French pet owners warned over 鈥榣ost pet鈥� scam
Pet owners in France are being warned against a new scam that asks owners of lost pets to pay a 鈥渞ansom to reclaim鈥� their beloved animal, only to find that their pet is still lost.
The scam warning the I-CAD company, which manages the national pet record le Fichier National d鈥橧dentification des Carnivores Domestiques en France.
Scammers have been reported as contacting people who have lost a pet cat or dog, through the details on the owner鈥檚 鈥渓ost pet鈥� poster or social media post.
The scammers then say that they have found the animal, and offer the pet鈥檚 ID number as 鈥減roof鈥�, having most likely found the number online or via social networks.
They then ask the pet鈥檚 owner to pay money to cover vet bills that they claim to have paid for the pet, or simply as a 鈥渇ee鈥� to cover the costs of caring for the animal and/or giving it back.
In reality, the scammers do not have the pet.
More than 50 pet owners they had already fallen victim to the scam, I-CAD said.
Anyone who believes they have been targeted by scammers in this way should contact the police, gendarmerie .
Scammers such as this risk punishment of up to five years in prison, and fines of up to 鈧�375,000.
