Bernese Puppy Scams: 12 Red Flags Before You Send a Deposit

By the Riverside Berner Guide editorial team
Last updated November 7, 2026

Most Bernese Mountain Dog puppy scams follow the same script: a sweet photo, a low price, a rush to pay, and then one new fee after another. If anyone wants your money before you’ve seen the puppy and read the contract, stop there. Below are 12 red flags drawn from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and the Bernese Mountain Dog Club of America (BMDCA), plus what to do if you’ve already paid.

This guide is independent. We don’t sell puppies, keep a waitlist or take deposits, so we have nothing to sell you. For the whole buying process, start with our guide to finding a Bernese Mountain Dog for sale safely.

How common are Bernese Mountain Dog puppy scams?

The BBB doesn’t break its numbers down by breed, but pet scams in general are common. Its 2025 study update counted 2,278 online pet scam reports to BBB Scam Tracker in 2024, with a median loss of $680. Through September 2025 there were 1,632 more, with a median loss of $600.

Those figures are likely low. The BBB cites a study of FTC data that found only 4.8% of mass-market fraud victims report to the BBB or a government agency. Reports have also peaked in December and January since 2022, when many families shop for a holiday puppy.

Here’s what makes these scams so costly. Unlike most online shopping scams, the BBB says pet scams push the buyer to pay again and again. And more than half start on a website found through a search engine or social media, so a top search result proves nothing.

12 red flags before you send a deposit

You don’t need to spot all twelve. One or two of these is reason enough to slow down, and several together usually mean a scam.

1. The price is far below normal

The FTC says fake ads offer purebred puppies for a few hundred dollars when they often cost thousands. The BBB lists popular breeds at unusually low prices as a red flag, and suggests you research the breed’s usual price first.

For Berners, the BMDCA’s 2024 FAQ gives a typical range of $3,000 to $5,000. A Berner offered at a fraction of that is a warning, not a deal. See what a Bernese puppy really costs for the full picture.

2. You’re pushed to decide today

Scammers often claim the puppy will soon go to another home unless you act now, the FTC warns. The BMDCA’s buying tips also say to beware of anyone who rushes your decision. A good breeder encourages you to take your time.

3. They want money before you’ve seen the puppy

Paying up front for a puppy you’ve never met is risky. The FTC points out that the puppy may not even exist, and the money is often gone for good.

4. They ask for gift cards, payment apps, crypto or a wire transfer

The FTC says only scammers insist on gift cards, payment apps, cryptocurrency or wire services like Western Union or MoneyGram. Money sent these ways is hard to get back. The BBB found that fake pet sellers often take payment through Zelle or Venmo.

If you do pay a real breeder, the AKC says a credit card or PayPal Goods & Services is usually the safest choice.

5. They won’t meet in person or on a live video call

Fake sellers often refuse in-person visits and video calls, says the BBB. The BMDCA also warns about anyone who won’t let you see their dogs and where they live.

Even a video call isn’t a perfect test. The BBB notes that video can be manipulated, and one scam tracker it spoke with has already seen AI used on calls. Visit in person whenever you can.

6. The seller is far away and offers to ship

The BBB’s advice is plain: don’t buy from someone across the country who promises to ship your pet. The BMDCA flags sellers who want to deliver your puppy somewhere other than their home. Our guide to regional clubs and breeder referral by state can help you find someone you can actually visit.

7. New fees keep showing up

This is the hook that drains the most money. The BBB lists extra charges for cages, vaccinations and shipping as a red flag. Fees it has seen include shots, temperature-controlled crates, customs and taxes or airline charges.

In one story the BBB shares, a buyer sent $3,400 as the seller kept adding charges before shipping. If a “breeder” asks for more money after your first payment, stop paying.

8. A sad story or a threat about the puppy

Scammers lean on emotion, the BBB says, with stories like a puppy stuck at an airport. It lists high-pressure tactics that suggest the animal will be harmed as a red flag.

In one case the BBB describes, a buyer was told the puppy had lung disease and was asked for $900 more, with the blame on him if the dog died. He saw the scam and cut off contact, which is exactly the right move.

