New Scam Targets MD Pet Owners: Here's What You Should Know

MARYLAND — State prosecutors are warning Marylanders about a new scam targeting people trying to reunite with their lost pets.

According to a consumer alert issued by the Maryland Attorney General's Office, scammers are exploiting pet owners by impersonating employees from reputable animal shelters, including the Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter, the Maryland SPCA and the Talbot Humane Society.

Officials said the scammers will identify owners through lost pet advertisements on social media platforms. Using caller ID spoofing technology, the scammers make it appear that the call is coming from a legitimate shelter.

The caller then claims to have found the missing pet and will often say the animal is injured and requires immediate medical attention. Once that happens, they demand payment via money transfer apps such as Zelle, CashApp, Venmo or PayPal, and say the pet will not receive care unless the payment is made.

In one reported incident, officials said a pet owner was convinced to transfer $2,600 to the scammer before realizing it was a fraud.

According to officials, some pet owners 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.

Shelters generally do not request payments over the phone or through money transfer apps. BARCS, for example, said its staff never solicits payments via phone and encouraged people to report any suspicious calls to their official email at info@BARCS.org.

To protect yourself from this scam:

• Do Not Send Money: Avoid transferring funds via money transfer apps to individuals claiming to represent a shelter.
• Verify the Caller: If you receive a call from someone claiming to have found your pet, ask for specific details about your animal that only someone with the pet would know.
• Contact the Shelter Directly: Reach out to the shelter through official channels to confirm any information.
• 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.

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.