Beware this "lost pet" scam

A  frequent scam in which money is extorted from the owners of lost pets works like this:

A caller identifies the pet owner from classified newspaper ads. He calls collect from a distant location (frequently Chicago), explaining that he is a long-haul truck driver who picked up the pet while in the town where it was lost. He further explains that he is back at his home base and that, if the owner wires him money (the amount varies), he will arrange for another trucker (or a pilot friend) to bring it back on his return trip.

Once the money is sent, the "trucker" is never heard from again.

If you receive such a call, pretend to go along with the scam, get as much information as possible and contact law enforcement agencies in your area, as well as in the area where the call originated.

From the Project Breed Rescue Directory, P.O. Box 15888, Chevy Chase, MD, 20825-5888