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Posting on social media is a great way to alert a wide range of people about a lost pet. Unfortunately, that same publicity can put you at risk for scams. Con artists comb social posts to find targets who have lost their beloved pets.
What you'll learn:
- How to recognize common scams that target people who lose a pet and seek help on social media.
- What these scams look like in action, with a firsthand account of a lost pet scam.
- Practical tips to spot and avoid lost pet scams.
Updated on May 14, 2025 to include a new type of lost pet scam and to cite an updated example from BBB Scam Tracker.
How the scam works
You recently lost your pet, so you turn to social media to alert friends and neighbors. You create a public post – or even a group – to help spread the word. You share your phone number and other details, so people can easily reach you. From here, the scam can take a few turns.
Someone claims they found your pet.
A few days later, you get a text message from someone claiming to have found your lost dog or cat. You ask them to describe your pet and/or send a photo, but the conversation quickly takes a strange turn. The scammer will give excuses, such as being out of town or not having a working smartphone, for why they can't snap a photo. Instead, the person will pressure you for money (or a gift card) to return your pet. Although you may be tempted to do anything to see your dog or cat returned safely, don't pay up! The scammer doesn't have your pet. They will just take the money and disappear.
You're offered fake pet search services.
A new twist on this scam involves fake pet-finding services. You may receive a message from someone on social media about drone technology and search parties that can help you find your pet. The person will ask you for payment up front and will likely ask you to send it through a peer-to-peer payment app. Before paying for services, always search for the business on BBB.org or check BBB Scam Tracker.
A recent example of this scam was shared to BBB Scam Tracker: “…They contacted me about my missing pet and stated they could use a drone to find it, but in order for them to get started, they would ask for $200 payment for their services so that they could deploy people and services to get the search started. Once the money was sent, they stated that they would refund me if they didn’t find my pet for any reason… Once I started looking further into it, after I had a moment to settle, I saw a few ‘scam’ posts for this company…”
Your pet was stolen.
In other cases, the pet has actually been stolen, and the scammer will ask for payment for the safe return-- or they may try to sell your pet online to another person. If you have confirmed that your pet was stolen, contact your local police department for assistance.
How to avoid a lost pet scam
Follow these tips to prevent falling victim to a pet loss scam:
- Limit the information in your social posts: If you post on Facebook or other social media, omit information about unique physical attributes. This can help you verify if someone really found your pet.
- Watch for spoofed numbers: If you get a call from someone claiming to have your pet, ask them for a phone number where you can call them back. Scammers often spoof phone numbers, so they appear to be calling from somewhere else.
- Ask for a photo: If a caller claims to have your pet in their possession, ask them to send a current picture. If the "finder" gets defensive or makes a lot of excuses, it's a red flag.
- Never wire money or use a prepaid debit card to pay anyone you don't know. This is the same as sending cash.
- Microchip and/or ID tag your pet: Consider having your veterinarian microchip your pet, and make sure they always wear a collar and ID tag. Newer ID tags with GPS trackers can be purchased, to find your pet's location.
- Call the police if your pet was stolen, or if you see that someone else is trying to sell your pet online.
For more information:
To learn more about scams, go to BBB Scam Tips (BBB.org/scamtips). To report a scam, go to BBB Scam Tracker (BBB.org/scamtracker).
Visit BBB's Pet HQ for more tips on owning your furry friends.