Losing your pet is every animal owner’s worst nightmare. Suppose this happens to you. You put up signs and post to social media and various free sites hoping someone found your animal.

Then one day your phone rings and someone claims to have found your pet. Proceed with caution, according to the Better Business Bureau.

The consumer advocacy agency warns of a scam where people claim to have found a missing pet, then try to con money out of the victim.

Typically, the animal owner receiving the call will ask the person to describe the animal or send a picture via text message.

 

The scammer will make an excuse why they can’t take a photo of the animal (phone’s camera is broken, they aren’t at home) but they’ll pressure the pet owner for money or a gift card before returning your beloved companion.

Some pet owners, desperate to be reunited, have forked over the reward, only to see the scammer vanish. Of course, the grifter never had the animal to begin with.

The BBB offers the following tips to avoid becoming victim to this scam.

• Limit the information in your social posts: If you post on Facebook or other social media, omit information about unique physical attributes.  This can help you verify if someone really found your pet.

• Watch for spoofed numbers: If you get a call from someone claiming to have your pet, ask them for a phone number where you can call them back. Scammers often spoof phone numbers, so they appear to be calling from somewhere else.

• Ask for a photo: If a caller claims to have your pet in their possession, ask them to send a current picture. If the “finder” gets defensive or makes a lot of excuses, it’s a red flag.

• Never wire money or use a prepaid debit card to pay anyone you don’t know. This is the same as sending cash.

• Microchip and/or ID tag your pet: Consider having your veterinarian microchip your pet, or make sure they always wear a collar and ID tag.