Watch out for lost pet scam

DEAR PAW’S CORNER: Please warn your readers to watch out for a new scam targeting pet owners. ese despicable people look for “Lost Pet” signs and call the owner’s number, claiming that they are a nearby shelter and that they’ve found their pet. But there’s a catch: In order to get the pet back, the owner must pay the shelter using an online payment app or by sending gi cards. And here’s the cruelest part: e scammers don’t have their pet. ey just take the money and disappear. Please sound the alarm.

-- Denise O., San Francisco

DEAR DENISE: Absolutely, and thank you for this alert! Losing a pet is heartbreaking. Scammers always strike when we’re at our most vulnerable, and it’s easy to fall for their scheme when we would do anything to get our pet back home.

More details on the rise of this scam in the San Francisco area can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/3dnmtsjs.

And here’s info on a similar scam in the Rochester, New York, area that targets your phone number: https://tinyurl.com/yt96mhn9.

If you’re contacted by someone claiming to have found your lost pet, always use caution. Look for these red ags:

-- e person claims you need to pay a ne to get your pet back, using an online payment service or gi cards.

-- e scammer says they need to send you a Google veri cation code.

-- e scammer refuses to send you a photo of your pet. Here’s what to do next:

-- Call a friend and get their perspective. It’s hard to think clearly when you’re upset.

-- Call the scammer’s number back. If they don’t answer, or it’s a wrong number, it’s a scam.

-- Report the scam call to the local police department. ey can’t recover your pet, but they can alert others in your community.

Send your tips, comments or questions to ask@pawscorner.com.