A BBC Africa Eye investigation has uncovered a large-scale scam operating from Mityana, Uganda, where fraudsters have swindled animal lovers worldwide out of more than £540,000 over five years. Using fake social media accounts on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook, scammers posted heart-wrenching videos of injured and starving dogs, cats, and rabbits to solicit donations via GoFundMe.
The Scale of the Deception
Open-source intelligence techniques revealed that hundreds of these accounts are linked to Mityana. The scammers exploited the goodwill of donors, using the funds for personal luxuries such as phones, cars, and pool parties. An undercover BBC reporter infiltrated the network, documenting how animals were deliberately harmed to generate more compelling content.
Victim's Story: Lianne Stone
Lianne Stone, a 38-year-old carer from Manchester, donated over £1,300—more than half her life savings—over six months. She was moved by videos of emaciated puppies and promised her money would feed and rescue them. Instead, the dogs remained in squalid conditions. Lianne said: "The videos are heartbreaking... It’s hard to scroll past them without thinking, ‘I should help them.’" She later realized the scam when the dogs never improved and appeared fearful of their handlers.
Animal Cruelty Exposed
One case involved a dog named Russet, whose injuries were likely inflicted deliberately. Despite raising thousands for his treatment, he died from his wounds. Veterinarian Dr. Isa Lutebemberwa, who treated Russet, stated: "He endured a lot of pain and suffering." Undercover footage showed shelters where dogs were kept in overcrowded cages, lying in their own waste.
How the Scam Operates
Shelter owner Charles Lubajja admitted the operation is profit-driven. He advised the undercover reporter to "squeeze" and "drain" donors, even confessing that content creators "cut the dogs" to make them appear more injured. The BBC investigation found that some shelters charge content creators fees to film animals, perpetuating the cycle of abuse.
Platform Response and Legal Action
A TikTok spokesperson said they remove content violating animal abuse and fraud policies, with 97.7% of fraud-related content taken down proactively. GoFundMe stated they have banned accounts linked to the scam and urged donors to report concerns. Mityana Police have investigated animal cruelty, making arrests and rescuing injured dogs, though one case ended with a warning.
Call for Reform
Dr. Lutebemberwa called for better due diligence by fundraising platforms and stricter regulation of shelters. Lianne, who deleted Instagram after the ordeal, said: "I’ll never get the money back... The more successful the scam gets, the more animals these people will harm."
The BBC Africa Eye documentary 'Save our Dogs: Inside Uganda’s Rescue Scam' is available on BBC iPlayer.
