PHOENIX — The Arizona Humane Society (AHS) is ⁤alerting pet owners about a fraudulent ⁣scheme​ that is preying on families searching for their lost pets.

According to the animal welfare association, scammers are targeting individuals⁤ who have reported​ missing pets by ‍finding them online. These⁣ fraudsters pose as AHS ‍representatives and claim that the ‍pet has been found injured, demanding immediate payment​ for medical‍ treatment.

“We understand how distressing and emotional⁤ it can be when a beloved pet goes missing, ⁢and it’s disheartening that someone woudl exploit such a vulnerable situation,” stated AHS spokesperson Kelsey Dickerson ‌in an official statement. “Our mission is to ensure our community has ⁣accurate information ‌and feels supported during these challenging times.”

Guidelines from Arizona humane‍ Society on handling Lost ‌Pet Scams

If you receive a call from someone claiming to ‌represent AHS,keep these three critically important points ⁤in mind:

• AHS ‌never requests payment over‌ the phone for‍ medical care related to a lost pet.
• If the caller insists on immediate⁣ payment, they are not affiliated with AHS.
• AHS always provides an official Animal Identification number during any interaction regarding pets in their care.

The nonprofit organization advises anyone who receives such ⁣scam calls to report them to ⁤local law enforcement authorities.

AHS clarified that while they do charge fees for returning pets ‍to their owners, ⁣boarding services, and‍ veterinary ⁤care, these discussions only occur in person ‍at the time ⁣of pick-up—not during urgent phone calls.

“When we ⁣take in a lost animal at AHS,our primary focus is ensuring their safety and⁤ well-being ‍until ⁣we ‌can reunite them with their family,”⁢ Dickerson added.