That picture you shared of a found animal may make you a target for scammers

Stephanie Nutt
·2 min read

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — That picture you shared on social media of a found animal, who is most often injured and sick, may make you a target for scammers.

Many of the posts start off by saying it has been a number of days since the scammer has had the animal, and the owner has not been found.

The scammer claims the animal may have been found on the side of the road, among other made-up details.

The scammer then asks users to share the post in hopes of finding the owner.

Comments are often turned off on these posts to prevent other users from stating it is a scam.

“Scammers use this technique to identify people who may be vulnerable to other scam methods,” said the Ingham County Animal Control & Shelter. “Scammers are looking for people who like or share without checking to see if it’s true. Once someone shares the post, they may be at an increased risk of being a target for future scams.”

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The Ingham County Animal Control & Shelter has listed red flags to look out for:

  • Check to see if comments are turned off. Scammers typically turn comments off so people can’t call out their scam attempts.

  • Check out the poster. They almost always have no friends or followers and their profile was most likely recently created.

  • Check the location. The poster does not mention specifically where the animal was found.

  • Check the photo. Graphic photos are often used to get more attention.

  • Check the group. Scammer posts in community re-sale/garage sale groups instead of lost/found animal groups.

Not all posts of a found animal are made by a scammer. Do your research to know what is real and what is fake.

If you do find a lost animal, the Ingham County Animal Control and Shelter says you should:

  • Take the animal to be scanned for a microchip at a shelter or veterinary clinic.

  • File a found report with your local animal control agency.

  • Post in social media lost/found animal groups with a picture of the animal and a location of where the animal was found.

  • Make flyers and post them around the area where the animal was found.

To learn more about scams involving pets from the Better Business Bureau, click here.

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