Beware: Lost Pet Scams
Unfortunately, there are always people looking to capitalize on someone else’s heartache. Thankfully, these instances are the exception and not the rule.
If you are offering a reward, or are asked to send money, be sure to meet the person who claims to have your pet at a public place – a local pet supply store or shelter, for example. Be sure to verify that they have your pet before money trades hands. 99.9% of people will gladly hand your pet over to you and never ask for money. Do not give anyone money until you have your pet – even to cover vet bills or other expenses.
Take a minute to review the notification you are receiving. Does it sound far-fetched? Then if probably is. Is the person being rude or persistent? These are signs that this person probably is trying to scam you for money. Most people who find your pet are very happy to return it to you and won’t harrass you for money. In addition, taking a pet out of the country is very tedious and quarantine laws apply. Someone who has just found your pet is not going to take it overseas then contact you to pay for shipping it back to you.
If you feel someone has stolen your pet, or you feel like you are being scammed, contact your local animal care and control and/or police.
Please note: PETS 911 has taken diligent preventative measures to secure email addresses on our site. Our security actions have made it extremely difficult for scammers to “scrape” email addresses from our site. We provide this information as a courtesy to you as we know many of you also post to free on-line classified sites or other sites that may not have the same security as PETS 911.
Known Lost Pet Scams
Please be aware that there are many versions of SPAM circulating the internet. These are just a couple of examples.
1. HELLO,
MY NAME IS PASTOR (MRS) JANET MARK. I AM AN ANIMAL VET AND ALSO ONE OF THE PASTORS OF THE CHRIST EMBASSY CHURCH. FEW DAYS AGO I SAW YOUR MISSING PET ROAMING ABOUT THE STREET AND I HAD TO RESCUE IT FOR KEEPS UNTIL I FINALLY FIND THE RIGHTFUL OWNER SO THAT I GET GIVE IT BACK TO HIM OR HER, BUT RIGHT NOW I AM ON EVANGELISM WORK FOR SOUL REDEMPTION IN BENIN REPUBLIC IN WEST AFRICA, SO BECAUSE I DONT WANT YOUR PET TO BE ALONE AT HOME IN STATE I HAD TO TRAVEL DOWN HERE WITH IT. RIGHT NOW SINCE I FOUND YOU (THE OWNER), I AM HONESTLY WILLING TO RETURN BACK YOUR PET TO YOU, BUT YOU HAVE TO PROOF SOME REAL FACTS THAT YOU ARE THE REAL OWNER OF THE PET BY SENDING ANY RECENT PICTURE(S) OF THIS LOVING AND CUTE PET AND YOU MUST ALSO BE ABLE TO TELL ME HIS OR HER NAME AND THE EXACT DAY AND TIME THAT YOUR PET HAD BEEN MISSING. PLEASE YOU MUST ALSO BEAR IN MIND THAT WHEN YOU SATIFY THAT YOU ARE THE REL OWNER OF THSIS BEAUTIFUL PET, ALL SHIPPING AND ANY OTHER TRAVELLING EXPENSES WILL BE INCURED BY YOU.
ONE MORE THING, ARE YOU BORN AGAIN, CO WE ARE IN THE END TIME AND YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN TO BE ABLE TO MAKE HEAVEN. GOD BLESS YOU AS I HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU SOON.
PASTOR JANET
pastor.janetmark1@live.com
2. From: mike_found.pet202@yahoo.com
Subject: I have your dog with me….
To:
I won’t lie to you i stole this dog….and the reason why i stole is that ..i need help my mum is in Nigeria dieing of cancer ..and i decided to steal it and i know i will found the owner contact info ..so before i release it ..you are going to pay sum of $600…i swear this dogt is with me
If you want have him back today….you will have to send the money to the doctor in Nigeria and you will have to go and send the money through via western union money transfer to this name and address below:
Name: Abiodun Sulaimon Olayemi
Address: 10,Aganran Street Mushin, Lagos Nigeria 23401
And get back to me with the info given to you ..as soon as i confirmed that you have sent out the money ..i will tell you were to go and pick up the dog so get back to me with your phone number ..and when you get to western union ..don’t tell i have your dog with me..so that they can allow you to send the money..tell them you are sending the money to your cousin in Nigeria..okay..and i am not going to hurt your dog..till you get back..from the bank.
3. Hello
I am DONALD RAY am from United States.. But right now am in uk. i Found your dog some Weeks back and i have Tried Tracing the owner but i could not. so i took the dog with me down here to UK for our christian Missioanry assignment because i had no one to Take Care of him. I am an animal dentist,if you need your dog back just send me an email and we shall know how to send your dog to you back I want you to send me Pictures of The Pet to know its actually yours and the location which was lost i need all These to be sure am not sending the puppy to the wrong person,but be advised that you will be incharged for the shiping Fee and other expenses. email me at…… donald_ray2@yahoo.com
THANKS.
DONALD RAY.
Reporting SPAM
1. Yahoo! US contact information is:
Yahoo! Inc.
Phone: (408)- 349-3300
1-800-318-0631
(408)-349-1572
Office Hours 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. PST
http://info.yahoo. com
2. http://spamlinks.net/track-report-addresses.htm#fraud-419.
3. Federal Trade Department at SPAM@UCE.GOV
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