07/21/2026
A new scam is targeting veterinary clinics and their clients, specifically those whose pets have gone missing. Scammers are taking advantage of the emotional distress experienced by pet owners and using fraudulent tactics to extort money. It's important for pet owners to be aware of how this scam works so we can help protect you our customers from falling victim to this scam..
How the Scam Works:
Finding Missing Pet Notices: Scammers monitor online forums, social media groups, and local pet-recovery websites for notices of missing pets.
Impersonating the Clinic: Once they find a notice, scammers identify a nearby veterinary clinic and use free, easily accessible software to set up a fake phone number that appears on the caller ID as the clinic's own number.
Contacting the Pet Owner: The scammer calls the pet owner, claiming they have found the missing pet. They build trust by impersonating a veterinary clinic representative.
Urgent Payment for Medical Treatment: The scammer tells the pet owner that their pet needs immediate medical attention, often suggesting an expensive surgery or emergency treatment. The scammer pressures the pet owner to make an immediate payment over the phone to cover the cost of treatment.
Extortion: After receiving payment, the scammer either disappears or continues to fabricate additional medical needs, demanding more money. If the payment is not made, they threaten to "delay" or "cancel" treatment.
Pet Parents: What to do if a scammer contacts you:
If you suspect that you’ve received a fraudulent call, hang up and call our veterinary clinic directly using the contact information from our official website or from a previous visit.
Do not share any personal information or payment details with the caller until you’ve verified their identity.
If you have already made a payment, contact your bank or credit card company immediately to report the transaction and potentially have the charge reversed.
Report the incident to local authorities and file a complaint with the relevant consumer protection agency.
This scam preys on the pet owners' emotions. At Washington Family Veterinary Clinic we are taking a proactive approach educating you our clients. By raising awareness, establishing secure payment practices, and verifying any claims, we together can help protect our clients from this dangerous scam.
For more information or assistance, please contact our support team Washington Family Vet Clinic. Together, we can help stop these scams, and keep our customers at Washington Family Veterinary Clinic safe.
Thanks,
Washington Family Veterinary Clinic
969 North 3050 East
Unit B1A
St. George, UT 84790
(435) 627-1300
Referral Code 1835
