SCAM ALERT: Pet Owners Warned of Lost Pet Scams Nationwide

The Humane Society of Charlotte (HSC), in partnership with Charlotte Mecklenburg Animal Care & Control (CMACC), is warning pet owners about a growing and deeply concerning lost pet scam impacting communities across the country — including right here in Charlotte.

What’s Happening?

Scammers are targeting pet owners who have recently reported lost pets, often using details from public posts on lost pet websites and social media groups. These bad actors pretend to represent animal shelters, rescues, or veterinary offices and claim that your pet has been found.

Then comes the twist: the scammer says your pet has been seriously injured and requires emergency surgery — or worse, that your pet will be euthanized if you don’t pay immediately. The caller may demand payment via phone and use spoofed numbers to make it seem like the call is coming from a real organization.

IMPORTANT: HSC and CMACC will never ask for payment over the phone, and we will never threaten to euthanize a pet to pressure a payment.

If you receive a suspicious call like this, protect yourself by doing the following:

  • Ask the caller for a callback number.

  • Check if that number matches the official contact info for the organization.

  • If it doesn’t match, hang up immediately and report the scam.

How Scammers Exploit Social Media

According to the Better Business Bureau (BBB), scammers often comb social media for posts about missing pets. Here are some common tactics they use:

  • They claim they found your pet: You might receive a message or call from someone claiming they’ve found your pet but won’t provide a photo or details. Instead, they pressure you for money to return the animal — money they’ll take without ever having your pet.

  • Fake pet search services: Some scammers offer services like drone searches or search parties and ask for payment upfront. One report to BBB Scam Tracker shared:
    “They contacted me about my missing pet and stated they could use a drone to find it, but in order for them to get started, they would ask for $200... Once I started looking further into it... I saw a few ‘scam’ posts for this company.”

  • Stolen pets: In more serious cases, scammers may have actually stolen the pet. They may demand ransom or attempt to sell your pet online.

Tips to Protect Yourself (from the BBB)

Here are a few ways to protect yourself from falling victim to a pet recovery scam:

✅ Limit the details in public posts. Avoid sharing unique identifying features online so you can verify legitimate finders.
✅ Watch out for spoofed phone numbers. Always ask for a callback number and verify it.
✅ Ask for proof. A real finder should be able to send a current photo of your pet.
✅ Never wire money, send gift cards, or use peer-to-peer payment apps with strangers.
✅ Microchip your pet and use an ID tag. GPS-enabled tags can offer extra peace of mind.
✅ If you believe your pet was stolen or is being sold online, contact the police.

What You Can Do

If you’ve experienced a scam like this or want to learn more, here are some helpful resources:

Let’s work together to protect our pets — and each other — from falling victim to these cruel scams. Share this post to spread awareness in our community.

Stay safe, Charlotte. 🐾