ALERTS
California Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA)
Please help us get the word out! There have been multiple accounts of an AI-driven scam targeting pet owners searching for their lost pets in California. Scammers will use lost pet flyers to contact pet owners. Pretending to be a staff member from a specific veterinary practice, they will claim that the missing animal has been dropped off at their hospital and is in need of emergency care/surgery. They will request money to cover the cost of the surgery.
While this scam isn't new, scammers have advanced their methods by using AI-generated photos of the pet owner's animal on the operating table, which they will text to the pet owner to make their story more convincing. These kinds of AI-generated scams are becoming increasingly common.
A veterinary practice will not call you and demand over-the-phone payment for a lost pet or emergency care! If you receive a suspicious call or text, do not send money. Please call the practice directly using the phone number listed on its official channels to verify any claims about a missing animal.
You may download this PDF here.
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