The excitement of bringing a new puppy or kitten into your family can quickly turn to heartbreak when you discover the seller you trusted was a scammer. Pet scams have become one of the most prevalent forms of online fraud, with the Better Business Bureau reporting millions of dollars lost annually to fake pet sellers. These scammers create convincing websites filled with adorable photos, engage in lengthy email exchanges, and even offer video calls — all to convince you to wire money for a pet that does not exist. A face search engine can be a powerful tool in your arsenal to verify whether a pet seller is who they claim to be. In this guide, we will show you how to find someone by photo and use reverse face search to avoid puppy scams, with facesearching as your verification partner.
The Scale of the Puppy Scam Problem
Pet scams have exploded in recent years, fueled by the growing demand for specific breeds and the convenience of online shopping. Scammers typically steal photos of real puppies from legitimate breeders' websites and social media accounts, then create fake listings at prices that seem too good to be true. They often claim to be located in a different state or country and insist on payment through wire transfers, gift cards, or cryptocurrency — methods that are difficult to trace and impossible to recover. Once the money is sent, the scammer disappears, and the hopeful pet owner is left with nothing but a financial loss and emotional devastation. A reverse face search can help you identify these scams before you send a single dollar. For more on pet-related verification, see our complete FAQ on face search for pet owners.
Common Pet Seller Scam Tactics
- Using stolen photos of real puppies from legitimate breeders' websites
- Creating fake breeder websites with professional-looking designs and testimonials
- Offering prices significantly below market rate to attract bargain-seeking buyers
- Insisting on payment through untraceable methods like wire transfers or gift cards
- Fabricating shipping complications that require additional fees after the initial payment
Step-by-Step: Verify a Pet Seller with Face Search
- Collect the clearest photo of the pet seller you can find — this could be from their website, social media profile, or any photo they have shared during your communication.
- Upload the photo to a reverse face search engine like facesearching and initiate the scan.
- Review the results to see if the same face appears on other breeder websites, scam warning forums, or under different names and locations.
- If the face search results are inconsistent with the seller's claimed identity, treat it as a strong warning sign and discontinue communication.
- If the results appear consistent, still verify the seller through kennel club registries, veterinarian references, and independent online reviews.
A legitimate breeder will welcome your questions and verification efforts. A scammer will pressure you to act quickly and avoid scrutiny.
How facesearching Helps Prevent Pet Scams
facesearching provides a fast, effective way to verify pet seller identities before you commit to a purchase. When you upload a seller's photo, the face search engine analyzes the facial features and searches for matches across publicly accessible web pages. This can reveal whether the seller's photo is actually a stock image, belongs to a legitimate breeder whose identity was stolen, or appears on scam reporting websites. The tool is designed to be simple enough for anyone to use, even if you have no technical background. By incorporating face search into your pet-buying process, you can significantly reduce your risk of falling victim to a scam. Learn more about how to verify a pet breeder with face search.
Additional Steps to Verify a Pet Seller
While face search is a powerful verification tool, it should be part of a broader strategy. Request a live video call with the seller and the specific puppy or kitten you are interested in — and pay attention to whether the environment matches the seller's claimed location. Ask for the veterinarian's contact information and call the clinic directly to confirm they have treated the seller's animals. Check the seller's registration with national kennel clubs or breed-specific organizations. Search for the seller's name, phone number, and email address combined with the word "scam" to see if any complaints have been filed. And never send money through untraceable methods — use a credit card or payment service that offers buyer protection. Remember, if you need to find someone by photo to verify their identity, facesearching makes it straightforward and private.
What to Do If You Have Been Scammed
If you have already fallen victim to a pet scam, act quickly. Report the incident to the Federal Trade Commission, the Internet Crime Complaint Center, and your local law enforcement. Contact your bank or payment provider immediately to dispute the charge — while recovery is difficult with wire transfers, it is worth attempting. Report the scammer's profile and website to the platform where you found them. And share your experience on pet scam warning forums to help protect other buyers. facesearching can also help you check if your own photos are being used by scammers, which is important if you are a legitimate breeder whose images may have been stolen.