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Think pets are expensive? So is this scam.
Scammers profit from your missing pet
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Pet owners in Alaska know that when your pet goes missing, you’ll try everything in your power to bring them home. Unfortunately, some scammers use that vulnerable moment against you.
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How Lost Pet Scams Target Alaskans
A lost pet scam often begins with the news every pet owner hopes to hear: someone says they found your missing pet. But then the request for money begins. The scammer may demand a reward before returning the pet or claim your pet needs urgent medical care that must be paid for immediately.
Most lost pet scams rely on information you share publicly. Details like your pet's name, breed, appearance, and last known location can help neighbors join the search, but they can also help scammers sound convincing. In a case featured on AARP's The Perfect Scam℠, a caller posing as a local humane society employee told a family that their missing cat needed emergency surgery. Using details from the family's social media posts to gain their trust, the scammer convinced them to send $2,000.
Criminals can also use artificial intelligence to make lost pet scams more convincing. In another case, a couple received a photo that appeared to show their missing dog on an operating table. The scammer demanded $2,746 for emergency surgery, but the couple realized that the veterinary office did not exist and the image was likely AI-generated.
How to React to a Potential Lost Pet Scam
Alaskan pet owners should be cautious if someone contacts them immediately after they post about their missing pet. Ask questions about markings, behaviors, or other details you did not share publicly before sending money or personal information.
If someone claims your pet is at a shelter or veterinary clinic, find the organization’s official phone number yourself and call to verify the story. And before paying for medical care, request a live video showing your pet.
Most importantly, remember that urgency does not prove that an emergency is real. Taking a few minutes to verify the story will not make you a bad pet owner.
How Alaskans Can Prevent Lost Pet Scams
If your pet goes missing, be careful about how much information you include in public posts. Share enough to help people identify your pet, but keep one or two details private, like a unique marking or behavior. You can use those details later to determine whether someone actually found your pet.
You should also consider microchipping your pet and keeping the contact information connected to the chip up to date. Accurate microchip information can make it easier for someone who genuinely finds your pet to contact you.
Decide in advance how your household will respond. Talk with everyone in your household about what you would do if a pet goes missing, including how you would verify any call, text, or message from someone claiming to have found them. Agree that no one will send money until the story is confirmed. A few minutes of planning now can help prevent a stressful situation from becoming even worse.
Resources for Victims of Lost Pet Scams
If you or a loved one has been targeted by a scam or fraud, you are not alone. Call the AARP Fraud Watch Network™ Helpline at 877-908-3360, open Monday through Friday from 4 a.m. to 4 p.m. Alaska time, to speak with a fraud specialist about possible next steps. Whether you lost money, shared personal information, or simply have a question, you can call.
You can also find alerts, prevention tips, and other resources through the AARP Fraud Watch Network. Remember, if you can spot a scam, you can stop a scam.
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