MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (KFGO) – Minneapolis Animal Care & Control is warning residents of the latest scam targeting people who are searching for a lost pet.
City spokesperson Jess Olstead says scammers, posing as animal control officers, scour lost pet posters, posts and websites, find the owner, then text or call.
She says the false message is, “I have your pet, but your dog or cat is hurt and needs emergency surgery, and in order to do that you need to pay this money right away.” She says many times scammers are saying, “Your pet will die.”
Olstead says Minneapolis Animal Care and Control will never send links or ask for money over the phone in a lost pet situation. They’ve received 30 reports of the scam so far and say there are likely dozens more.
Comments