Sacred Grove: Intuitive animal communication & energy healing; Alexandria, VA.

“I found your missing pet” scams

Missing pet scams caught my attention!

When Dana* shared her experience about her missing pet, Sweetie*, I was introduced to a reality I hadn’t fully considered: the prevalence and cunning nature of missing pet scams. While Sweetie’s disappearance was distressing on its own, Dana’s story highlighted how individuals in such vulnerable situations may be targeted by scammers.

(*Names changed for privacy reasons.)

My experience with scams

Honestly, I was shocked by what Dana had experienced. Having been the victim of scams myself, I have developed habits to protect against deception, such as carefully verifying people and emails before responding. I believed that my vigilance made me well-prepared to recognize and avoid all kinds of scams.

The power of fear in scams

However, I was mistaken. I already understood that personal scams are effective because they exploit feelings of fear and worry, causing us to act impulsively rather than rationally. In those moments, our emotions override our judgment, and we may fail to take the necessary precautions.

Scammers targeting pet guardians

It should not have surprised me, then, that scammers also target people’s love for their pets. When a beloved animal goes missing, the fear, worry, and despair that follow can make us especially vulnerable. Scammers prey on these emotions, exploiting our deep bonds and the urgency to bring our pets home.

Scammer claims to be an animal hospital

Dana had put out flyers around the neighborhood and posted on some websites to ask people to help her find Sweetie. I had seen many animals reunited with the family on NextDoor and Pawboost, so I suggested she try them.

Here’s Dana’s story:

“The scammer said that Sweetie had been hit by a car near my house and needed surgery immediately. Otherwise, her shoulder would be immobilized. They wanted thousands of dollars. I asked for a picture of Sweetie, but they said it was too gruesome to share with me.

“Besides asking for a photo, I also asked if I could pick her up and take her to my own vet. Their response was ‘No, no no, the surgery has to be done right away.’ “It was clearly a scam, so I hung up.

“By the way, the scammer said he was from the Chain Bridge SPCA (VA), which turned out was closed that day!”

Dana knew then it was a scam.

It could be a pet scam if:

They demand you send them money first.
They tell you they’re from Pawboost or Pet FBI.
They won’t send you a picture.
You receive a text saying that they have found your lost pet. The scammer then says they are sending you a 6-digit code that you need to send back to them to prove your identity. Don’t send it, they want access to your money.

Pawboost and Pet FBI share tons of information about typical pet scams and what you should and shouldn’t do to be safe.