When our pets get hurt or go missing, we are willing to go above and beyond to make sure they get home safe ― and unfortunately, there are scammers who know this, too.
Across U.S. cities, there are reports of people with lost pets who are getting bombarded by animal shelter impersonators who claim to have found a pet owner’s injured or missing animal. These fraudsters use caller ID spoofing technology to make it seem like they are legitimate local representatives of humane societies or animal shelters.
And once they have your attention, these scammers emotionally blackmail you. They might say your pet is hurt and needs immediate surgery. They then demand immediate payment via cash apps like Zelle or PayPal in order for the pet to receive lifesaving medical care.
“We have definitely gotten calls about the missing dog or the missing cat [scam], where someone is literally missing their animal, and they have a post up on Craigslist,” said Amy Nofziger, the director of victim support for the AARP Fraud Watch Network. In these cases, “a scammer contacts them, says, ‘We have your pet, but we just need you to pay us X amount of dollars before we’ll release it.’”
In one incident that Maryland’s attorney general reported in May, a pet owner was duped into giving $2,600 to a scammer before realizing it was a fraud.
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If your pet goes missing, you need to spread the word with flyers and social media posts. But this public outreach is exactly what makes you a target to scammers.
“Someone who is overseas can see that I have lost my pet here in Denver, Colorado, because we’re so connected,” Nofziger said as an example. This global reach is why more people are vulnerable to this kind of scam, she said.
And your turmoil also makes you an easy target. Pet owners with a lost pet are vulnerable to getting manipulated because they are already so stressed. But the more you think with your emotions, the less you might think with your head.
“Scammers are very aware of the emotional drivers that make victims pay and not pay,” said Michael Jabbara, senior vice president and head of payment ecosystem risk and control at Visa. “If you ever get a message that elicits a really strong emotional reaction in you, just take a step back and be like, ‘Wait, I shouldn’t act immediately.’”
How To Avoid Getting Duped By This Emotional Scam
If you are searching for your lost pet, your emotions will be running high. When you want your pet back, “All of your cognitive thinking goes out the window, and you’re just 100% focused on getting your family member back home,” Nofziger said. “And if that means buying a $200 gift card or sending money through crypto[currency], then that’s what it means to get them back.”
So it’s good to make a logical checklist to remind you what you should and should not do when you are feeling overwhelmed. Here’s what to remember:
Ask for proof.
If someone claims to have your pet, double-check if what they say is true by requesting your pet’s microchip number or photographic evidence of your pet’s injury. A legitimate shelter would be able to easily scan and tell you what your pet’s microchip number is.
These verification questions have prevented some individuals from being scammed by people claiming to have a lost pet.
If you have listed a reward for finding your pet, Nofziger suggested, ask to meet in a public place like a parking lot or at the shelter before handing over money.
Double-check credentials.
If someone claims to be from a pet shelter, look up the shelter’s information. Does the phone number on their website match who is calling you? If it doesn’t, be on alert.
“If you’re getting a text message from a shelter saying, ‘We have your dog,’ don’t respond to the number that you received it from,” Jabbara said. “Look up that shelter, give them a call.”
Be wary of financial pressure.
Jabbara said needing to pay someone immediately is “a huge red flag” that you’re likely being scammed. No legitimate animal shelter or rescue organization will force you to pay money to be reunited with your pet.
As one Indianapolis humane society put it: “We’re not going to withhold your animal if you can’t afford to pay a donation or withhold treatment from an animal that’s needing our care.”
When you are missing your pet, you may want to accept any good news you hear, even when it sounds too good to be true. But taking the time to ask more questions and verify claims can help you avoid more pain during an already painfully stressful situation.