Free · No Account Required · No Data Stored

Is This Pet Listing Real?

Paste any listing and get an answer in 60 seconds.
AI-powered fraud detection built on real documented scam conversations.

What the scan looks for
💰 Price too low or too high for the breed
💳 Requests for gift cards, wire transfers, or Zelle
⏰ Urgency pressure — "must rehome today," "deploy soon"
✈️ Shipping-only offers with transport/delivery fees
📷 Generic or stolen listing language and photos
📵 Refusal to video call or meet in person
📝 Inconsistent seller details across messages
🌍 Location mismatches or overseas backstory
📋 Paste the listing text, seller messages, or anything that feels off
⚠️
⚠️
🚨 If You've Already Sent Money — Act Now
1
Contact your bank or payment app immediatelyExplain it was a fraudulent transaction. CashApp, Zelle, Venmo, and most banks have fraud dispute lines.
2
Screenshot everything before you block themEvery message, the listing, their profile, payment receipts. You need this for every report.
3
Report to the FTC right nowreportfraud.ftc.gov — takes 5 minutes and creates an official record.
4
If wire transfer was involvedFile with the FBI at ic3.gov as well.
Recommended Next Steps
How it works
1
Copy the listingPaste anything — the listing description, seller messages, payment requests, or all of it together.
2
AI scans for red flagsThe tool checks for known scam patterns — price manipulation, fake urgency, suspicious payment methods, and more.
3
You get a clear resultLow, medium, or high risk — with specific flags found and exactly what to do next. No jargon, no guesswork.
📚
Learn the Playbook
See exactly how scammers operate — their scripts, tactics, and how to counter each one
🧪
Practice in the Lab
Chat with a real-time AI scammer in a safe environment. Built from a real documented scam
🏘️
Community Reports
Browse reported scam pages by breed and region. Submit your own experience
📋
Quick Reference
Red flag cheat sheet, reporting links, and guides to share with family
🛡️ Zero data retention. Nothing you type is stored. No account needed. No personal info collected. Ever.  ·  Built to protect pet buyers, not profit from them.
🔐
Unlock Full Access
The Learn modules, Lab simulator, and Community are behind a simple email verification to protect the educational content from being used by the very scammers we're training you to spot.

Enter your email to get instant access. No spam — we'll only contact you when new scenarios or features launch.
🛡️ Your email is stored securely and never shared or sold.
It's used only for access verification and feature update notifications.
Unsubscribe anytime.

📚 Know the Playbook

Pet scammers use the same scripts every time. Learn them here and you'll recognize them instantly.

🦴
Start Here
Anatomy of a Pet Scam
The full lifecycle from first message to money lost — and where to exit at each stage
📱
Real Conversation
A Real Scam, Message by Message
Analysis of an actual documented Facebook Messenger scam — exactly what was said and why it works
💸
Red Flags
The Payment Trap
Why certain payment methods are chosen and how fees escalate after you've already paid
📸
Visual
Stolen Photos & Image Safety
How to spot stolen images — and why sharing YOUR photos with sellers is also dangerous
⏱️
Psychology
Urgency & Emotional Pressure
How scammers weaponize grief, urgency, and the rescue instinct against you
🛡️
Defense
How to Respond & Report
Exact scripts to use, how to report on each platform, and what to do if you've already paid
Complete all modules first for best results. Pass 80% to unlock the Lab.

🧪 Scammer Simulator Lab

Practice in real time with an AI playing a scammer using documented real tactics from an actual Facebook Messenger pet scam.

✅ Trained on a real conversation — exact language, real escalation, documented patterns
⚠️ Before You Start

This is a training simulation only. Do not enter real personal information — use fake names, fake numbers (like 555-0100), and fake emails to practice realistically without any risk.

🔒 Nothing is stored. No conversation is saved anywhere. When your session ends, everything is permanently gone. This tool exists only to prepare you.

🎯 Choose Your Scenario
📊 Difficulty
Obvious red flags early. Great for your first session.
💡 Hint Mode

🏘️ Community Scam Reports

Verified reports from real people. Browse by region or breed. Submit your own experience to warn others.

Showing verified community reports. All reports are moderated before publishing. Personal information is removed.
Fake Chihuahua rescue page — Texas-based, Facebook
Mar 7, 2025
High RiskChihuahuaTexasFacebook MarketplaceCashApp
Page presented as a legitimate rescue operation with professional profile photo. Asked $400 adoption + $100 delivery via CashApp. Refused any in-person meeting citing distance. Sent Google Maps screenshot to justify delivery. Credit card "temporarily unavailable." Became defensive when questioned about pricing.
👍 14 people found this helpful
French Bulldog listing — military deployment story
Feb 28, 2025
High RiskFrench BulldogMilitary StoryGift Cards
Seller claimed to be military being deployed overseas and needed to rehome their French Bulldog urgently. Puppy priced at $150 — well below market. After showing interest, requested $200 Amazon gift card for "transport insurance." Multiple follow-up fees appeared after initial contact.
👍 9 people found this helpful
Golden Retriever puppy — escalating fees, Zelle
Feb 14, 2025
High RiskGolden RetrieverFee EscalationZelle
Initially listed at $200. After paying via Zelle, a $350 "shipping crate" fee appeared. After that, a $200 "vet health certificate" fee. Puppy never arrived. Seller eventually stopped responding.
👍 22 people found this helpful

📋 Quick Reference & Resources

Cheat sheets, reporting links, and guides to share with family and friends.

