Scammers pretending to be Denver Animal Shelter staff are calling people who lost their pets, telling them they’ve been hit by a car and need to pay a $500 deposit by phone to start emergency surgery, city officials said Friday.
The scam has hit Denver before and appears to be reemerging in the metro area, shelter staff said in a news release. Scammers are also posing as the Dumb Friends League Buddy Center in Castle Rock and asking for $1,300.
Scam callers posing as Denver shelter staff show on caller ID as 311, the city’s main information number, according to a news release. Scammers are likely finding people through lost pet social media sites like PawBoost and 24HourPetconnect.
“It is disgusting that anyone would take advantage of someone who has lost a pet, who is very emotional and desperate to find their furry family member,” Denver Animal Shelter Director Melanie Sobel said in a statement.
“Luckily, the pet owners who’ve been contacted by scammers pretending to be with us are suspicious and don’t fall for the ploy,” Sobel continued.
People who lose their pets should regularly check animal shelters, which update their websites hourly, and post signs in their neighborhoods.
Anyone who gets a call from someone claiming to be from an animal shelter and demanding money should hang up and call the shelter directly, Denver officials said.
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