New telephone scam targets San Antonio pet owners, claims to be from Humane Society

The San Antonio Humane Society is warning residents about a scam targeting pet owners in which callers claim they have found the person’s missing animal.

Scammers pretending to be from the San Antonio Humane Society will tell the target they must pay money to cover “urgent surgeries” for the pet or other emergencies, the nonprofit said in social media post.

The scammers are reportedly asking for $200 to $1,000 along with credit card information, bank transfers and gift cards, San Antonio Humane Society Director of Community Engagement Kim Hinze told TV station KENS5.

The San Antonio Humane Society will never ask for money over the phone, Hinze said. If the group has located a lost pet, they will call the owner to come to the shelter to be reunited with the animal, she added.

The San Antonio Humane Society encourages people to ask specific questions about their pets if they receive suspicious call. The group also asked that residents warn others of the scam.

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This article appears in Dec 11-17, 2024.