🚩 The Red Flag Quick List
  • 🚩
    Can't meet in personAlways an excuse — deployed, moving, too far. The real reason: there is no puppy.
  • 🚩
    Price is way below marketA $3,000 French Bulldog for $150 feels like a rescue mission, not a transaction. That's intentional.
  • 🚩
    Credit card "temporarily unavailable"Credit cards have chargebacks. Scammers avoid them by design. This excuse is standard in every scam.
  • 🚩
    CashApp / Zelle / Chime / Gift cards onlyUntraceable, irreversible. If they name these specifically, treat it as a confirmed red flag.
  • 🚩
    Fees appear after first paymentCrate, insurance, customs, health certificate — each one anchored to money you've already sent.
  • 🚩
    Refuses to meet halfway"We do not displace ourselves." Real sellers are flexible. Scammers need you to come to them or pay for delivery.
  • 🚩
    Reverse image search finds the photo elsewhereSame puppy on multiple listings or breeder sites means stolen photos.
  • 🚩
    Gets defensive or cold when questioned"You making confuse." "I think you should pass." Real sellers welcome due diligence.
  • 🚩
    Adoption contract theaterA contract that requires payment first is not protection — it's a prop to create false legitimacy.
  • 🚩
    Urgency + other interested buyers"There can be a rush on him by another client." The deadline and competition are both invented.
📣
Report a Scam
Where to report pet listing fraud officially.
→ FTC ReportFraud.gov → FBI IC3 (wire transfer) → Facebook Marketplace → Your State Attorney General
🔎
Reverse Image Search
Check if listing photos are stolen from other sites.
→ Google Images → TinEye → Yandex Images
🐾
Find Legitimate Pets
Safe, verified sources to find your next companion.
→ Petfinder.com → AdoptAPet.com → AKC Breeder Classifieds → RescueMe.org
📤
Share with Others
Help protect people in your community.
→ Copy PawVerify link → Share on Facebook → Download printable red flag card (coming soon)

About PawVerify

PawVerify is a free, nonprofit-backed tool built to protect pet buyers from listing scams. Every year, tens of thousands of people lose money to fraudulent pet listings — fake breeders, shipping scams, and phantom puppies. Most victims never see it coming because the scam playbooks are sophisticated and constantly evolving.

This tool is powered by AI trained on real documented scam conversations. It's completely free, requires no account, and stores nothing you type. It's being built toward a 501(c)(3) nonprofit — built to protect people, not to profit from them.

Important limits to understand PawVerify is an AI-assisted screening tool, not a guarantee. It can flag legitimate listings as suspicious (false positives) and may occasionally miss a real scam (false negatives). Think of it as a second opinion, not a final answer. Always verify sellers independently before sending any money.

Contact Us

Have a question, spotted a bug, or want to share feedback? We read every message.

Privacy Policy

Listing text you submit Text you paste into the scanner is sent to our AI model to generate a fraud analysis. It is not logged, stored, or associated with you in any way. We do not retain your listing after the analysis is returned.
Email address (optional) If you choose to register for access to Learn, Lab, or Community features, your email is stored in our database. It is used only to grant access and to notify you of new features. It is never sold, shared with third parties, or used for advertising. You can request deletion at any time by contacting us.
Contact form submissions Messages sent through the contact form are stored so we can respond to them. They are not shared externally.
Analytics and tracking PawVerify does not use Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel, or any third-party tracking. We collect basic, anonymous usage counts (number of scans per day) for capacity management only. No personal data is involved.
Cookies and local storage We use your browser's local storage to remember if you've registered (so you don't have to enter your email again). No tracking cookies are set.
Questions Contact us through the About & Contact page.
Last updated: April 2026

Disclaimer

AI-assisted, not guaranteed PawVerify uses artificial intelligence to identify patterns commonly associated with pet listing fraud. This is a screening tool, not a definitive verdict. AI models can and do make mistakes.
False positives Legitimate listings may be flagged as suspicious. An unusual price, a seller who travels for work, or unconventional payment preferences can all trigger warnings even when the listing is genuine. A HIGH risk score does not mean the listing is definitely a scam.
False negatives Some scams may not be detected — especially new tactics or highly polished fraudulent listings. A LOW risk score does not mean the listing is safe. Always verify independently.
Not legal or financial advice Nothing on this site constitutes legal advice, financial advice, or a professional assessment of any kind. If you believe you have been defrauded, contact your financial institution and file a report with the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
No affiliation PawVerify is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to any pet marketplace, breeder platform, or payment service. All trademarks belong to their respective owners.
Use at your own risk By using PawVerify, you acknowledge that results are informational only and that you are responsible for any decisions made based on them.
Last updated: April 2026