Townsville City Council is warning local pet owners about an international pet scam run by a group called ‘Petchip’.
The scam preys on pet owners by sending fraudulent emails asking for payment for “microchip registration expiration”. The emails include a threat that pets will be listed as “unregistered” if a fee is not paid.
Emails from Petchip are not issued by or in conjunction with Council, said Acting Mayor, Ann-Maree Greaney.
“This international scam has been targeting pet owners across Australia, the US and the UK,” Cr Greaney said.
“Pet microchips do not expire and do not need to be re-registered for a fee.
“Scams are growing increasingly sophisticated which can make it hard to decipher between what is legitimate and what is fraudulent. If you receive a phone call or email from someone claiming to represent Townsville City Council, you can call Council on 13 48 10 and verify with our team.
“Thanks to a member of our community who called to verify whether Council was connected to the Petchip emails, we have been able to share this warning with other members of the community who have been targeted.”
Council issues dog registration and cat approval reminders by mail annually, with renewals due by 31 August each year.
