DENVER (KDVR) — A Denver man already heartbroken after losing his dog has been hurt again after falling victim to a scam.
Austin Cruz said his world came crashing down when his 3-year-old Rottweiler mix went missing for five days.
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“So many things were going through my mind,” he said. “Is my baby safe?
After posting a flyer on social media asking for help from family and friends, Cruz saw an ad for a company that said it could use drones to search for missing pets. Cruz paid $155 to the company, but then got a call saying the payment app had malfunctioned and would refund his money.
“I asked him to send me a screenshot of the Paypal that would let me know the refund was on its way and he never sent me a screenshot so at that point I knew something was wrong,” Cruz said.
Cruz never heard from the man. FOX31 Problem Solvers also found the company was not listed in the Secretary of State’s business database or on the Better Business Bureau’s website. The company had posted a scam warning on its website.
FOX31 is not naming the business because scammers often take over the identities of legitimate businesses. Problem Solvers reached out to the company but only received an automated message, but they are continuing to try to contact the business owner.
To protect yourself from scams, Colorado’s attorney general and consumer experts told FOX31 Problem Solves that it’s good practice to check the business registration on the Secretary of State’s website and the Better Business Bureau, as well as look on Google for bad reviews on the name and get at least three referrals. Don’t pay the full amount up front.
The good news for Cruz was that Kaya was found by Denver Animal Control after receiving a call from a good Samaritan.
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“I feel like I can move forward with my life. I feel like I have a family member back,” he said.
Crews said she wanted to share her story to help prevent other pet owners from losing money, and she has strong words for anyone who perpetrates scams of any kind.
“Just get a regular job, find a way to make a really good income and stop scamming people out of your hard-earned money,” he said.
