How Criminals Are Preying on Grieving Pet Owners

By Greg Collier

Scammers are taking advantage of missing-pet heartbreak to extort money. Here’s how to recognize the con before it happens to you.

Turning a Pet Owner’s Hope into a Target:

Imagine you’re desperately looking for your missing dog. You post photos online, contact local shelters, and share your story with friends. Then you get a message from someone who claims to have found your pet. They say your dog was injured and is at a nearby vet clinic. You feel instant relief until they ask you to send money before you can get your pet back.

You pay the fee, only to discover it was a scam. Your pet is still missing, and your money is gone.
Shelters and humane societies across the country have reported a sharp rise in this type of fraud. The Richmond SPCA in Virginia recently issued a public alert after callers pretended to be shelter workers collecting “medical fees” for injured pets that didn’t exist. The Oregon Humane Society and FOX5 Las Vegas have also warned about impostors posing as pet recovery teams demanding payment for fake rescue services.

This cruel new twist on pet scams targets owners at their most vulnerable moment.

How the Scam Works:

  1. A missing pet post goes public. Scammers search social media for posts about lost animals. They gather names, photos, and locations.
  2. They reach out, pretending to have the animal. The scammer claims your pet is safe or being treated for injuries.
  3. A payment demand follows. They say you must send money for medical care, transportation, or proof of ownership. Payments are requested through gift cards, Zelle, or wire transfer.
  4. The scammer disappears. After you send money, they block communication, leaving you without your pet or your funds.
  5. Emotional and financial harm remains. Victims often describe feeling manipulated and ashamed after realizing they were tricked.

Some scammers go even further by creating fake “pet tracking” businesses that charge upfront fees for drone searches or ground teams that never materialize.

Why It Works:

The scam succeeds because it preys on emotion. When a pet goes missing, owners are desperate for good news. That desperation can override normal caution.

Scammers also use the information owners share online to sound convincing. They may reference your pet’s name, breed, or neighborhood to build trust. Add in urgent language like “Your dog is hurt and needs surgery,” and it becomes hard to think clearly.

The payment methods they request, such as gift cards or peer-to-peer apps, make recovery nearly impossible once money is sent.

Red Flags:

  • A caller or messenger claims to have found your pet but cannot provide a current photo or proof.
  • You are asked to pay before seeing your pet or before confirming the location.
  • The contact insists on gift cards, crypto, or direct transfers instead of official billing methods.
  • The person pretends to represent a shelter, vet, or rescue but won’t give you a verifiable phone number or address.
  • The language in the message feels urgent, emotional, or pushy.

Quick Tip: If someone claims to have your pet, ask them to send a short video of the animal with today’s date or a unique identifier like the collar tag. Scammers will usually make excuses instead of providing real proof.

How to Protect Yourself:

  • Limit the amount of personal detail you share in public posts. Avoid listing your pet’s name, microchip number, or exact location until you have a trusted contact.
  • Verify all claims through official sources. If a caller says they are from a shelter or vet, hang up and call the facility directly using the number listed on its website.
  • Never send payment before confirming the person’s identity and the animal’s location.
  • Keep updated photos and vet records of your pet to help legitimate shelters identify them.
  • Report suspicious messages to your local police and animal control office.

What to Do if You’ve Been Scammed:

  1. Stop all communication and save screenshots, phone numbers, and messages as evidence.
  2. Contact your bank or payment provider immediately to report the fraud.
  3. File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
  4. Notify local authorities and provide copies of your records.
  5. Share your story in neighborhood groups to warn other pet owners.

Final Thoughts:

Pet scams are some of the most heartless crimes because they exploit love and hope. Scammers know that a frantic pet owner will do almost anything to get their animal back.

The best protection is awareness. If someone claims to have found your pet but asks for money or refuses to show proof, take a step back and verify. Ask questions, double-check the story, and never rush to pay.

A few moments of caution can protect you from financial loss and give you a better chance of finding your pet safely.

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