A mum was targeted by a vile scammer who threatened to kill her missing dog if she didn’t hand over £250.
Little brown Dachshund Violet was out with a dog walker at Reddish Vale park when she got spooked and disappeared.
Owner Alifiyah Mohamedbhai, 33, from Burnage, said she initially believed the Apple AirTag fitted to Violet's collar would help track her down, but the location stopped showing after the tag’s battery began to drain.
"She is such a quiet dog and was out on the same walk that she does every day, and has done for two-and-a-half years with my dog walker and best friend,” Alifiya told the Manchester Evening News. “Nobody knows what spooked her or what happened - she doesn't wander off to explore and always walks by your feet, but she must've turned and just walked off the other way.
"We had no idea where she was. We spent eight hours looking for her and there were no sightings. Reddish Vale is huge, so she could've been anywhere.”
With the help from Greater Manchester Lost Dog Search & Rescue Capture Team, Alifiya issued appeals on social media for help to track down Violet. But while her pleas were shared by others looking to help, they also caught the attention of vile scammers during a gruelling four-day search.
Alifiyah said she was contacted by a man who said he had Violet and threatened to kill her if she didn't hand over £250. It has since been reported to the police after they arranged to meet but nobody turned up and officers are investigating.
"I had a call from a number telling me they had my dog,” she explained. “When I told them she was spayed they said they didn't want her anymore, but couldn't have her back and that we needed to pay.
“I had to sit in the bathroom for an hour and 40 minutes because he wanted to hear the extractor fan, and told me he would kill her if I didn't. Police told me it had been a scam call and that the number and bank account was registered in Leicester. I was in such a vulnerable position and almost broke down."
Thankfully the following day Alifiyah was reunited with her beloved dog after her phone began to buzz as she walked along the River Tame. Her Bluetooth had activated the tag on Violet's collar and she was able to track her down in a small cove in the embankment.
Amazing footage captured Alifiyah wading through the water to get to Violet, who escaped unharmed. "I really had been starting to lose hope,” she added. “I wish I could see her memory of the last couple of days, find out what she was up to and know what spooked her."
It comes as missing pet scammers are the on the rise and an estimated £200,000 has been swindled from heartbroken pet owners in the past two years, according to DogLost. In 2021, the 'despicable' crime was reported in a number of locations across Lancashire. One owner was sent blackmail threats demanding £450 in bitcoin or their pet would be killed or sold.
Last year, the charity said: “Scammers are continuing to make contact with owners of missing pets stating they know where your pet is and need money before they inform you of where."
A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson said: "The crime was reported to us and is being investigated by our City of Manchester district as that’s where the victim lives."
The M.E.N. contacted Cumbria Constabulary. The force confirmed it is investigating a number of reported offences relating to scams targeting dog owners nationally.
The reports see individuals, who have typically posted about their missing pet on social media, contacted regarding their lost or stolen dogs claiming that they have the dog and will return the dog to the owner, in exchange for money being paid.
The force added that hundreds of reports have recently been received from across the country, with numerous arrests made. Detectives have urged victims not to send reward money to anyone without 'extensive checks' to ensure the pet was found by that person.
A spokesperson added: "This is a very complex investigation with victims all over the UK and officers have interviewed several people as well as conducted extensive enquiries. Those reporting the offences have stated that they have been contacted after posting details of their lost or stolen dog on social media or through dedicated lost pet websites.
"To date, Cumbria Police have received over 100 reports from across the country of scams involving lost dogs. Enquiries are ongoing into whether all the reports are linked. These reports have resulted in the recording of crimes for offences of blackmail, fraud or attempted fraud."
If you have been approached by dog scammers, you can reach out to DogLost via their website. You can contact their Police Liason officers on stolen@doglost.co.uk.
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