If your pet goes missing, it's natural to spread the word to your community across Facebook groups, Reddit, Nextdoor, and neighborhood fliers. That's exactly what you should do. It's also exactly what scammers are watching for.

Lost pet scams are on the rise across the United States. The Federal Trade Commission has issued a consumer alert about them, and the Better Business Bureau has warned that reports are increasing. The setup is usually the same. Someone contacts you claiming they found your pet, then asks for money before you ever see them. And with AI image tools now widely available, scammers can take the photos from your own missing pet post and generate convincing "proof" that they have your pet.

This post walks through how these scams work, the red flags to watch for, and how to verify that someone actually has your pet. Verification is straightforward if your pet is microchipped and registered.

How the scam works

Scammers monitor lost pet posts on social media, Nextdoor, and community Facebook groups. Your post gives them everything they need to sound convincing, including your pet's name, photo, description, the area where they went missing, and your contact information. Within hours or days, you get a call, text, or message that usually follows one of these scripts.

The fake vet emergency

This is the most common version right now. Someone calls claiming to be from a veterinary clinic or animal shelter. They say your pet was found injured, often hit by a car, and needs emergency surgery. They demand payment over the phone, usually through a payment app, gift cards, or a wire transfer, and pressure you to pay before the surgery can happen.

In one case covered by AARP, a Florida couple searching for their missing beagle got a call from a fake vet's office demanding $2,746 for emergency surgery. When they asked for a photo as proof, the scammer provided an AI-generated image built from their missing pet post to make it seem real.

Some scammers use caller ID spoofing to make the call appear to come from a real local shelter or humane society. Shelters in multiple cities have issued warnings that they will never demand payment over the phone, and that the only way to reclaim a pet in their care is to come in person.

The ransom demand

Someone claims they have your pet and asks for a reward or payment before returning them. They often provide AI-generated images based on your missing pet post as proof, and they refuse to meet up unless they're paid in advance. Once you pay, they disappear. They never had your pet.

The fake recovery service

A "pet detective" or tracking service reaches out offering to find your pet for a fee. They promise drone searches, tracking dogs, or guaranteed results, all paid upfront. The account is usually brand new with no verifiable location, and once they're paid, nothing happens.

The red flags

Almost every lost pet scam shares the same tells. Here are a few red flags to keep in mind if your pet is missing.

They demand money before you see your pet in person. This is the single biggest red flag. No legitimate finder, shelter, or vet requires payment before you can confirm the pet is yours.

They ask for payment through non-reversible methods. Payment apps, wire transfers, gift cards, or cryptocurrency. These payments are nearly impossible to reverse, which is exactly why scammers insist on them.

They create urgency. Pressure to act immediately is meant to shut down your judgment while your emotions are running high.

They refuse to answer verification questions. They can't tell you anything about your pet that wasn't in your public post, and they get defensive when you ask for proof.

They send a photo that doesn't quite hold up. Scammers now use AI to generate convincing photos of your pet, sometimes built from the very pictures in your lost pet post.

How to verify a real finder

A legitimate finder will understand your caution and cooperate with it. Here's how to confirm someone actually has your pet.

Ask for the microchip number. This is the strongest verification tool you have. Any vet clinic or shelter can scan your pet for free and read the chip number. A real finder or shelter can get that number easily. A scammer can't, since the chip number was never in your public post. If the person claiming to have your pet can't provide it, or the number they give doesn't match your records, walk away. This only works if you keep the number private, which is why you should never include your pet's microchip number on a missing pet post or flier.

Ask about something you never posted. A distinctive marking, a chipped tooth, a scar. Pick a detail only someone physically holding your pet would know.

Call the shelter or vet directly. If the caller claims to be from a specific clinic or shelter, hang up and call back using the phone number listed on that organization's official website. Never trust the number the caller gives you or the one on your caller ID, since both can be faked.

Meet in a safe public place. Arrange the reunion at a vet clinic, animal shelter, or police station, and bring someone with you. Staff at a vet or shelter can scan the pet's microchip on the spot and confirm ownership before anything changes hands.

Never pay anyone before your pet is back with you. If you offered a reward, that's fine. Pay it when your pet is home, not a minute before.

If your pet is missing right now

Keep posting and keep searching. Most lost pets are found close to home, and community posts genuinely work. Just post smart:

Never include your pet's microchip number in public posts or on fliers. Hold back one identifying detail so you can use it to verify finders. Be cautious with your phone number in open groups, and consider using platform messaging instead.

Report your pet missing in your Pawbase account so your pet's profile is flagged and finders can reach you directly. Then follow our step-by-step guides for the critical first day: what to do in the first 24 hours if your dog is missing and what to do in the first 24 hours if your cat is missing.

How a registered microchip protects you

Every verification step above works because of the same thing, and that's proof of ownership a scammer can't fake.

A microchip is a permanent ID number implanted under your pet's skin. It can't fall off like a collar tag and it can't be photoshopped. When a real finder brings your pet to any vet or shelter, staff scan the chip, look the number up through the AAHA Universal Pet Microchip Lookup Tool, and reach you through your registry. That path is fast, verifiable, and leaves scammers out of the loop entirely. Learn more about how pet microchips work and how the AAHA lookup tool works.

The chip only works if it's registered, though. An unregistered chip is just a number that isn't connected to your contact information. If you're not sure whether your pet's chip is registered or up to date, it only takes a few minutes to fix. Here's our step-by-step guide to registering your pet's microchip.

Pawbase also adds a layer of protection that's especially useful against these scams. With Premium, you get a real-time alert on your phone the moment your pet's chip number is searched in the Pawbase database, including the time and location of the search. So when someone calls claiming they found your dog, you already know whether a real search happened.

How to report scams

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. You can also report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and the BBB Scam Tracker. If the scammer claimed to be from a specific shelter or clinic, let that organization know so they can warn others. And if you already sent money, contact your bank or payment app immediately.

In summary

Protecting yourself from lost pet scams comes down to three things. Post carefully, and never share your pet's microchip number publicly. Verify legitimacy by asking for the chip number, requesting a detail you never posted, or calling the shelter directly through its official number. And never pay anyone before your pet is back with you.

A registered microchip makes all the difference. Make sure your pet's chip is registered with your current contact information so every honest finder has a verified path back to you, and every scammer runs into a wall.

→ Register your pet's microchip with Pawbase

Still have questions? Email our team at support@pawbasepet.com