Puppy Scam Investigation | Find the Pet Deposit Fraudster
Reviewed by People Locator Skip Tracing Investigation Team
Established 2004 · 20+ Years Experience · FCRA · GLBA · DPPA Compliant
Puppy scams are emotionally cruel and financially damaging. You paid a deposit for a puppy that doesn’t exist. The phone number, email, or name the scammer used is your starting point — professional skip tracing finds the real identity behind it in 24 hours.
Watch Overview🐶 The Puppy Scam: How It Works
Puppy scams follow a remarkably consistent playbook. A listing appears on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, or a dedicated pet sale website — the exact breed you’ve been looking for, adorable photos, and a price that seems reasonable. The “breeder” is warm and communicative. They answer your questions. They seem to love their animals.
You pay a deposit. Then comes the first problem: a shipping fee because they’re in another state. Then a specialized crate requirement. Then a health certificate. Each amount is just plausible enough that paying feels less risky than losing the puppy you’re already attached to. And then the communication stops entirely. The puppy never existed.
The FBI consistently lists pet and puppy scams among the top consumer fraud categories. Most victims are too embarrassed to report — but you should, and you should try to find who did it.
💡 The Photos Were Almost Certainly Stolen
The puppy photos in scam listings are virtually always stolen from legitimate breeders, rescue organizations, or stock image sites. A reverse image search (Google Images or TinEye) can often identify the original source — which confirms the listing is fake but doesn’t identify the scammer. Professional investigation uses the contact information behind the listing to find the real person.
⚠️ Don’t Be Embarrassed to Report
The shame response to puppy scams is extremely common — victims feel foolish for trusting an adorable photo and a convincing story. But these scams are professionally operated, and the emotional manipulation is deliberate. Report to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov, the FBI at IC3.gov, and the Internet Crime Complaint Center. Your report helps protect others.
🔍 How We Investigate Puppy Scams
📝 Gather Contact Information
The phone number the seller used, their email address, the name they gave you, any payment handles (Venmo, Zelle, CashApp).
🔗 Trace to Real Identity
We search the contact information through professional databases to identify the real person behind the operation.
🏠 Real Name and Address
We return the actual person’s identity and current address for use in reports and legal action.
⚡ Results in 24 Hours
Most puppy scam investigations complete within 24 hours.
🐶 Find the Person Who Scammed You
Give us the contact info from the transaction. We’ll find the real identity within 24 hours.
Start Your Search NowSee How It WorksSince 2004 · Confidential · All 50 States · Results in 24 Hours
| Starting Info | What We Can Find | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Phone number | Name and address associated with the number | 24 hours |
| Email address | Identity records linked to that email | 24 hours |
| Business name + city | Owner identity behind the business | 24 hours |
| Name + city | Current address and identity confirmation | 24 hours |
| Payment handle | Associated identity information | 24 hours |
👥 Who Uses This Service
Deposit Victims
You paid a deposit and the communication stopped. You want to know who took your money and have options to pursue.
Full Payment Victims
You paid the full amount — including multiple add-on fees — and never received a puppy. The loss may be substantial.
Building a Case for Small Claims
Small claims courts handle pet scam cases. You need a real defendant with a real address to file.
Protecting Others
You want to report with enough information that the filing is useful to law enforcement and helps prevent others from being victimized.
🔗 Related Services
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
📵 I think they used a fake name and a Google Voice number.
We search from whatever contact information you have. Even Google Voice numbers and names that appear fake are often traceable to a real account holder through associated records.
💰 Can I recover the money I paid?
We identify who scammed you — which is the prerequisite for all recovery paths: small claims, police report, bank dispute if applicable, FTC report.
⏱️ How fast?
Most searches complete within 24 hours.
✅ Is this legal?
Yes.
✅ Find Who Did This
You were deceived deliberately. Get the real identity behind the fraud within 24 hours.
Order Your Search NowAbout UsSince 2004 · Flat Fee · No Subscription · 100% Confidential · All 50 States
Legal Disclaimer: PeopleLocatorSkipTracing.com provides people search and skip tracing services for lawful purposes only. Information provided for consumer fraud investigation and pet deposit fraud victim support purposes is subject to applicable federal and state privacy laws including the DPPA and GLBA. We do not provide services for stalking, harassment, or any unlawful purpose. Results are not guaranteed in all cases. Last updated .
