Scammers will stop at nothing to extract money from their victims, now targeting ads for lost dogs or cats to exploit owners’ distress, Fox News reported Saturday.
In some cases, they may claim to have had to rush your pet to the vet, incurring significant costs, or simply threaten to harm your pet if the money is not sent quickly.
Additionally, with new AI image generation technologies, fraudsters are now particularly adept at tricking their victims into believing they have their beloved pet in their possession.
Fortunately, there are a few tips to avoid falling into a scammer’s trap, according to a compilation by technology journalist Kurt Knutsson.
Eight tips against animal fraud
1- Call the police
First of all, if someone claims to have your animal in their possession and demands money to get it back, you should immediately call the police. Officers will be better equipped to deal with the situation.
2-Hidden detail
Ask the scammer to describe your pet in detail, making sure to keep some distinctive features out of the ad. Small white spot under the right paw, under the belly, in the ear: make sure it is a detail that does not appear in the photos in the ad.
Along the way, also ask where and when your pet was found. Circumstances could alert you.
3-Ask to hear your pet
According to Kurt Knutsson, most pet owners would be able to recognise their own dog’s barking or their cat’s meowing, which could prove useful in the event of fraud.
4-Scan the microchip
If your pet has a microchip, ask the person who owns it to scan it to obtain its identification number. It is possible to get a microchip reader on Amazon.
5-Photo and videos
Obviously, you can ask for photo and video proof of your pet, but keep in mind that image generation technologies can create sometimes convincing images.
6-Ask for a photo of the invoice
If the fraudster requests funds under the pretext of an emergency visit to a veterinarian, ask to see a photo of the invoice to obtain reimbursement from your insurance. With the name of a clinic, contact the veterinarian directly to see if he or she has actually seen your animal.
With the approximate location of the fraudster, you can repeat this step with all the veterinarians in the area, whose phone numbers are easy to find on Google maps.
7- Meet in person
If you have no doubt and the scammer does indeed have your pet, ask for a face-to-face meeting to hand over the money, so you can see the pet in real life before sending any funds. Because remember, there is nothing stopping a scammer from asking you for more money once you have given in to their demands the first time.
8-Theft prevention
Some scammers use ads already online, but others go even further and steal an animal directly from its owner before attempting to extort it.
To avoid this type of fraud, make sure you have a proper fence at home, as well as a quality harness or leash for walks. Some people also equip their cat or dog with a GPS tracker, but be careful: this can also be accessed by a fraudster, according to Kurt Knutsson.
