Animal shelter warns pet owners of lost pet scam

Scammer asks for gift card in exchange for missing pet

LAKE COUNTY, Fla. – The Lake County Animal Shelter is warning pet owners of a lost pet scam.

At least one pet owner in Lake County has been targeted, according to the shelter.

Shelter officials said the scammer contacts a pet owner who on social media or a national database about a missing dog. 

WARNING!! We have been made aware of a scam regarding lost pets and at least one of our residents has been targeted....

Posted by Lake County Florida Animal Shelter on Sunday, October 27, 2019

The scammer tells the pet owner they have the missing pet and will exchange it for a gift card, according to shelter officials. 

The shelter said the scammer does not have possession of the animal and is most likely not from Florida.

Anyone who is missing a pet should regularly check petharbor.com and local shelters.