Scammers are finding the owners of lost pets online and demanding money.
The Arizona Humane Society says people are being contacted by someone claiming their missing pet has been found — but needs emergency medical care. Then comes the demand for payment over the phone. In some cases, the scammers are even spoofing the Humane Society’s phone number.
The organization says it will never ask for payment over the phone for a lost pet — and they’ll always include an official animal ID number in any real message. If you happen to get a call like this, the Humane Society is urging the public to hang up and call the police.
Tips from the Arizona Humane Society
- The Arizona Humane Society will never ask for payment over the phone for emergency medical services for a lost pet.
- If someone calls demanding immediate payment, it is not the Arizona Humane Society.
- Additionally, the Arizona Humane Society will always provide an official Animal Identification number in any voicemail, text or email if we believe your pet is in our care. If a message does not include this number, it did not come from us.
More Arizona animal news
-
Angela Ganter is the subject of a new docudrama called “Outriding the Devil,” which will screen at Pollock Cinemas in Tempe on April 25. The Show spoke with her recently about the origins of her love of rodeo and living much of her life on horseback. -
ASU and University of Arizona researchers are among more than 20 coauthors of a new article in the journal Science about a deadly split in a large group of chimpanzees. -
Mexican gray wolves are one of the smallest wolf species in the world and among the most endangered. The animal’s habitat once spanned the mountains of central Mexico, up to southeastern Arizona, southern New Mexico and southwest Texas.
-
The FIGHT Act is co-sponsored by 165 member of Congress, including Sen. Mark Kelly and Reps. Greg Stanton, Juan Ciscomani, and David Schweikert. -
There are grassy fields, tree-covered mountains, desert scrub and riparian preserves. In fact, it’s one of the top biodiversity hot spots in the world, especially for birders.
