Lost pet scams target panicked animal lovers

July 2, 2026- Matt Alderton

"Sophisticated criminals are using AI and social media to take advantage of distraught pet parents. Here’s how to avoid scams and get your animal home safely".

Lost pet scams are becoming more and more common- and sadly, people are falling for them. In this article, our ED me, was interviewed by AARP on this subject.

Here's an excerpt of the full article.

"When their beloved beagle mix, Archer, went missing near their Deltona, Florida, home in March 2026, Bill Cosens and his wife, Allison, did what every desperate pet parent does: They spent hours searching their neighborhood, then posted a plea for help on social media.

The next day, someone called from a veterinarian’s office claiming to have Archer. They said that the dog had been hit by a car and was badly injured, requiring emergency surgery that would cost $2,746. The Cosens were ready to authorize the surgery but requested a photo to make sure the dog was really theirs."

Red flags include:

Requests for money. “The No. 1 way to sus out a scam initially is if people are asking for money first. They don’t let you see the pet, they don’t let you come get the pet or … they’re trying to get you to pay a vet bill before you’ve even been to the vet’s office,” says jme Thomas, founder and executive director of Motley Zoo Animal Rescue in Redmond, Washington. Especially suspicious are requests for payment via nontraditional channels like Venmo, Cash App, Bitcoin, gift cards or wire transfers, all of which are difficult to trace and reverse, Freeman points out.

A false sense of urgency. Scammers exploit emotions by creating circumstances that get you to think with your heart instead of your head. “If someone is saying, ‘We’re at the vet because your pet has broken its back, and it’s going to be euthanized if you don’t pay us right away,’ that’s a red flag,” Freeman says.  Thomas agrees: “They’re going to try to keep your emotions high.”

That doesn’t mean you should avoid searching for lost pets. Rather, it means you should be extra cautious when you do. Search with the following tips in mind:

Prioritize prevention. Having appropriate containment for outdoor pets, like a cattery for cats and a secure, fenced yard for dogs, is a good start, says Judah Battista, cofounder and chief sanctuary officer at Best Friends Animal Society, the nation’s largest no-kill shelter for companion animals.  Walking with a leash is also important, insists Thomas, who says a loud noise or tempting squirrel can cause even the best-trained animals to run.

It’s important to report pet scams to local law enforcement. This helps the police identify patterns and warn other pet owners about current schemes. 

Report online scams to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3.gov.

Call the free AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline at 877-908-3360 to speak with trained specialists who can offer support and guidance.