9. They want a deposit before you get the paperwork

The BMDCA’s buying tips warn about anyone who requires a deposit before giving you the pedigree, contract and health information. The club says never to commit or place a deposit without a written contract you’re comfortable with, a multi-generation pedigree and a detailed family health history.

The contract should also guarantee AKC registration papers. Read our guide to Bernese puppy deposits, contracts and waitlists before you sign anything.

10. The photos or reviews don’t check out

Scam sites often copy real breeders’ sites and photos, the BBB says. Some run several social media profiles to post fake glowing reviews.

Do a reverse image search on the puppy photos to see if they appear anywhere else, as the BBB suggests. The FTC also suggests searching the seller’s name with words like “review,” “scam” or “complaint.”

11. The seller doesn’t seem to care who you are

The BMDCA says to beware of anyone eager to sell you a dog before getting to know you. A good breeder wants to understand your family and tries to match a puppy’s temperament to it.

Questions alone don’t prove much, though. The BBB found that some scammers run a fake screening process to seem legitimate. Ask your own questions too, starting with our list of 25 questions to ask a Bernese breeder.

12. No written contract, no papers and big promises

The BMDCA warns about sellers who use no written contract or offer guarantees without spelling out the details. It also flags claims like “no health problems” that aren’t backed up for every generation of the pedigree.

Be wary of excuses about paperwork, too. The AKC says registration processing usually takes only a few days, so “the papers haven’t come yet” is a reason to wait. Our guide to which health clearances to ask for shows what real proof looks like.

How to check a seller before you pay

A few simple checks will weed out most fakes. Do them before any money changes hands.

• Start with the breed club. The BMDCA’s Find a Berner Puppy page offers an online breeder directory and volunteer Breed Ambassadors who can help with your search. Our guide to finding a reputable breeder explains how to use them.
• Talk to past buyers. The BMDCA’s FAQ suggests talking with others who bought puppies from the seller.
• Visit, or at least video call. The BBB says to walk away if a seller refuses both.
• Search the seller and the photos. Use the FTC’s name search and the BBB’s reverse image search, as described above.
• Confirm any club membership. If a seller claims to be registered with a group, the AKC suggests calling that group to check. It also notes that AKC doesn’t hand out badges to breeders.

If you’re open to an adult dog, rescue is another safe path. The FTC suggests looking at local rescues and shelters, and our guide to Bernese rescue and adoption shows where to start.

What to do if you’ve been scammed

First, don’t blame yourself. These scams are built to feel real, and acting quickly matters more than anything else now.

Stop paying and call your payment company

Don’t send any more money, no matter what the seller says. Then contact the company you paid through right away. The FTC says scammers pick payment methods that are hard to trace, but you should still ask for the payment to be reversed.

Here’s who the FTC says to contact, based on how you paid:

• Credit or debit card: your card issuer or bank, using the number on the back of the card
• Bank transfer or Zelle: your bank or credit union
• Payment app: the app itself, such as Venmo, Cash App or PayPal
• Wire transfer: the wire company, such as Western Union or MoneyGram
• Gift card: the company that issued the card, and keep the card and receipt if you have them
• Cryptocurrency: the exchange or crypto ATM operator you used

If you gave the scammer your Social Security number, the same FTC page says to go to IdentityTheft.gov for a recovery plan.

Report the scam

Reporting helps even if you never see your money again. The FTC says reports help it build cases, spot trends and warn the public.

• The FTC: report at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
• BBB Scam Tracker: the BBB lists it alongside the FTC as a place to report.
• The FBI’s IC3: the Internet Crime Complaint Center is the FBI-run hub for online crime. It asks you to file even if you’re not sure your case qualifies, though it can’t reply to every report.
• Your state: USAGov lists your state’s consumer protection office and attorney general as places to complain about an online purchase. It points to econsumer.gov if the seller was outside the U.S.

Keep your hopes realistic. The BBB says prosecutions are rare because many of these operations are based overseas, so little money is recovered.

Watch for a second scam

Once you’ve lost money, you may be targeted again by someone promising to help. The FTC says it will never threaten you or tell you to move your money to protect it. The IC3 says it will never contact you directly to ask for information or money.

When you’re ready to try again, go slowly and use the checks above. A real breeder will still be there next week, and the right puppy is worth the wait.