BALTIMORE, MD—Pet owners in Maryland are being warned about a cruel scam that preys on their love for their furry friends. Scammers are posing as animal shelter employees and using social media to deceive people searching for their lost pets.

The scheme involves using caller ID spoofing technology to make it appear as though calls are coming from legitimate shelters like the Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter (BARCS), the Maryland SPCA, and Talbot Humane. The scammers then claim to have found the missing pet, often adding that the animal is injured and requires immediate medical attention. They then demand immediate payment via money transfer apps like Zelle, Cash App, Venmo, or PayPal, threatening that the pet will not receive care if the payment is not made.

One victim reported losing $2,600 to this scam before realizing it was a fraud. Suspicions arose when the scammers failed to provide verifiable information, including the pet’s microchip number or photographic evidence of its condition. These red flags prevented more people from being scammed.

To avoid becoming a victim, animal shelters advise pet owners never to send money over the phone or through money transfer apps. BARCS emphasizes that they never solicit payments by phone and urge anyone receiving suspicious calls to report them to [email protected].

If you receive a call claiming your pet has been found, verify the caller’s identity by asking for specific details about your pet that only someone with the animal would know. Then, contact the shelter directly through their official channels to confirm the information.

Anyone who believes they have been targeted by this scam is urged to report it to the Maryland Office of the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Call 410-528-8662 or visit marylandattorneygeneral.gov to report a scam or for more information.

This article was written with the assistance of AI and reviewed by a human editor.

Photo via Pixabay

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