MICH. — Social media users are being targeted by a new scam that attempts to tug at heartstrings while trying to take your money, according to the Better Business Bureau.
The scam, which has been reported primarily on TikTok but could appear on any social media platform, features videos of older adults with animals at what appear to be legitimate animal shelters. The videos show cats and dogs at facilities that claim to need help.
According to the BBB, the deceptive videos follow a consistent pattern. They begin by showing cute animals at shelters, then transition to someone crafting items like animal slippers or other appealing products. The products are displayed as items donors can receive in exchange for their contribution.
"The caption is letting you know they need help, and in the description, you can make a donation and receive this item that they've made to help keep their animal shelter up and running," explained Nakia Mills with the BBB of Michigan. "Of course, when people order these items that they think are to help these shelters, they never receive anything in the mail."
The BBB says that scammers deliberately target emotions to prompt quick, unthinking responses from viewers who want to help animals in need.
"Scammers really rely on us acting fast, being emotional," Nakia noted. "They're tapping into any marketing sense that any other marketer would for a product. We act on emotion. We wanna help people. We love animals."
Before donating Nakia says take these steps:
- Research the organization: Type the charity's name into Google followed by the word "scam" to see if any red flags appear.
- Check BBB's Scam Tracker: Visit www.bbb.org/scamtracker to search for reports about the organization
- Verify through Give.org: The Wise Giving Alliance reviews and rates legitimate charities
- Pause before acting: Don't let emotions drive immediate financial decisions
The BBB also reminds potential donors that legitimate local animal shelters and nonprofits are always in need of support. Instead of responding to social media videos, consider reaching out directly to known organizations in your community to ask how to help.
"We have so many local shelters and other nonprofits that need help locally in our area," Nakia said. "If you wanna give back, you don't have to wait until you see a video on social media."