An Eastern Carolina resident is among at least 17 people in several states who were targeted in a lost dog scam.
The woman, from Beaufort in Carteret County, sent money to a man in Atlanta, Georgia to get her lost pet back.
The suspect used the Internet to find people who posted classified ads seeking lost dogs. Authorities say he focused on those that said the animal had been implanted with a microchip. The suspect would contact the owner, saying he had the animal, and ask for money to get the pet home. None of the owners, however, got their pets back. The suspect was arrested in a motel near Atlanta Friday and faces wire fraud and racketeering charges.
