There are scammers who prey on the vulnerability and emotions of owners with missing pets and will take advantage of you and the situation. Please be in the know of common tactics used so you do not fall victim to a scam. You will more than likely encounter a scammer at some point during your search.
If you receive message stating that your bird has been found, and you're being requested to send money up front and in advance prior to meeting in person, please know this is a Scam. Never Send Funds to Anyone via any electronic financial means prior to picking up your missing bird in person even if you are offering a reward. Block them immediately.
The following are Scam examples so you can be prepared and know what pet scams look like in order to protect yourself.
SCAM ALERT – LOST PET OWNERS BEWARE
I posted about my lost cockatiel and offered a reward. Today someone texted claiming to have found him. They told me to meet at the 7/11 near my home. I rushed there with my bird’s cage, so excited to finally get him back. When I arrived, they demanded $50 upfront in and Xbox gift card before giving me my bird.
This was a scam. I came home with an empty cage and a broken heart. People will take advantage of vulnerable pet owners desperate to get their animals back.
Please, never hand over money before you have your pet safely in your hands. Share this to warn others who are missing their pets! Below are the text exchanges from that phone number 1(470) 637-0515 (block this number!) -Maryam Ali
"They texted my phone and said they found my bird. Sent me a picture of a bird that looked like my bird (my husband later did a reverse image search and it came from a missing bird post in FL) they sent me a GPS pin to a Maverick gas station and only when I had gotten there did they say they were going to leave. I asked what they were driving and they said red Ford. And then they said "ain't you gonna give me a reward?" I knew then it was a scam but talked a little longer, they asked how much I'd give them, I was vague and said I had a little cash on me. They then said they wanted $150 and would take $50 before they left and $100 when they met me. That's when I blocked them. They never mentioned the word cockatiel, just bird which made me suspicious. First they asked if I was the owner of a bird then said they found the bird." - Lisa Villa
"Please beware of people trying to scam. This person went as far as trying to cropping a picture from Google. A good way if you're in doubt is to reverse image search the image on Google. As soon as I felt something was off I reversed image searched the picture and found that one and stopped communicating with them." -Kimberly Acosta
REQUESTING CODES SCAM:
If you ever receive a text stating your bird has been found, but a verification code is needed - please block the number Immediately. Do Not Ever Send A Code.
CREDIT: New England - Lost & Found Birds
There is a scam going around Facebook, Craigslist and other public sites. This scam is targeting pet owners with missing pets as well as those who sell on Craigslist, Facebook or other public forums.
Here's how the scam works:
* Scammers scour the internet for public postings of cellphone numbers. For lost pet owners, these scammers don’t have your pet and have no interest in helping you. Their goal is to use your phone number to help them create a new google voice account for their scams.
* Next, the scammer contacts you via text or email about your ad. They tell you they are going to send you a 6 digit code to forward to them to prove you are a real person. This code is the google verification code for their new account.
* The scammer then uses the google verification to activate their new google voice account.
How does this affect you?
We found this information on the Google support forum:
"Your own security has not been compromised; this scam only leveraged your personal phone number as an “admission ticket” for the scammer."
Here is the suggested fix:
* If you did not give the code to the scammer, then nothing happened and no additional steps are needed.
* If you gave the scammer a 6 digit code, use the following steps to remove your number from their Google voice account. According to the Google support article below, it's very likely that the scammer has already removed your phone number from their account. Their goal is not to forward calls to your personal phone number, but merely to use it as an "admission ticket" to get their own Google Voice number, use it to scam others, get rid of that number, and then repeat the scam over and over.
Steps to create a new Google Account and add your phone number:
* If you never had a Google Voice number, create one here on Google by using this link: voice.google.com. You will create a new Google Voice number, and at the same time deactivate the number the scammer is using.
Steps to add your Google Voice number back to your existing account:
1. On your computer, go to voice.google.com.
2. At the top right, click Settings.
3. Under Linked numbers, click New linked number
4. Enter the phone number to link.
5. To verify your number, voice provides a six-digit code
6. Enter the code and then click verify
7. Click Claim.
2. At the top right, click Settings.
3. Under Linked numbers, click New linked number
4. Enter the phone number to link.
5. To verify your number, voice provides a six-digit code
6. Enter the code and then click verify
7. Click Claim.
For more information on the scam, visit the Google voice forum.
