Totally understandable to panic a little when that alert comes through. The good news: most “mystery scans” have harmless explanations.
Here are the most common causes:
1. Someone tested the tag
A person may have scanned it just to see how it works. If they didn’t fully close or clear their mobile browser, reopening it can reload the profile — which triggers another scan alert.
2. The QR code appeared in a photo online
If your pet’s tag is clearly visible in a social media post or photo, people sometimes scan it out of curiosity.
3. The tag number may not match the profile
It’s worth double-checking that the letter/number sequence printed under the QR code matches the one connected to your pet’s profile in your account.
What you can do
Clear your phone’s browser so the Found Pet page doesn’t reload automatically
Log into your account at PetHub.com
Click My Account (top right)
Select Tag Scans
There you’ll be able to see the most recent scan and the IP address it came from.
If the alerts keep happening, please reach out right away. Forwarding the notification email to us helps us track down exactly what triggered it so we can investigate further.