Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown has issued a consumer alert warning residents about a scam in which individuals impersonate animal shelter employees to exploit pet owners seeking to reunite with their lost pets, demanding payments through money transfer apps.
Per the news release distributed on Friday, May 16: “Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown today issued a consumer alert warning residents about a scam targeting individuals seeking to reunite with lost pets. Scammers are reportedly impersonating employees from reputable animal shelters, including the Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter (BARCS), the Maryland SPCA, and Talbot Humane, to exploit the distress of pet owners.
How the Scam Works
Scammers identify pet owners through lost pet advertisements on social media platforms. Using caller ID spoofing technology, they make it appear as though the call is coming from a legitimate shelter. The caller often claims to have found the missing pet, stating that the animal is injured and requires immediate medical attention. They then demand payment through money transfer applications such as Zelle, Cash App, Venmo, or PayPal, threatening that the pet will not receive care unless payment is made promptly.
In one reported case, a pet owner transferred $2,600 to the scammer before realizing it was a fraud. Some individuals became suspicious when the scammers failed to provide verifiable information, such as the pet’s microchip number or photographic evidence of the animal’s condition, which helped prevent further losses.
Shelter Policies
Legitimate shelters generally do not request payments over the phone or through money transfer apps. BARCS, for example, has stated that they never solicit payments via phone and encourages individuals to report any suspicious calls to their official email, info@BARCS.org.
Consumer Protection Recommendations
To protect yourself from this scam:
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Do Not Send Money: Avoid transferring funds via money transfer apps to individuals claiming to represent a shelter.
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Verify the Caller: If you receive a call from someone claiming to have found your pet, ask for specific details that only someone with the pet would know.
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Contact the Shelter Directly: Reach out to the shelter through official channels to confirm any information.
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Report Suspicious Activity: If you believe you have been targeted by this scam, report the incident to the Maryland Office of the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
For more information or to report a scam, contact the Maryland Office of the Attorney General at 410-528-8662 or visit www.marylandattorneygeneral.gov.”