FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — The Flagstaff Police Department is warning pet owners to be wary of a new type of scheme involving phone scammers who claim to have found their lost dogs or cats.
The agency put out an advisory Tuesday instructing residents to be on alert for individuals who contact them claiming to have located their beloved pet.
Scammers will scan through social media pages looking for postings and notifications of owners who have recently lost a pet. The individual will then contact the owner claiming to be from "animal control" and ask for payment to cover the cost of recovering the pet, police said.
Animal control officers would not solicit funds from the public. Anyone with info about this type of phone scam can call Flagstaff police at 928-774-1414.
This same type of phone scam has been reported by other agencies in California, Colorado, and Georgia.
UP TO SPEED
Watch 12News+ for free
You can now watch 12News content anytime, anywhere thanks to the 12News+ app!
The free 12News+ app from 12News lets users stream live events — including daily newscasts like "Today in AZ" and "12 News" and our daily lifestyle program, "Arizona Midday"—on Roku and Amazon Fire TV.
12News+ showcases live video throughout the day for breaking news, local news, weather and even an occasional moment of Zen showcasing breathtaking sights from across Arizona.
Users can also watch on-demand videos of top stories, local politics, I-Team investigations, Arizona-specific features and vintage videos from the 12News archives.
Roku: Add the channel from the Roku store or by searching for "12 News KPNX."
Amazon Fire TV: Search for "12 News KPNX" to find the free 12News+ app to add to your account, or have the 12News+ app delivered directly to your Amazon Fire TV through Amazon.com or the Amazon app.