UK Pet Chip Registry scam website - warning

Silver_Shark

Dogs need to be fitted with a microchip before they are eight weeks old. The microchip will show up when it is scanned and the details are kept on a Government approved database. You’re responsible for keeping your dog’s microchip information up to date, for example if you move house. You can be fined up to £500 if your dog is not microchipped  and you can also be fined up to £500 if your dog is registered on a database that is not on the approved Government list which can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/get-your-dog-microchipped

If you know the dog's microchip number then check which database it is registered on here:

https://www.check-a-chip.co.uk/

Beware of the website UK Pet Chip Registry which comes top in a Google search as this is a scam website. They will take your money and all your details for nothing. It claims to be a national database but is not on the approved list and is not a legitimate DEFRA compliant database.If your dog is lost or stolen you will not be reunited with your pet and you could be fined.

zzyzx1221

To be fair, with a website design that looks like it's been around since the early 2000's and done by a 15-year-old in their bedroom, as well as poor grammar and circular links perhaps people deserve to be scammed if they fall for that.

I mean, they're not trying very hard.

Pollycat

Never, ever just click on the top result on a Google search.

A lot of companies pay Google to appear at the top of search lists. These will have Ad at the front of the search result.

Legitimate companies may also have Ad at the front of search results, obviously they have paid Google for the top spot.

In these cases, there is usually a link immediately below to the same website without Ad.

To be 100% sure, I always select the link without Ad.

UK Pet Chip Registry is such a company.

I'm always very careful when Googling something that is provided by the government - passports, driving licences etc. There are many companies that provide the same thing that you can get for free or cheaper than they charge.

In this case, the 3rd result is a GOV.UK entry that gives a list (with links) of databases that meet government standards.

The OP is correct that this company is not on that approved list, although there is a company with a very similar name.

I would have checked GOV.UK and ignored UK Pet Chip Registry.

From their website:

Once your pet's microchip is registered, your contact information will be accessible at the National Pet Microchip Registration Database for as long as you own your pet. Get registered, create a page for your pet and get searchable today.

A search on the bit in bold takes you to what appears to be a US website.

As with all things,people need to take care what they are doing on t'interweb.

It really isn't the nice, fluffy place that some people think it is.

Trombone41

Anyone else had an email from Petlog addressed “Hi Pet Keeper”?
Website looks genuine but reluctant to input sensitive info to re-register when they don’t even know my name.
I understand they had a data breach in 2021 so have moved to a more secure server and may have lost some details. If this is the case why haven’t they contacted me before?
Puzzled

sheramber

Petlog is part of the Kennel Club so you could check with them if the email is genuine.

Have you tried to access your pet's details direct on the Petlog website?

Magnitio

Beware - there is a new scam website: petchip.info
They are sending personalised emails to pet owners that look legitimate and advising that microchip registration has expired and requesting payments.