Scam Targets Maryland Pet Owners With Fake Animal Shelter Calls

Maryland residents searching for their lost pets are being targeted by a scam in which fraudsters pose as employees of legitimate animal shelters. Reports indicate that the scammers are exploiting vulnerable pet owners by falsely claiming to have found their animals and demanding urgent payment for emergency medical treatment.

Using information gathered from lost pet posts on social media, the scammers employ caller ID spoofing to make it appear as if calls are coming from trusted shelters such as the Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter (BARCS), Maryland SPCA, and Talbot Humane. The impersonators often claim the pet is injured and needs immediate care, then insist on payment through apps like Zelle, Cash App, Venmo, or PayPal. In some instances, payments have reached into the thousands before victims realized they were being defrauded.

Some individuals were able to detect inconsistencies when the callers failed to offer credible proof of the animal’s identity or condition. Requests for microchip numbers or recent photos often went unanswered, raising suspicion and ultimately helping prevent further losses. Still, at least one case involved a pet owner transferring $2,600 to scammers before recognizing the deception.

Animal shelters across Maryland have reiterated that they do not request money over the phone or through digital payment apps. For example, BARCS has advised the public to be cautious and to report any suspicious calls to their official email. They emphasize that all legitimate inquiries about found animals should be conducted through verified communication channels.

State and federal agencies urge consumers to take several precautions, including avoiding unsolicited payment requests, verifying the identity of any caller claiming to have found a pet, and contacting shelters directly for confirmation. Suspected scams should be reported to the Maryland Office of the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division and the Federal Trade Commission.

Article by multiple RFHC contributors, based upon information from the Maryland Office of the Attorney General

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