Safe walks on Wag, the fake home scam
10 dog walking tips to feel secure while walking new dogs
Writer’s note on February 7, 2024: Due to an incident that happened to me today, I’m adding two more to this list for a total of 10.
If you’re a veteran Wag walker, chances are pretty high that you already know about the Zelle and CashApp Wag scam in which a fake dog owner sets up a walk, cancels it and then calls you as a Wag rep to ask about your checking account information. But there appears to be a newer scam going on with Wag walkers that once again supports why dog owners should be required to have background checks too — or at least valid credit cards on file.
Recommended Read: “Wag! dog walkers, beware of scammers ~ What independent contractors need to be aware of with the Wag! app”
In a recent Reddit post, a Wag walker reportedly* accepted a walk for a Yorkie named Oreo. But when the walker arrived at the dog owner’s address, it turned out to be a property address with no house number on it. Two guys got out of a car and told the walker that they knew where Oreo was, although the Wag walker had never mentioned being a walker nor the dog’s name. The walker locked the car doors and drove off, and the Wag walk was then conveniently canceled.
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An unfamiliar phone number called after the walk was canceled to ask the walker to go back to that address. A “neighbor” was going to tell the walker where to find the dog. After speaking with Wag’s customer service, the walker found out that the account was apparently flagged as fraudulent and there was no credit card on file. Why Wag! still allowed a flagged account to book walks is anybody’s guess.
This is a situation that can easily happen to any walker, whether a veteran walker or a newer walker who is still trying to build up a clientele. Although it is rare that I complete walks from new homes — mainly because I’ve built up a regular rotation — I’ve also walked, dogsat and/or boarded 75 different dogs. And all of those dogs were clearly new to me at one point and time. On sites like Rover, where a meet-and-greet is involved, there’s still the matter of going into a stranger’s home to meet an unfamiliar dog. So here are 10 tips to stay safe with new dogs and owners on these dog walking apps.