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BBB warns owners of lost pets to beware of extortion scam

Sep 11, 2025 | 1:15 PM

Owners of lost pets are being warned about a pet extortion scam.

“This scam highlights the lengths that scammers will take to get your hard earned money,” says Mary O’Sullivan-Andersen, President/CEO of Better Business Bureau Serving Alberta and East Kootenay, in a press release.

She adds, “Owners of lost pets often post information about their pet on social media. The scammer contacts them and agrees to return the pet for a fee. Already emotionally distressed about the lost pet, the fee is paid to the scammer.”

To bolster their legitimacy, O’Sullivan-Andersen says scammers are also using AI to create photos that appear to be the lost pet as proof they have found the animal.

“Despicable is the word for this,” says O’Sullivan-Andersen. “Use caution when posting any personal information on social media. The vast majority of people will not ask for a fee if they locate your lost pet and certainly not ask for it up front. This is a scam that is already taking place in other parts of the country and we want everyone to be aware of it now so they don’t get defrauded.”

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