This Terrifying New Scam Call Is Targeting Pet Owners — Here’s What You Should Know

And your turmoil also makes you an easy target. Pet owners with a lost pet are vulnerable to getting manipulated because they are already so stressed. But the more you think with your emotions, the less you might think with your head. 

“Scammers are very aware of the emotional drivers that make victims pay and not pay,” said Michael Jabbara, senior vice president and head of payment ecosystem risk and control at Visa. “If you ever get a message that elicits a really strong emotional reaction in you, just take a step back and be like, ‘Wait, I shouldn’t act immediately.’” 

How To Avoid Getting Duped By This Emotional Scam 

If you are searching for your lost pet, your emotions will be running high. When you want your pet back, “All of your cognitive thinking goes out the window, and you’re just 100% focused on getting your family member back home,” Nofziger said. “And if that means buying a $200 gift card or sending money through crypto[currency], then that’s what it means to get them back.”