Crook uses lost dog in effort to scam Fresno family
A Valley family says they were preyed upon by an online scammer who demanded money in exchange for their missing dog.
FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- A local family is sharing their story to raise awareness so no one else searching for their lost animal is targeted.
Amy and Jason Morris describe their foster dog, Nutella, as a calm and sweet companion. "She was very low maintenance, very cute. She would come, if I sat on the couch she would come just jump up put her head on my lap," said Jason Morris.
The Fresno couple says the 12-pound brown poodle mix squeezed through their backyard fence exactly a week ago. Within minutes they put up flyers and posted a plea for help on Craigslist.
On Thursday, the family was contacted by a man who claimed he found Nutella. But Amy Morris says she thought something was fishy after he demanded the reward money being offered to be transferred immediately via a Green Dot card. "I went and got the Green Dot card and he wanted a refillable one, and he called us on an unknown number and that's when we put two and two together," said Morris
Blair Looney with the Better Business Bureau says animal-related scams usually involve prepaid debit cards like Green Dot. He says thieves will always demand the number on the card before returning the animal. "They'll enter that number on their computer and see the money is there and transfer it immediately. It's non-traceable and the money is gone forever," said Looney.
Experts say if you are looking for a lost animal and someone claims they have your pet, always insist the person to meet you in a public location so you can identify the animal before you hand over any money.
