health guarantee and 30 days of MetLife insurance, all in writing before you pay.* Health guarantee → |
*Complimentary 30-day MetLife plan not available to NH, NY, RI, SC and TN residents; MetLife offers plans there with no wait period. Health guarantee: 3 years; 1 year for Bulldog breeds.
Six checkpoints between "I want this puppy" and the puppy in your arms.Six checkpoints before the puppy is in your arms.
A scam is one payment with nothing in between. This is what's in between here, for every puppy, every time.
Breeder verified
Identity, licensing where required, the No Puppy Mill Pledge and program agreement, before a single puppy appears.
Puppy verified
Dated photos and video from the breeder; details checked by our team. Ask us for a live video; we arrange it.
Payment checked
One total via PetPay, tied to your puppy. Fraud and identity checks run on the transaction. Nothing ever goes to a personal account, and the breeder isn't paid out until delivery.
Licensed-vet exam
Nine body systems, required fecal test, vaccine log. Signed Veterinary Health Report, reviewed by us before clearance.
Travel booked by us
Flight nanny or ground transport, arranged and paid through Pawrade. You never pay a courier.
Home, on record
Your puppy is in your arms with the hard-copy report in the crate. Your 72-hour vet visit activates the 3-year health guarantee.
Checkpoint 4 is our Puppy First Approach: a licensed veterinarian examines nine body systems, runs a required fecal test and signs a Veterinary Health Report 3–5 days before travel. The hard copy travels with the puppy; a digital copy lands in your inbox.
See the Veterinary Health Report →Report it. It takes ten minutes and it helps the next family.
Many of our customers came to us after a scam, including public figures you'd recognize. If it happened to you:
The primary U.S. consumer fraud report. Feeds law-enforcement databases.
FBIFor online payments sent to a fraudulent seller, especially wire transfers.
Public warningSearchable by others: post the website, phone number and payment handle used.
Pet-specificVolunteer-run database of fake puppy sites. Check a URL here before you pay anyone.
Report it. Ten minutes, and it helps the next family.
Stop contact, save everything, call your bank about a reversal, file below. Then call us and we'll help you find a real puppy.
Talk to a real person · (888) 729-8812Families who worried about fraud, and what happened.
4.7 from 18,917 verified buyers · 96.5% satisfied · many found us after losing money elsewhere.
“I am so happy with all of the communication. You guys were great! I was so concerned that this might be a scam but with the messages I received I knew this was not one. You guys are the ones to trust!”
“I love him so!! I think he may be spoiled already!! Thank you so much! With all of the scams out there, this definitely worked for me!”
“It was a great experience! The ways and how they respond assure you that they are not fraudulent. It was safe, secure and I love love love my new son. He's already spoiled. I will definitely use them again. Thank you so much for great service. ”
“I was hesitant to buy a dog i couldn't see in person. I was worried about dealing with a company I never heard of . Scams are out-of-control. I'm very pleased with the professionalism, ease, communication & friendliness of Pawrade. My pup was delivered on time & safely. Not only is he beautiful but so very sweet & calm.”