Scam Targets Lost Pet Owners
We’re receiving reports that scammers are pretending to be from Multnomah County Animal Services (MCAS), and telling lost pet owners that their pet was hit by a car and that they need to pay for treatment, or that they need to pay before they can pick up their pets at the shelter. In some cases, scammers send a code and ask for it to be texted back - which could be used to breach Two-Factor Authentication security to hack personal accounts or create fraudulent Google Voice phone numbers, allowing the scam to continue.
Similar scams were recently reported in Central Oregon by OPB.
How can I tell if it’s Multnomah County Animal Services?
If you receive a call from MCAS about a lost pet, you won’t be asked to pay before picking up your pet. You won't be asked to pay for treatment if your pet is injured. We also don’t send codes.
MCAS isn’t charging shelter impound or board fees for found animals.
What to do?
If you receive a call or text like this, file a police report. Also call 503-988-7387 or e-mail mail.pet@multco.us to report it to Multnomah County Animal Services.
If possible, please provide:
- Your name
- Contact information
- Lost pet report number
- Phone number of scammer
- Date and time of interaction
- Text of interaction, conversation details, or screenshots
