PHOENIX — The Arizona Humane Society is warning animal lovers to watch out for a recent spike in scam calls impersonating its employees.
The nonprofit says the scam targets owners of missing pets, demanding payment for emergency veterinary care over the phone.
The con artists contact people who have posted about lost pets online or on community flyers, claim the animal has been found and needs urgent medical treatment, then pressure victims to pay immediately, according to the humane society.
“These scammers are really going to really prey on people’s vulnerabilities,” Kelsey Dickerson, a spokesperson for the Arizona Humane Society, told KTAR News 92.3 FM. “It’s a really scary situation when you lose a furry family member, especially if they’re sitting here saying that you owe thousands or hundreds in medical services.”
The scam first appeared around the holidays last year but has recently resurfaced with more sophisticated tactics, the organization said. Some scammers are now able to spoof the humane society’s main phone number on caller ID.
How to spot a scam
The Arizona Humane Society said it will never demand payment over the phone and always provides an official animal identification number in any voicemail, text or email when a pet is in its care.
Fees for boarding and veterinary services are only discussed in person when owners come to pick up their animals.
“Even if it’s coming from what looks like the Arizona Humane Society’s number, ask for that animal identification number,” Dickerson said. “And then always come down and identify that it’s actually your pet.”
Anyone who receives a suspicious call should not send money and should report the incident to local police, the organization said.
Information on lost and found pets is available on the Arizona Humane Society website.
