SAN ANTONIO — The San Antonio Humane Society is warning of a scam that targets owners with lost pets.
"They're playing on people's emotions, right? It's just so sad," said Kim Hinze, director of community engagement. "They're calling them, and they're demanding money from them for emergency type surgeries. They found their pet. Now they're demanding money for them."
Hinze explains the scammers are demanding odd amounts of money, anywhere from $200 dollars, to $1000 dollars.
"They're either asking them to pay over the phone, which is via credit card," she said. "Sometimes people are being asked to do transfers, or gift cards. We don't do any of that."
While the San Antonio Humane Society does reunite lost pets with their owners, they would never demand money the way the scammers are.
"We will never ask for payment over the phone," Hinze stated. "We will never say we found your pet. It needs this type of procedure. And now you must pay. We try to reunite people with their pets and we do it in a safe way. So we will want you to come in."
Hinze wants people to spread the word about the scam in hopes others don't become a victim.
"If they are calling you and they're demanding, ask for specific information about the pet or, you know, ask, does this pet, what type of markings does the pet have that you would probably only know?" Hinze said. "Something else you can be aware of is ask, you know, for their phone number so you can call them back."
She explained most often scammers don't have a number they can provide. She also recommends people get their animal microchipped, and have it registered to the owner, so if an animal is found, the San Antonio Humane Society can return it.
For San Antonio Humane Society's process for lost and found animals, click HERE.
To report a suspected phone scam, you can file a report with the Texas Attorney General's Office. For more information, click HERE.