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The last thing you want when looking for a lost pet is for a scammer to use the situation as leverage for their tricks. However, some cold individuals are on the prowl for worried and vulnerable people who have recently lost a fluffy family member. Here’s how to spot them and stop a dire situation from becoming even worse.
What Are Lost Pet Scams and How Do They Work?
A lost pet scam occurs when a scammer directly attacks people who have lost a pet and are looking for information about its whereabouts. During this time, the scammers capitalize on two elements that people who have lost a pet have: a point of leverage through which the scammer can work and the knowledge that the target is emotionally compromised and afraid of their pet’s well-being.
Once the scammer finds a suitable target, they will try to get the victim to pay them. They can either do this by lying to the victim or by forcing them with threats of violence against the lost pet. They may also try to cheat them of any money rewards they listed on the ad.
In the lost pet scam, the scammer browses websites and directories dedicated to lost pets. These posts often contain contact methods so that people who have found the pet can let them know as soon as possible.
The scammer uses these methods to contact the victim, often mentioning that they have found the pet but require money before returning it. The scammer hopes the victim is so concerned about returning their pet that their judgment is clouded, so they pay whatever the scammer demands.
How Scammers Lie to Get the Victim’s Money
The scammers typically ask for payment in one of two ways. The first is more passive; the scammer will claim that they found the pet, but something was wrong with it. Perhaps the pet was wounded or needed medication.
The scammer will say that they paid the vet bills out of their own pocket and will ask the victim to repay them. Of course, the scammer doesn’t have the pet, and once the victim wires over the money, the scammer hangs up.
The scammer may also attempt to get any reward money the victim offered, stating that they want payment before you get their pet. Again, if the scammer doesn’t have their pet, they pay someone for nothing.
How Scammers Can Use Threats to Get the Victim’s Money
The second method is a lot scarier; in this situation, the scammer claims they found the pet. However, they refuse to surrender the animal until the victim pays them a large sum of money. If the victim declines, the scammer will threaten to kill the pet until they pay.
The scammer will try to pen the victim in to prevent them from getting external aid. For example, they’ll state that if the victim tries to report the scammer to the police, they’ll kill the pet. The goal is to isolate the victim and force them to pay up.
Real-World Examples of Lost Pet Scams
The first example of pet scams happened to my family and inspired me to research this topic myself. Our family pet had gone missing, and my father had posted his number online. Someone called and claimed they had our pet, but they needed £20 to pay for the ear drops the pet needed.
My father was on the way back with his credit card in hand when my mother stopped him and asked what he was doing. She told my father to ask for more information about the missing pet. When my dad asked for more information, the scammer immediately hung up. My father had dodged a bullet.
Unfortunately, there are far scarier examples, like the video above. It features a real call where a scammer called someone and threatened to kill their pet unless they got thousands in cash. The video is a tough listen if you care about your pets, but it’s a good way to hear what this scam sounds like.
How to Spot a Lost Pet Scam
If someone claims to have your pet but demands money in exchange for its release, double-check that the person has your pet. Try not to ask for details that the scammer can cross-reference with the photo you supplied in the lost pet ad.
Instead, ask for things only someone with the animal can answer. Better yet, tell them to show a photo or video of your pet to prove they have it. Don’t ask for apet microchipscan; even the most well-meaning person will likely not have access to a scanner.
If they confirm they have your pet, agree to pay them once you meet. Remember, they can take the money and run if you pay them before meeting them in person. Hopefully, someone who has located your pet isn’t so cold as to take your money at the very end, but it’s possible.
Are Pet GPS Trackers the Solution?
You could use a pet GPS tracker to re-find your lost pet. However, doing so is a double-edged sword. While GPS trackers help you locate your pet more easily, they also let hackers find them, which can lead to crimes such as pet theft and personal information harvesting. Check outif pet trackers with GPS are safe to usefor more information.
Pet scammers have some of the coldest hearts on the planet and can be extremely cruel with their methods. If you lose a pet, don’t fall for these traps and make a bad situation worse.
