When Online “Rescues” Are Actually Scams: 400+ Fraudulent Accounts Removed From TikTok

A collaborative effort by the Social Media Animal Cruelty Coalition (SMACC), working alongside Ugandan organisations and witnesses on the ground.

Five months ago, one of our member organisations alerted SMACC to an emerging pattern of fraudulent animal-rescue accounts operating in Uganda. These accounts were not rescuers at all, they were staging injuries, manipulating footage, recycling the same animals across multiple profiles, and crafting fabricated rescue stories to solicit international donations.

As these videos spread, so did the harm: to the animals forced into repeated distress and to donors deliberately misled by coordinated deception.

With support from dedicated Ugandan organisations and activists, SMACC undertook a structured, careful review to understand the scale of the issue. Evidence submitted included detailed reports, screenshots, testimonies, and documentation of coordinated fraudulent activity, all of which underscored the severe harm being done to both animals and donors.

After confirming the pattern and gathering the necessary evidence, SMACC shared a comprehensive document with our designated TikTok contact, who then forwarded the information to TikTok’s moderation and integrity teams for further review. In addition to this step, we were advised to flag the associated accounts directly through TikTok’s Safety Enforcement Tool, a specialised channel used by authorised partners, government agencies, and law enforcement to submit priority safety concerns.

We are pleased to share that through this coordinated effort, more than 416 scammer accounts have now been removed from TikTok.

This is an important example of what can be achieved when NGOs, platforms, and the public work together to address online animal cruelty and exploitation. It highlights:

• The power of collaborative monitoring

• The importance of sharing credible evidence from the ground

• The value of clear communication channels with platforms

Although this is an encouraging result, it represents just one step in a much broader, ongoing effort. Scammers adapt quickly. New accounts are created. Tactics evolve. These schemes often involve networks of individuals who share methods, animals, and even donors, making long-term monitoring essential.

SMACC will continue:

• Working with local partners and witnesses

• Sharing evidence with platforms and urging enforcement

• Supporting members who encounter similar issues in other regions

• Exploring opportunities to work with local member organisations on appeals to relevant authorities

• Continuing to flag new accounts and emerging activity

We remain committed to ensuring that platforms take coordinated, meaningful action to protect animals and prevent exploitation online.

This outcome would not have been possible without:

• The courage of local Ugandan activists and informers

• The vigilance of SMACC member organisations

• The donors and supporters who recognised that something was wrong and spoke up

• Platform teams that took this evidence seriously

Your collaboration is proof that online cruelty can be challenged and prevented when we tackle it together.

SMACC is working every day to track this abuse, pressure tech companies to act, and demand stronger protections for animals. Your support makes this work possible.

Help us end cruelty for clicks. Make a donation today.