{"id":243508,"date":"2023-03-03T20:14:16","date_gmt":"2023-03-03T10:14:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.petcloud.com.au\/d\/?p=243508"},"modified":"2023-03-05T09:52:51","modified_gmt":"2023-03-04T23:52:51","slug":"petsitting-cybercrime","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.petcloud.com.au\/d\/blog\/petsitting-cybercrime\/","title":{"rendered":"Credit Card Scam targeting Pet Sitters"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Last year, Australians lost over $568 million, according to Scamwatch.  If you are a Pet Sitter or Dog Walker who is able to be booked online, it\u2019s important you are aware of this scam as it can quickly drain your savings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is \u2018Card Cashing\u2019?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is how it occurs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. A Pet Owner makes an online booking with you using a credit card (for say $2000).<\/li>
  2.  A day later, they might tell you they\u2019ve had a change of plans\/family is sick and they want a refund.<\/li>
  3. The Catch:<\/u><\/strong> They tell you they want the refund in cash, or paid into their PayPal or Bank account, perhaps even insisting that they closed that credit card account.<\/li>
  4. You politely oblige. You refund $2000 into their requested account & wishing their family a speedy recovery.<\/li>
  5. 30 days later, the card issuing bank raises a dispute with you, saying that last month you processed an unauthorised credit card.<\/li>
  6. You explain that you already refunded the Pet Owner but then you find out the credit card never belonged to the Pet Owner who booked you. The customer was actually a cybercriminal using a stolen credit card. The bank debits $2000 from your account to recover funds for their customer. You are now -$4000. <\/strong>This is because you have lost both the disputed amount<\/span> and the amount you refunded separately<\/span> to the person you thought was a Pet Owner.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    How can I keep myself safe online?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n