Scammers are targeting Sacramento pet owners. Who is at risk and how do I spot fraud?
A new phone scam is targeting pet owners in the Sacramento area, according to the Sacramento County Bradshaw Animal Shelter.
Scammers contact the pet owners, falsely claiming that their lost pets are in the care of Bradshaw Animal Shelter and require emergency surgery, according to a Monday news release from the Bradshaw Animal Shelter.
“The scammers then typically demand payment for the purported surgical procedures,” the animal shelter said in the news release.
According to the release, scammers have been using caller ID spoofing to make it appear that the calls are coming from legitimate phone numbers associated with Bradshaw Animal Shelter.
Bradshaw Animal Shelter said it never calls pet owners to request money for any type of surgical intervention and never asks for financial information over the phone.
It’s unclear exactly how scammers are getting pet owners’ information.
The shelter believes scammers may be targeting pet owners who post onto social media looking for their pets.
How to avoid getting scammed
Here are tips from the Bradshaw Animal Shelter on how to spot a fraudulent call and avoid being scammed:
Do not share financial information over the phone. The Bradshaw Animal Shelter never asks for credit card information or any sort of payment over the phone. If you receive a call asking you to make a payment, it is likely a scam.
Be wary of caller ID spoofing. Scammers may manipulate caller ID to make it appear as if calls are coming from Bradshaw Animal Shelter. Even if the number seems legitimate, exercise caution.
Learn how to tell if a call is legitimate. When a Bradshaw Animal Shelter employer contacts you about a lost pet, they will provide you with an identification number that begins with the letter A and is followed by six digits. The identification number will allow you to track your pet online. Staff will also ask you to reclaim your pet in person.
Verify the animal ID number. You can do this by calling 311 or 916-875-4311 if you’re outside of the unincorporated County.
Report any suspicious activity to the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office non-emergency phone line at 916-874-5115.
What should I do if I have a lost pet?
You can go into the Bradshaw Animal Shelter, 3839 Bradshaw Road in Sacramento, to look for lost pets from noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday and noon to 6 p.m. Wednesday
All lost pets are posted on the animal shelter website. The shelter has dedicated pages for found dogs, cats and other animals.
The shelter advises you to microchip your pet and keep the information up to date when you move or change phone numbers. You should also make sure your pet is wearing an appropriately fitted collar with identification tags.
“If your pet is microchipped with your information or has identification tags with your information, staff from Bradshaw Animal Shelter will attempt to contact you directly to let you know that your pet is at the animal shelter,” the release said.
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