[CorkyMax]

Not sure that this topic fits in this section/forum but best I can find! This is another article put in a newsletter by Brigitte Smith:

I have an article on a very distasteful subject - scam artists who prey on pet owners who have lost their beloved pets. I was horrified when I read this information. And as nasty as it is, I thought it was something that I should share with you - so that just in case you're ever in that unenviable situation you'll at least know to be very careful.

When Kara was only 17 weeks old she got out and got lost. I was beside myself. I put up posters with her name and photo all over the neighbourhood, offering a reward. Wrong thing to do! I could easily have been taken advantage of by a scammer if I was unlucky. Fortunately, Kara was found by someone not far from my house who was happy to return her and refused to take any reward.

There are 5 scams which have been uncovered by a couple, Jim and Audri Lanford who run a site called the Internet Scam Busters. From what I can make out, they focus on scams on the internet, but this one is just a general scam that they've reported on.

Here are the pet scams to be aware of:

Pet Scams
- information from Jim and Audri Lanford - "Internet Scams, Identity Theft, and Urban Legends: Are You at Risk?" (This is an ad for their website that you can ignore if you want)---Reason for this thread/post is just below:

Pet Scam #1. If you place an ad in your local paper about your lost pet, and particularly if you offer a reward, you could get a call from someone claiming to have found your pet. But the "finder" will insist on receiving the reward in advance, and then if you refuse to do this, the "finder" may threaten to harm your pet. You don't even know whether this person has your pet or not, but you'll be put under real pressure to pay the reward.

Pet Scam #2. Again, in response to an ad placed by you, you may get a call from someone who claims to be a trucker who found your injured pet as he was driving through the area. The "trucker" may state that your pet needed veterinary care, which he has taken care of and paid for. He'll then ask you to wire him the money so he can pick your pet up from the vet and send it back with another trucker in the same company who is driving back your way.

Pet Scam #3. You might think that a less specific description of your pet in your ad might deter the scammers. - Not always. Your non-specific lost pet ad may produce a call from someone who claims to have found a dog (or cat or whatever your pet is) that might be yours. The caller will give you some details about the pet he has supposedly found. Do NOT make the mistake of giving the actual description of your pet. If you do, the caller may say that he's found a different animal, not yours. But a short time later, you may receive a call from a second person who will use the information that you conveyed to the first caller to pretend that he's found your pet, and demand reward money in advance.

Pet Scam #4. Your lost pet ad may produce a call from someone who precisely describes your pet, and wants to return it to claim the reward. In reality, your pet has been STOLEN by this person, who knew you would run an ad. (There's not much you can do about this unless you have some proof).

Pet Scam #5. Maybe you haven't lost your pet, but have found a lost pet and placed an ad. In a bizarre twist, scammers also respond to 'found' ads with the claim that you have found their pet. When you return the found pet, believe it or not, it may be destined for a death at a research facility. - Make sure that you check out the "owner" of the pet you've found. If the animal doesn't respond to this person, that should give you real cause for concern.

Things you can do to reduce the likelihood of being taken in by scamsters:

1. Make sure your pet is always properly licensed and tagged.

2. Keep your pet indoors, in a secure yard, or on a leash at all times.

3. If you do place an ad, include only the essential information.

4. If you get a call from someone who claims to be out-of-state, ask them for a phone number where you can call them back.

5. If a caller says he's found your pet, make HIM (or her) tell you about your pet's description. Don't give them ANY information.

6. If you've found a pet and someone claims it belongs to them, before you return the pet, ask for some kind of documentation that the pet actually belongs to them -- ownership or breeding papers, records from the vet, or even family photos.

Good advice, I'd say.

[etseq]

as well as thank you, i'd like to add: that is disgusting. people can be so terrible.. it really sickens me.