{"id":80779,"date":"2025-03-14T16:56:13","date_gmt":"2025-03-14T23:56:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sfspca.org\/?p=80779"},"modified":"2025-03-14T16:56:13","modified_gmt":"2025-03-14T23:56:13","slug":"beware-of-scam-calls-targeting-pet-owners","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sfspca.org\/blog\/beware-of-scam-calls-targeting-pet-owners\/","title":{"rendered":"Beware of Scam Calls Targeting Pet Owners"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">We have recently been alerted to a scam targeting pet owners in our community. Scammers are impersonating animal hospitals, claiming to have found missing pets and demanding payment for their return. These calls are fraudulent.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 aria-level=\"2\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">How the scam works<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335559738&quot;:160,&quot;335559739&quot;:80}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Scammers are preying on the emotions of worried pet owners by falsely claiming that their lost pet has been found. They may demand money before returning the pet, often pressuring victims with urgent messages. Their goal is to exploit your distress and collect payment before disappearing.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 aria-level=\"2\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">How to protect yourself<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335559738&quot;:160,&quot;335559739&quot;:80}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">If you receive a call like this, keep these points in mind:<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The San Francisco SPCA will never request payment over the phone to reunite you with your pet.<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">If you receive a suspicious call, hang up immediately.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Verify information by calling or texting us directly at (415) 554-3000. We are open, by appointment only, daily from 8am-6pm.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 aria-level=\"2\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Warning signs of a lost pet scam<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335559738&quot;:160,&quot;335559739&quot;:80}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">According to an <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fbi.gov\/contact-us\/field-offices\/elpaso\/news\/fbi-tech-tuesday-beware-of-lost-pet-scams\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">FBI Tech Tuesday warning<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, scammers often use emotional manipulation to pressure victims. Be on high alert if the caller:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Claims to have your pet but cannot provide photos.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Sends altered images of your pet or edited versions of your lost pet post.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Makes threats or excuses about why you cannot see your pet in person.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Demands money or sensitive information, such as a verification code.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">If you are ever in doubt, ask the caller for details about your pet that only you would know. Scammers will often struggle to provide accurate answers.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 aria-level=\"2\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">How to report a scam<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335559738&quot;:160,&quot;335559739&quot;:80}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">If you have been targeted or suspect fraudulent activity, take action by reporting the scam to the appropriate authorities:<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Report lost pet scams at <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/petscams.com\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Petscams.com<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) by calling 877-FTC-HELP.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Use the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbb.org\/scamtracker\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Better Business Bureau Scam Tracker<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> to report online scams.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Submit a report to the FBI\u2019s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ic3.gov\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">www.ic3.gov<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Contact your local authorities if you have been a victim of fraud.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">If you have any concerns or need assistance, don\u2019t hesitate to reach out to the SF SPCA at (415) 554-3000. Thank you for remaining vigilant and helping protect pets and their families.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We have recently been alerted to a scam targeting pet owners in our community. Scammers are impersonating animal hospitals, claiming to have found missing pets and demanding payment for their [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":80781,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","_price":"","_stock":"","_tribe_ticket_header":"","_tribe_default_ticket_provider":"","_ticket_start_date":"","_ticket_end_date":"","_tribe_ticket_show_description":"","_tribe_ticket_show_not_going":false,"_tribe_ticket_use_global_stock":"","_tribe_ticket_global_stock_level":"","_global_stock_mode":"","_global_stock_cap":"","_tribe_rsvp_for_event":"","_tribe_ticket_going_count":"","_tribe_ticket_not_going_count":"","_tribe_tickets_list":"[]","_tribe_ticket_has_attendee_info_fields":false,"footnotes":"","_tec_slr_enabled":"","_tec_slr_layout":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-80779","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Beware of Scam Calls Targeting Pet Owners - San Francisco SPCA<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"We have recently been alerted to a scam targeting pet owners in our community. 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