Are there any law firms in the Winston Salem area that could help me with a scam/fraud issue?

There are attorneys who handle these kind of things, but you will probably not be able to find one who will do this on a contingency fee. You will have to pay the attorney a retainer fee and pay court costs. Depending on the price paid for the puppy, it may not be worth the expense because you may never collect anything. I suggest reporting this to law enforcement first if you have not done so already. If the person who scammed you is not located in NC you may need to get a lawyer licensed in the state where the scammer is located. If the person is located in NC, even if you win a money judgment, you likely will never collect it. NC does not have wage garnishment for debt and most people do not have any property which can be seized to cover paying off a money judgment.