The five rules
- Video call the puppy live before any money changes hands.
- See the mother, on camera or in person.
- A price far below the going rate is bait, not a bargain.
- Shipping is arranged by the breeder or a real flight nanny you can verify. Never by a "pet transport company" that appears after you've paid.
- Every deposit comes with a written contract and a genetic health guarantee.
Bulldog puppies cost thousands of dollars, and that makes them one of the most scammed breeds online. In our years of breeding we heard from families who had already lost deposits before they found us. The scams follow the same script, and once you know it, they're easy to spot.
Red flag 1: they'll only talk by email or text
Scammers avoid live contact because there is no puppy. They'll send photos, sometimes a short video that was taken from someone else's page, and they'll answer questions with long friendly paragraphs. What they won't do is get on a video call.
What to do: ask for a live video call before anything else. If they dodge, delay, or claim their camera is broken, you're done. A real breeder is proud to show you their dogs.
One more check: save a photo they sent and run it through a reverse image search. Stolen puppy photos usually turn up on other listings or on a real breeder's social media.
Red flag 2: the price is far below normal
A well-bred bulldog from a breeder who health-tests costs several thousand dollars, and rare colors cost more. When you see the same look for a fraction of that, the low price is the hook.
Two things are usually happening: it's a scam and there is no puppy, or the puppy exists but comes from untested parents, in which case you pay the difference later in vet bills. See what bulldogs really cost.
Red flag 3: you can't see the parents
You should be able to see the mother with the litter, live. Ask about the father too, and about health testing on both.
A real breeder can tell you what testing was done, what the results were, and whether either parent has had airway surgery or back trouble. Scammers change the subject or say things like "they're all healthy, vet checked." A vet check is not health testing.
Red flag 4: shipping appears, then the fees begin
This is the classic bulldog scam. You pay a deposit, then a "transport company" emails about a special crate, then insurance for the crate, then a customs or vaccination fee. Each message promises it's the last one.
How real shipping works: the breeder drives the puppy to you, you fly out and bring the puppy home in the cabin, or the breeder arranges a flight nanny whose name, number and flight you can verify before anyone moves. Some airlines restrict flat-faced breeds in cargo for safety reasons, so a good breeder will discuss this openly rather than promising cargo shipping is simple.
Payment methods that mean walk away
Gift cards, crypto, wire transfers, Zelle or Cash App to a stranger, and "friends and family" payments all have one thing in common: once sent, the money is gone and your bank can't help. A real breeder will take a normal, traceable payment and give you a receipt.
Red flag 5: no contract, no health guarantee
A deposit should never be a handshake. Before you pay, you should have a written contract that spells out:
- The puppy's date of birth, color, sex and microchip number if it has one
- The total price, what the deposit covers, and whether it's refundable
- The pickup date and how the puppy is getting to you
- A genetic health guarantee: what conditions it covers, for how long, and what happens if your vet finds one
- What vaccines and deworming the puppy will have had
- A return clause, so the breeder takes the dog back if you ever can't keep it
If a seller won't put those in writing, the deal is not protected, whatever they tell you on the phone.
Before you send anything
- Live video call with the puppy and the mother
- Health testing results for both parents, seen with your own eyes
- Price in line with the breed and color
- Shipping arranged by the breeder or a verifiable flight nanny
- Written contract with a genetic health guarantee
- Traceable payment method, with a receipt
Our printable puppy buyer's checklist has all of this in one page you can keep on your phone while you talk to sellers.
If you've already been scammed
Report it to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov, to the IC3 at ic3.gov, and to your bank or payment provider right away, since some payments can be reversed if you act fast. Report the listing to the site it appeared on so the next family doesn't lose money.
When you find the real thing
Once you've found a breeder who checks out, our guides on choosing an English bulldog breeder and choosing a French bulldog breeder cover the questions to ask next, and what to do once your puppy is home covers the first few weeks.