Iowa (RI) — A particularly cruel scam is surfacing in central Iowa that preys on people who’ve lost a pet. Mackenzie Olk, spokeswoman for the Animal Rescue League of Iowa, says the agency is getting calls from people who’ve put up signs or posted online that they’ve lost a dog or cat along with a phone number to call — and scammers are swooping in.
In another version of the scam, a caller who claims to be with the ARL has contacted owners of lost pets and falsely claimed the animal was found and needed urgent medical care.
Getting a call like this could send some people into a panic, but Olk says pet owners need to think carefully before blindly sending money to some caller.
Those websites show photos of the pet and basic information about when and where it was found. Olk notes, reputable shelters will never ask for payment up front without giving you the opportunity to visit their facility and see your pet.
