The Lisbon City Council warned this Monday, December 15th, about the existence of a fraudulent scheme that targets owners of missing animals, contacted by individuals pretending to be professionals from Casa dos Animais de Lisboa (CAL) and demanding payments for the supposed return of the animals. According to the municipality, the scam has been occurring in recent weeks and affects citizens who reported the disappearance of their animals on online platforms, and were then approached with requests for payment by MBWay or ATM reference, allegedly to cover treatments or surgeries.
The municipality clarifies that CAL does not request any payment through these means and that, when an animal is found with electronic identification, the owner is contacted directly by the institution. Any amounts payable are only charged in person, at the time of return, in accordance with the municipal table in force.
In a statement, the Lisbon City Council also states that this fraudulent practice has caused losses to several citizens and generated confusion regarding the functioning of the CAL. The municipality adds that it is evaluating, in conjunction with the competent authorities, the appropriate steps for reporting and investigating the situation, calling for any suspicious contacts to be reported immediately to the Public Security Police.