There are currently a few active pet sitting/pet professional scams. All are variations of the very common "cashiers check" scam. The basic scam involves someone needing help of some sort from the scam-ee. The scammer sends a cashiers check or money order for an amount in excess of the charge for services. The scam-ee receives the check, cashes it and is then instructed to mail the excess to another individual. (An uncle, a son, a vet, etc.) The check is bad and the scam-ee is now out the entire amount of the cashed check.

Below are the active scams directed at animal lovers and pet professionals and their particulars.

If you receive a different version of this or any other scam please forward it to uspetpros so your fellow pet professionals can be aware of any new developments.

Pet Sitting Services Needed for Family Member Moving to Area	Pet Receiving and Training Prior to Move Into Area	Pet Receiving and Training Prior to Move Into Area 2nd version
Pet Sitting Services Needed for Two Months

In May 2006 a professional pet sitter received an e-mail inquiry about pet sitting services from a man named "Edward Johnson" who needed someone to sit his dog for 2 months while he was going to be away in Holland. He stated that he was going to be in the sitters area in the next couple of days and wanted to have his financier send over a $3,000 to cover the expenses. Once the sitter received the check, they were to call the client to make further arrangements to meet. The check arrived shortly after, but instead of $3,000 the check was made out for $7,000. The sitter e-mailed the client to ask about the extra amount. He replied that his financier made a mistake and the rest of the money was supposed to go to another company. He asked if the sitter could "help" him out and wire the rest of the money to the guy he owed money too; who also happened to live in Belgium.

Sounds easy enough right? WRONG! This is a common scam designed to steal your hard earned money! The sitter deposits the check, mails the extra to the 3rd party. Then that's the last they hear from the scammer. The sitter never meets the client or sits for his dog. Eventually the sitter is informed that the check they deposited is a fake.

If you receive a similar e-mail ignore it and delete it. If you have received a different version of this Pet Care Inquiry Scam, please forward it to US Pet Pros to be included on this page.

More information on this type of scam can be found at Snopes.com- Cashier Check Scam