🚨 STOP! BEFORE YOU SEND MONEY...

Never send money to anyone who contacts you claiming they have your pet or can help recover it.
Legitimate professionals don't cold-contact desperate pet owners asking for payment.
You should always be the one who initiates contact after researching and verifying the professional you choose to hire.

🚨 Lost Pet Scam Alert

Protect Yourself While Searching for Your Pet


When a beloved pet goes missing, most people will do almost anything to bring them home. Unfortunately, scammers know this and are increasingly targeting families searching for lost pets.


These scams can happen within minutes of posting on social media and often cost victims hundreds—or even thousands—of dollars.


Our goal is simple:


Help you bring your pet home—not become the next victim.


Why We're Sharing This


While helping families search for missing pets, we've seen scammers exploit owners during one of the most emotional times of their lives. We've also spoken with families who lost hundreds—or even thousands—of dollars to these scams.


This guide is based on those real-world experiences and is intended to help you recognize common scams, protect yourself, and stay focused on what matters most—bringing your pet home safely.

🚨 The Golden Rule


Never send money to anyone who contacts YOU first.


Whether they claim to be:


  • A veterinarian
  • Animal Control
  • Law enforcement
  • A drone pilot
  • A lost pet recovery expert
  • A rescue organization
  • A pet psychic


You Contact Them


✅ You initiate the contact.

✅ You research the professional.

✅ You verify their credentials.

✅ Then you decide whether to hire them.



Scammers depend on urgency and emotion. Legitimate professionals welcome questions and encourage you to verify who they are.

🚁 Verify Any Professional Before Hiring


Before paying anyone to help locate your pet:

Drone Pilots


If someone offers a paid drone search for your missing pet:


✅ Ask whether they hold an FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate.

✅ Ask for a copy or photo of their FAA certificate.

✅ Ask for their full name.

✅ Verify their certificate using the FAA Airmen Registry:


https://amsrvs.registry.faa.gov/airmeninquiry/


A legitimate professional drone pilot should have no hesitation providing this information.


🚩 If someone refuses to identify themselves, won't provide proof of their FAA certification, or pressures you to send money before answering basic questions, consider it a major warning sign and look elsewhere.

Search Organizations



Legitimate organizations are transparent about:


  • Their experience
  • Their equipment
  • Their pricing
  • Their credentials
  • Their contact information
  • Their service area
  • Their business name
  • Their website or social media presence
  • References or examples of previous work


Professional organizations understand that you are trusting them during one of the most stressful times of your life and should welcome reasonable questions.

🚩 Common Scam Warning Signs


Be suspicious if someone:


❌ Claims they need money before they can even begin helping you. Professionals may require payment for their services, but they should clearly explain what you're paying for and answer your questions before asking for payment.

❌ Contacts you first claiming they have your pet.

❌ Emphasizes urgency and pressures you to send money immediately.

❌ Demands payment through:

  • Zelle
  • Cash App
  • Venmo
  • Gift cards
  • Cryptocurrency
  • Wire transfer

❌ Refuses to provide proof they have your pet.

❌ Won't identify themselves.

❌ Refuses to provide credentials.

❌ Claims photos cannot be provided because of "privacy laws."

❌ Becomes angry when you ask questions.

❌ Claims you must keep the situation secret or not contact the veterinary hospital, Animal Control, or law enforcement because it will "complicate things."

🏥 Real Example: Fake Veterinary Hospital Scam


One of our recent clients became the victim of an elaborate scam and lost $1,300 before realizing it was fraudulent.


How the Scam Worked


  1. A family visiting from out of town lost their dog.
  2. They posted about their missing dog in a local Facebook group.
  3. The owner received a call from a private number from someone claiming to be a law enforcement officer. The caller said the dog had been struck by a vehicle but was alive and was being transported to a local veterinary hospital.
  4. About 45 minutes later, another call came from a private number, this time from someone claiming to work at the veterinary hospital. They described serious injuries and stated the dog needed emergency surgery immediately.
  5. The caller demanded an immediate payment of $3,000 through Zelle or Cash App before treatment could begin.
  6. When the owner asked for a photo of their dog, they were told the clinic could not send pictures due to "privacy laws"—a statement that is completely false.
  7. The owner only had access to $1,300, which they immediately sent via Zelle. The scammers agreed to let them pay the remaining balance the following morning and instructed them to pick up their dog at 10:30 a.m.
  8. The scammers continued demanding additional payments before the scheduled pickup. Fortunately, the owner refused to send more money and insisted on paying in person. When they arrived at the veterinary hospital the next morning, an Animal Control officer quickly recognized it as a scam. The hospital had actually been closed for several days, preventing the owners from verifying the calls.


An Important Lesson


One of the reasons this scam was so convincing was that the scammers chose a veterinary hospital that was closed for several days. Since no one answered the clinic's phone, the owners believed they were speaking with legitimate after-hours staff. This made it nearly impossible for them to independently verify the story before sending money.


Scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated. They know exactly how to exploit the fear and desperation that comes with a missing pet.


The good news is that nearly every one of these scams could have been prevented by taking a few minutes to verify the information before sending money.

🔮 Beware of Pet Psychics


Many missing pet owners are contacted by individuals claiming they can communicate with animals or know exactly where a missing pet is located.


These individuals often ask for payment before providing vague information that cannot be verified.


There is no scientific evidence that psychic services can locate missing pets. While many people genuinely believe in psychic abilities, no controlled scientific studies have demonstrated that psychic services can reliably locate missing animals.


Instead, invest your time and money in recovery methods supported by experience and evidence, including:


  • Professional thermal drone searches
  • Strategic trail camera deployment
  • Humane traps
  • Neighborhood searches
  • High-quality flyers
  • Animal shelters and local Animal Control
  • Evidence-based search planning

🛡️ How to Protect Yourself


If someone contacts you claiming they have found your pet:


✅ Ask for current photos or a live video.

✅ Verify the information independently.

✅ Call the veterinary hospital using the phone number listed on its official website.

✅ Verify with Animal Control or law enforcement if appropriate.

✅ Research anyone offering professional services.

✅ Verify FAA credentials before hiring a commercial drone pilot.

✅ Never allow yourself to be pressured into making an immediate payment.

Before You Send Money, Ask Yourself...


✅ Did I contact this person?

✅ Have I verified who they are?

✅ Have they provided proof of their credentials?

✅ Have they provided evidence they actually have information about my pet?


If the answer to any of these questions is No, stop and verify before sending money.

Beware of False Claims About Search Dogs


We've encountered scammers who falsely claim they have a specially trained dog that has tracked or located a missing pet.


The reality is that search and rescue dogs are generally not trained to locate other dogs or cats. Human search-and-rescue K9s are trained to locate missing people, not missing pets. In fact, most human SAR dogs are intentionally discouraged from following the scent of other animals so they can remain focused on finding human subjects.


If someone claims their search dog has tracked your pet, ask what specific type of canine training and certification the dog has for locating domestic animals. Be cautious of anyone making extraordinary claims without being able to explain their training or methodology.


Still Not Sure?


If you receive a phone call, text message, email, or social media message that doesn't feel right:


  • Pause.
  • Verify.
  • Ask questions.
  • Contact the organization directly using a phone number you independently locate—not one provided by the caller.


If you're still unsure, contact us before sending anyone money. We'd much rather spend a few minutes helping you avoid a scam than see another family become a victim.