"Have you been contacted by someone claiming they can locate your lost pet for a fee? (702) 270-2379? It’s a scam designed to take advantage of people that have lost a pet. When I lost my cat, someone called claiming they were Pet Finders Alert said they would help locate my pet for $59.99. All they did was take my money. After searching the Internet I discovered the account had been suspended and I found many others who were taken in by the same scam. Run a search on this scam you will discover many articles and reports on this fraudulent company, on the Internet, television and radio."

A FEW NEWS STORIES ABOUT THIS SCAM

http://www.roanoke.com/columnists/casey/wb/251130

http://cfc.wset.com/videoondemand.cfm?id=68388&cat=loc

http://www.vegasbbb.org/rptrel.asp?bbbid=7399

http://www.ktka.com/news/2009/jul/09/scammers_are_targeting_pet_owner_who_have_lost_the

http://www.santabarbara.bbb.org/BBBWeb/Forms/Business/CompanyReportPage_Expository.aspx?CompanyID=10000307

http://whois.net/whois_new.cgi?d=petfindersalert&tld=com

http://petfindersalert.com

HOW THIS SCAM OPERATES

Some lost pet services may be legitimate but the scam may also have several aliases. Carefully research all companies that offer this service before signing up. Check with the BBB. Be comfortable that they will provide the services that they offer.

They scan newspapers, Craigslist ads, and other Internet sites, searching ads for lost pets. They then telephone a target with a sympathetic pitch, offering to locate the victims pet starting at $59.99 and much more.

Once the target is convinced they get a credit card/debit card number and hit the card. That's the last time the victim ever hears from Pet Finders Alert. No one is actually called.

This so called service is not a real business or service. There is no licensed business with this name. It is a con-job that targets innocent desperate and distraught people that have lost pets. As a direct result of these criminal actions family pets are put to sleep by animal control because they are never located. This con-job has operated across the entire USA for several years under various names and titles.

WHAT CAN WE DO?

I am continuing my efforts to expose this operation and hope to bring this individual to justice. They are making a lot of money by intentionally harming the innocent and distraught pet owners across the country. Perhaps you can help. Let’s start by shutting down their ability to get money through credit/debit cards. Let’s bring these people to justice and prevent them from killing any more lost pets.

If you have been telephoned or bilked by the Pet Finders Alert con please contact me through email or telephone.

Jerry Polverino
Retired USAir Airline Captain and animal lover.
305-240-0826.
Friend_of_lost_pets@yahoo.com

5 WAYS TO STOP THIS CRIME

1. Call the fraud division of your credit card, or debit card company immediately. It does not matter how much time has transpired. Fraud and theft are always illegal.

2 Call the Federal Trade Commission 877-382-4357 Reference case number 268-232-78.

3. Call the local Henderson Nevada Police (where they operate) at 702-267-5000 and and file a criminal activity report. Inform them that they are already on file with Roanoke Virginia County Police at 540-562-3265 Case number 10-036784.

4. Call the Better Business Bureau of Southern Nevada at 702-320-4500. Pet Finders Alert is already on file for non performance of services and fraud.

5. File an abuse report with the Internet Ad or newspaper through which Pet Finders Alert first contacted you. Local papers will run articles on this crime.

This disgusting scam can and will be brought to justice with your help and you may save a family pet from being put to sleep.