Your dog is missing, you post flyers everywhere, and within an hour someone says they found her. They just need a little something first. Here’s how to tell a real finder from a scammer.
Your dog slipped out the gate. You’re frantic. You post on every neighborhood group, print flyers, and put your phone number everywhere. An hour later, someone texts: “I think I found your dog!”
Your heart leaps. And that’s exactly what the scammer is counting on.
Someone who really found your dog can send a photo of your dog, today. Someone who needs a reward first, or asks you to read them a code texted to your phone, has only found your post.
A lost pet post is a scammer’s dream. It has your phone number, a photo, a description, and a person who is too upset to think clearly. They don’t need your dog. They just need you to believe they have it.
Both follow the same pattern as most scams: a reason to hurry, and a reason to skip checking. Urgency is the tell.
Put your pet’s microchip number on file and keep it updated. Shelters and vets scan for chips, and a real finder will usually take your pet straight there. That’s a reunion no scammer can fake.
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