Pet-Sitting Scams on the Rise

Have you been the target of a scam recently? If so, you’re not alone! More and more PSI members are reporting suspicious e-mails soliciting their services. The scenario usually goes something like this:

A member receives an e-mail from someone (usually male) claiming that he will be in town for four to six weeks on a work assignment and that he needs a pet sitter. (There are warning signs to tip off the member, such as the scammer using an average American name like “Chris Brown” but typing the message in broken English.) If the member responds, the scammer then tries to send a check for more than the cost of the service, asking that the member cash the check and forward part of it to someone in another city (typically Chicago). If the check is deposited in the member’s account and funds are transferred, the check turns out to be counterfeit and the member may be left on the hook for the transferred amount!

Sound familiar? The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), a partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the National White Collar Crime Center, reports that counterfeit check schemes are currently targeting U.S. law firms in much the same way that pet-sitting businesses are being targeted. If you receive a suspicious e-mail, the FBI encourages you to file a complaint at www.IC3.gov. While you’re there, be sure to read up on tips to help you avoid being scammed, such as the following:

Counterfeit Cashier's Check*

• Inspect the cashier's check.
• Ensure the amount of the check matches in figures and words.
• Check to see that the account number is not shiny in appearance.
• Be watchful that the drawer's signature is not traced.
• Official checks are generally perforated on at least one side.
• Inspect the check for additions, deletions or other alterations.
• Contact the financial institution on which the check was drawn to ensure legitimacy.
• Obtain the bank's telephone number from a reliable source, not from the check itself.
• Be cautious when dealing with individuals outside of your own country.

*Courtesy of the Internet Crime Complaint Center

We might add that the old adage “if something sounds too good to be true it probably is” definitely applies here. New pet sitters may be particularly susceptible to this type of scam and dismiss warning signs if they are in a rush to get clients.

If something doesn’t sound right, the best thing to do is follow your instincts and simply delete the e-mail. Remember, it’s far better to angle for good clients than to waste your time and money on fishy ones!