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•  1. **Unrealistically Low Price**
     - Scammers often advertise puppies at a price that seems too good to be true. If the price is significantly lower than what you'd expect for that breed, it's a red flag.

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•  2. **No Physical Meeting or Video Calls**
     - Scammers will often refuse to meet in person or offer to meet only in places that are hard to track. If they insist on shipping the puppy directly to you without a video chat, that's a strong sign of a scam. 

•  - If they don't offer to show the puppy in real-time through video chat (like a Zoom or FaceTime call), this is suspicious.

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•  3. **Puppy Only Available for "Shipping"**
     - If the seller claims that the puppy is only available for shipping, especially internationally, it’s likely a scam. Scammers often use the promise of shipping to avoid face-to-face meetings.
     - They may send you pictures of cute puppies but won’t allow you to meet the puppy in person before the transaction.

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•  4. **Too Many Questions About Your Financial Situation**
     - Scammers may ask you personal questions or try to pressure you into sending money quickly. They may also use high-pressure tactics like "We need the money now, or someone else will take it."

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• 5. **Poorly Written or Inconsistent Communication**​
   - Watch out for poorly written messages with many spelling or grammatical errors. Scammers often operate from foreign countries and may not speak your language fluently.

• - If the seller's communication is inconsistent or they avoid answering specific questions about the puppy’s health, history, or background, it’s suspicious.

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• 6. **Fake or Stolen Photos**
     - Scammers often use stock photos or photos they’ve stolen from other beeders or websites. Reverse-search the images (Google’s image search) to see if they appear elsewhere online, especially from legitimate breeders or shelters.  

• - Are the picture's background/surroundings consistent, or is each puppy in a different setting?​ Typically, as breeders, when it's picture day, our backgrounds are consistent or within the same area.

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• 7. **Pressure for Immediate Payment**
     - Scammers often pressure buyers to send money quickly through wire transfer services like Western Union, MoneyGram, or other untraceable methods.
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• 8. **Vague or No Information About the Puppy’s Health**
     - Legitimate breeders will provide detailed information about the puppy’s health history, vaccinations, and any veterinary records. Scammers may be vague or refuse to provide documentation.
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• 9. **No Breeder or Kennel History**
     - If the seller doesn’t provide clear information about where the puppy was bred or has no verifiable history as a breeder, this is concerning. Legitimate breeders will be transparent and happy to answer questions about the puppy’s parents, living conditions, and lineage.​

•    - They may even offer references from past buyers.

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• 10. **The Seller Appears Too Eager to Get the Puppy "Off Their Hands"**
     - A legitimate breeder or seller will want to ensure that their puppies are going to a good, responsible home. If they seem too eager to "get rid of" the puppy or are offering it at an unusually low price, it could be a scam.

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• 11. **Refusal to Provide Detailed Contact Information**
     - Scammers often try to remain anonymous. If the seller refuses to provide a full name or phone number, it’s a major warning sign.
     - If they are only willing to communicate via email or social media accounts with little to no verifiable information, proceed with caution.

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• 12. **Too Good to Be True "Rescue" Offers**
     - Some scams play on the idea of rescuing puppies from bad situations. Scammers may claim to be rehoming a puppy from a “rescue” and ask for money to cover "adoption fees" or shipping costs.
     - Always verify that the rescue organization is legitimate by researching the rescue group or breeder through trusted websites.

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• 13. **Unclear or Shady Payment Methods**
     - Be wary of anyone who insists you pay via wire transfer, cryptocurrency, or gift cards (common scam methods).
     - Scammers may also use fake websites to trick you into entering your payment details. Always verify the legitimacy of the payment platform.

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• 14. **They Don't Seem Knowledgeable About the Breed**
     - A legitimate breeder will know the breed they are selling inside and out. If the seller seems unfamiliar with the breed's specific needs, traits, or health concerns, they may not be a reputable breeder.

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• 15. **Puppy “Too Young” or Unvaccinated**
     - Some scammers might offer puppies that are too young to leave their mother or unvaccinated, which is both unethical and dangerous.
     - A good breeder will ensure that the puppy is at least eight weeks old and has had the necessary vaccinations.​​​​​

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• Keep in mind that it is easy to edit a photo to include your name/info on it to make you believe they own the dog. Most scammers use stolen photos from other breeders and use them as their own. ​​

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• As breeders, we have nothing to hide. We are happy to provide you our vet info/where we take them so that you can call to make sure we are real. ​

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• Although we do not allow visits in our own home for our family and dogs' safety, we are happy to meet in a safe zoned police station or inside the airport. ​

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• ..​ ​

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As hobby breeders, we do not breed full-time and have full-time jobs. We are available to answer any questions within a reasonable amount of time.