# Robot phone message about missing cat. Scam? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 23, 2009, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robot-phone-message-about-missing-cat-scam/511308 "2009-09-23T23:15:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![stuyguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@stuyguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stuyguy)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2009, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robot-phone-message-about-missing-cat-scam/511308/1 "2009-09-23T23:15:30Z")
Today I came home to phone message on my answering machine telling me that my neighbor “Shelly” had lost her cat. It gave a very brief description of the kitty and a number to call if spotted the animal. Here are a few more critical details. The message was obviously pre-recorded and left by an automated calling machine; there was not one hint of personalization in the message, like my name. It was left by a third party, not my supposed neighbor “Shelly.” In addition to a phone number, the message gave a website address – something like [lostpuppy.com](http://lostpuppy.com). I live in an apartment building in the heart of NYC. I have tons of “neighbors” – that is, people who live in, say, a 100 yard radius of my apartment. I don’t know 99% of them by name, including the possibly-mythical “Shelly.” So, does there exist some service that will locate, then auto-dial your neighbors when you lose your pet? Or is it some sort of scam that is trying to get me to call some number or click on some website? (Or something else?) Thanks all, in advance. ---
**Author:** ![Magicicada](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c67d28/32.png) [@Magicicada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magicicada)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robot-phone-message-about-missing-cat-scam/511308/2 "2009-09-24T02:06:39Z")
There are services that will assist people in finding lost pets, and I suppose that in an area with a concentrated population, robot-dialing would be the most efficient way of getting word out…but yeah, it would also seem sort of telemarketer/scammish. Which, if there really is a lost pet, would be counter-productive. ---
**Author:** ![EmAnJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@EmAnJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmAnJ)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robot-phone-message-about-missing-cat-scam/511308/3 "2009-09-24T02:24:49Z")
I have actually heard of a service that does this, so it may not be a scam. ---
**Author:** ![Renton\_lvr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7feea3/32.png) [@Renton\_lvr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renton_lvr)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robot-phone-message-about-missing-cat-scam/511308/4 "2009-09-24T02:40:39Z")
[http://www.findtoto.com](http://www.findtoto.com) I heard about this service on the radio when they were talking about Jessica Simpson’s lost dog. They do use an automated message and are apparently legit. ---
**Author:** ![DaveBfd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DaveBfd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaveBfd)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robot-phone-message-about-missing-cat-scam/511308/5 "2009-09-24T02:52:36Z")
If the website doesnt exist Id ignore the message. Somebody told me once, and Im not sure if they knew what they were saying, that companies can use data like you returning a call to check to see if the line is being actively used. They could then use that information to send telemarketers at you. I heard it a while ago though so I dont think it is true now, if it ever was. ---
**Author:** ![qazwart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/5fc32e/32.png) [@qazwart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/qazwart)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robot-phone-message-about-missing-cat-scam/511308/6 "2009-09-24T02:55:26Z")
Well, if it is a scam to get you to visit a website, they need to rethink their strategy. [http://lostpuppy.com](http://lostpuppy.com) merely takes you to a parked page. It could be some sort of service to help people locate their pets. I found a few services on Google. ---
**Author:** ![LurkerInNJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ed655f/32.png) [@LurkerInNJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkerInNJ)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robot-phone-message-about-missing-cat-scam/511308/7 "2009-09-24T18:20:02Z")
> [@stuyguy](#): > > the message gave a website address – something like [lostpuppy.com](http://lostpuppy.com). [www.lostmydoggie.com](http://www.lostmydoggie.com) autodialed you. Schellie lost her cat named Keet. When you look at their online New York listings, it’s the very first one. ---
**Author:** ![CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robot-phone-message-about-missing-cat-scam/511308/8 "2009-09-24T18:34:21Z")
Is this a great website or what? SDMB forever! ---
**Author:** ![Clothilde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/439d5e/32.png) [@Clothilde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothilde)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robot-phone-message-about-missing-cat-scam/511308/9 "2009-09-25T19:40:23Z")
The [lostmydoggie.com](http://lostmydoggie.com) website is showing that little Keet has been found! Awww, and what a cutie pie! That is such a cool service! ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robot-phone-message-about-missing-cat-scam/511308/10 "2009-09-25T22:00:34Z")
I’m so glad I opened this thread. I woulda thought “scam” immediately, too, though I like to think I also would have checked the URL given in the shady-sounding message. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robot-phone-message-about-missing-cat-scam/511308/11 "2009-09-25T22:04:15Z")
how excellent! a happy ending.