11/04/2025
🐶 Important Notice:
Protect Yourself from Puppy Scams ‼️
As an experienced we**ie surrogate who has also purchased puppies online to expand our abilities to produce our sweet Dachshund’s, I want to share several red flags I’ve encountered when purchasing puppies—particularly through Facebook and other online platforms.
We have been blessed to be Dachshund surrogates for over five years, and during that time we’ve learned a great deal about how scammers operate. My hope is that these notes help potential buyers avoid being taken advantage of- Please feel free to share your own experiences or additional red flags in the comments.
🚩 Common Red Flags When Purchasing a Puppy
⚠️ Limited Photos:
Avoid purchasing a puppy based on a single photo. Reputable breeders provide multiple images or videos showing the puppy from different angles and stages of development.
⚠️ Refusal to Communicate by Phone:
If the breeder will not speak with you on the phone, this is a major warning sign. Always insist on a real conversation.
⚠️ No Live Video or FaceTime Option:
Legitimate breeders will gladly arrange a FaceTime or video call so you can see the puppy in real time. If this is an issue, walk away.
⚠️ Unusual Deposit Behavior:
Reputable breeders do require deposits to hold a puppy, as a sign of good faith. However, scammers often create a false sense of urgency and demand deposits multiple times in a short period.
⚠️ Suspicious or Stolen Facebook Accounts:
Examine the breeder’s page carefully. Many scammers steal accounts or photos. Check for inconsistencies—such as a U.S.-based breeder whose profile activity traces back to another country.
⚠️ Lack of Reviews or Page History:
Established breeders usually have years of posts, customer reviews, and engagement on their business pages. A recently created page with few followers or no comments is cause for concern.
⚠️ Breed and Color Patterns:
Many scams involve highly desirable long-haired dapple females, as these are in high demand. Exercise caution if the breeder appears to offer only dapples.
⚠️ Photo Background Inconsistencies:
Look closely at the backgrounds in posted photos. If puppies of the same litter appear in drastically different settings, the images may have been stolen.
⚠️ Seasonal Mismatches:
Pay attention to details. For example, if a “December” photo shows green grass and trees full of leaves, the photo likely wasn’t taken where the breeder claims to be located.
🐾 Additional Warning Signs
‼️ Prices that seem “too good to be true.”
‼️ Generic or copy-pasted responses that lack detail.
‼️ Inability to provide verifiable veterinary records or references.
‼️ Pushy, guilt-driven sales tactics that pressure you to “act quickly.”
With Love- Mini Doxie Farm