Pet Owners in Sedona Fall Victim to Scammers’ Devious Tactics

The Humane Society of Sedona has issued a warning about a scam targeting pet owners. On August 9, staff received a call from a distraught resident who was attempting to arrange a $1,200 payment for emergency surgery on their missing cat.

Executive Director Jennifer Brehler reported her confusion, stating they had no records of an injured cat at that time. Later that evening, a couple approached the shelter claiming they had received a similar alarming phone call. The caller, allegedly posing as a humane society staff member, claimed, “Your animal came into the Humane Society of Sedona. It’s severely injured. We need to do surgery right away, but you need to give us $1,700 before we can start.” The couple noted the urgency but sensed something was off when they were denied the opportunity to see the purportedly injured animal.

“They’re preying on people who have broken hearts and are missing their pets,” Brehler observed. Staff members suspect the scammers may be leveraging lost pet reports shared on social media to identify victims. Consequently, the Humane Society has taken to social media to alert the community.

In their Facebook post, the organization emphasized, “We will never contact you and demand money if your lost pet is brought to us.” They reaffirmed their commitment to reuniting lost pets with their families as a core mission. Brehler advised pet owners to visit the shelter in person to verify any claims instead of discussing payment details over the phone.

If an injured animal is admitted, the Humane Society’s policy requires them to reach out to the owner when possible, while still providing necessary medical care immediately. “We do charge a reclaim fee and an overnight boarding fee, usually around $100 or less unless they’ve been in our care for an extended period, which is rare,” Brehler explained.

Reflecting on the incidents, Brehler wished they had collected more information from the callers. Despite the troubling events, local law enforcement agencies, including the Sedona Police Department and Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office, have reported no similar incidents as of August 12.

“It’s traumatic enough to lose your pet and then have someone prey on you,” Brehler lamented. She reiterated the distress caused by individuals exploiting vulnerable pet owners.

The FBI’s El Paso office outlined potential red flags indicative of lost pet scams, including:

• Refusal to provide photos of the allegedly found pet
• Sending altered pictures of lost animals
• Threatening behavior toward the animal or the owner
• Excuses regarding the inability to provide better images
• Requesting money before allowing owners to see the pet
• Asking for sensitive information, such as a Google verification code

Victims of similar scams are urged to report their experiences to the Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3.gov or contact Ron Norfleet at the YCSO Fraud Unit at (928) 771-3299.