Friday, November 13, 2026 Official warnings, in plain English

Cyber Safety Today

Is this real? · Family

Is that call about an emergency with your pet real?

The short answer

If the caller says the only way to pay is by gift card, payment app, cryptocurrency or wire transfer, the FTC says you are dealing with a scammer. Do not pay through the call. Check on your pet yourself, using a number you look up.

Official warning dated June 24, 2026Published November 13, 2026Checked against sources November 13, 2026Written by software from the sources listed

Your phone rings. The caller says they are with the police or an animal hospital. They say they have your pet, it has had an emergency, and you need to pay for its treatment right now. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) warns that scammers make calls like this.1

The FTC says scammers may have seen a flyer you put up for a missing pet, or know from social media that you are away from home. They might even use AI to make fake photos or videos of your pet in distress.1

Here is the test the FTC gives. If someone says the only way to pay for your pet’s treatment is with a gift card, a payment app, cryptocurrency or a wire transfer service, you are dealing with a scammer.1

This is an example of what such a call might sound like, based on what the FTC describes:

The messageAn example of the pattern, not a real message

This is the animal hospital. We have your dog here after an accident and he needs surgery now. We can only take payment by gift card or payment app. Please hurry.

How to tell

  • They pay only one way. The caller wants a gift card, a payment app, cryptocurrency or a wire transfer, and nothing else.1
  • They rush you. Scammers want you to decide before you can think.1
  • They send a photo or video that upsets you. It may be made with AI.1
  • They know about your pet from public posts. A missing-pet flyer or a post saying you are away can give them what they need.1
  • The caller ID looks official. Scammers can fake the caller ID to look like a business or agency you recognize.2

What to do

  1. Do not pay through the call, and do not send a gift card, payment app transfer, cryptocurrency or wire.1
  2. Check whether there is really a bill to pay. Hang up. Contact the animal hospital or police department using a phone number or website you know is real. Do not use the number the caller gave you or the one on your caller ID.2
  3. Slow down and talk to someone you trust before you do anything else.1
  4. Report the call to the FTC.1

Other pet scams to know

The FTC describes two more.1

  • Fake animal charities. Scammers pretend to be real shelters or animal hospitals and post stolen or AI-made pictures of pets that need homes. Before you give, read the FTC’s advice on donating safely. Do a reverse image search to see if the pictures are stolen.1
  • Fake prizes. Scammers say you won a prize because you gave to help animals. If you have to pay to collect a prize or sweepstakes winnings, the FTC says it is a scam.1

If you already paid

  1. If you paid with a gift card, contact the company that issued it right away, using the number on the back of the card. Tell them a scammer tricked you into giving them the card number and PIN. Ask for your money back.3
  2. If you used a payment app, report it to the app right away and ask it to reverse the payment and refund your money.3
  3. If you sent cryptocurrency, contact the exchange or ATM operator right away. Tell them it was a fraudulent transaction and ask them to reverse it.3
  4. If you used a wire transfer company, report it to that company right away. Tell them a scammer tricked you into sending money and ask for a refund.3

Where to report it