According to the Maryland Attorney General's office, 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 claims to have found the missing pet, often stating that the animal is injured and requires immediate medical attention. They then demand payment via money transfer applications such as Zelle, Cash App, Venmo, or PayPal, threatening that the pet will not receive care unless the payment is made promptly. In one reported incident, a pet owner was convinced to transfer $2,600 to the scammer before realizing it was a fraud. Source: Maryland Attorney General