![Florida Pet Owners Receive New Scam Warning Florida Pet Owners Receive New Scam Warning](https://i2.wp.com/d.newsweek.com/en/full/2400988/florida-pet-owners-palm-beach-missing-scam.jpg?w=1200&resize=1200,0&ssl=1)
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Florida animal control officials are warning owners of lost pets that they may be targets of a scam that preys on their desperation to find their missing pets.
The Palm Beach County Department of Public Safety’s Animal Care and Control (PCB ACC) division alerted pet owners about the scam in a Facebook post on Tuesday. The scheme reportedly involves phone calls attempting to fraudulently convince locals that their lost pets have been found while demanding money to return them safe and sound.
Scammers frequently target owners of missing pets. Those who publicly share details about their lost pets and contact information online are particularly vulnerable.
“We have noticed that scammers are targeting owners of lost pets,” the post reads. “Someone presents themselves as an employee of our shelter and tries to raise money. PBC ACC will never ask for money over the phone.”
“Please do not transfer funds or share account/credit card numbers with anyone representing themselves as us,” it continues. “If you have a lost pet, please post it on our SNKeynoteUSA website and continue to check it daily.”
This undated file photo shows a person stapling a “lost dog” sign to a tree. Officials in Palm Beach County, Florida, this week warned owners of missing pets that they could be… This undated file photo shows a person stapling a “missing dog” sign to a tree. Officials in Palm Beach County, Florida, this week warned owners of missing pets that they may be targets of a scam that preys on their desperation to find their missing companions. More Jovanmandic
In an additional Facebook post, public safety officials said the victims of the scam were “community members who post their information on lost pet websites” before receiving “calls from someone identifying themselves as an ACC employee.” “.
Local KeynoteUSA affiliate WPBF reported that some victims were attacked after sharing posts of missing pets on the Nextdoor app. The scammers also reportedly targeted those who made similar posts on the Pawboost and Petco Love Lost websites and the Loxahatchee Lost and Found Facebook page.
Newsweek requested comment from PBC ACC through an online contact form and from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office via email Wednesday evening.
Palm Beach County’s “SNKeynoteUSA” website hosts a large number of listings for lost and found pets, primarily dogs and cats, along with photographs of the missing animals. The site also includes a section listing unclaimed pets that are in “urgent” need for adoption.
Officials in Wake County, North Carolina, issued a similar scam alert last month, informing locals that someone was calling those with missing pets while claiming to be an employee at the Wake County Animal Center and demanding money. for urgent pet surgery, according to The News. & Observer.
Newsweek previously reported on a woman who said she was attacked by a scammer who contacted her claiming to have found her missing husky. When she refused to pay $400 for the dog’s return, the scammer attempted to extort money from the woman, who is heterosexual, by threatening to expose an affair to her non-existent wife.
Uncommon knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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