Lost Pet Scam: 8 Tips to Avoid Falling Into the Scammer's Trap

Scammers will stop at nothing to extract money from their victims, and are now targeting ads for lost dogs or cats to exploit their owners' plight, Fox News reported Saturday.

In some cases, they may claim that they had to urgently take your pet to the vet, incurring significant costs, or simply threaten to harm your pet if the money is not sent quickly.

Additionally, with the advent of new image generation techniques using artificial intelligence, scammers are now particularly adept at making their victims believe they are holding their beloved pets.

Fortunately, there are some tips to avoid falling into the scammers' trap, as compiled by technology journalist Kurt Knutson.

Eight tips against animal fraud

1- Call the police

First of all, if someone claims to have your animal and is demanding money to get it back, you should call the police immediately. The officers will be better equipped to handle the situation.

2-Hidden details

Ask the scammer to describe your pet in detail, making sure to leave some distinguishing features out of the ad. A small white spot under the right paw, under the belly, in the ear: make sure these details do not appear in the photos in the ad.

Along the way, also ask where and when your pet was found. The circumstances may alert you.

3- Ask to hear your pet.

According to Kurt Knutson, most pet owners will be able to recognize their dog's bark or their cat's meow, which can be useful in the event of a scam.

4-Slide scan

If your pet has a microchip, have the person who owns it scan it to get its identification number. It is possible to get a microchip reader on Amazon.

5-Photos and videos

Obviously you can ask for photo and video proof of your pet, but keep in mind that image generation techniques can sometimes create convincing images.

6- Ask for a copy of the invoice

If the scammer asks for money under the pretext of an emergency vet visit, ask to see a copy of the bill to get reimbursed by your insurance. Using the clinic's name, call the vet directly to see if they actually saw your animal.

With the scammer's approximate location determined, you can repeat this step for all the veterinarians in the area, whose phone numbers are easy to find on Google Maps.

7- Meeting in person

If you have no doubts and the scammer actually owns your pet, ask for a personal meeting to hand over the money, so you can see the pet in real life before sending the money. Because remember, nothing stops the scammer from asking you for more money, once you give in to their demands the first time.

8- Prevent theft

Some scammers use ads already available online, but others go further by stealing an animal directly from its owner before attempting to extort it.

To avoid this type of scam, make sure you have a proper fence at home, as well as a high-quality harness or leash when walking. Some also equip their cat or dog with a GPS tracker, but be careful: this can also be accessed by a scammer, according to Kurt Knutson.