Crime & Safety
New Scam Targets Lost Pet Owners, SF Animal Control Warns
Scammers are targeting people with lost pets, posing as someone who found their animal and seeking payment, officials said.
SAN FRANCISCO — San Francisco Animal Care & Control is warning pet owners to be wary of a new scam that targets people who lost their pet.
The agency said scammers are calling people, identifying themselves as shelter staff and claiming they have to make a payment to get back their lost pet.
Scammers are contacting people who post their lost pets on social media via what seems to be the shelter's phone number, 415-554-6364. The scammers claim to be SF Animal Care & Control staff members, say they have a pet owner's pet and asks for payment via gift cards or payment apps, said the agency.
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SF Animal Care & Control staff are reminding residents that they will never ask for payment to be made over the phone.
Residents can search for their lost pets on SF Animal Care & Control at https://www.sfanimalcare.org/lost-found-pets/.
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"This is a despicable scam" said Virginia Donohue, Executive Director of Animal Care & Control. "Taking advantage of desperate pet guardians is contemptible."
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