In a recent warning issued by Orange County Animal Services (OCAS), residents of Central Florida are being alerted to a cruel scam preying on pet owners with missing animals. According to Orlando Weekly, individuals posing as OCAS employees have been contacting pet owners with false claims about their pets' precarious conditions.
Valerie Fitzgerald, associated with United Paws Inc., a partner rescue operation working with OCAS, became the victim of such a scam after posting about her missing cat, Bella, on an online forum. "The person on the other line said he was an OCAS employee and that Bella was in the shelter," Fitzgerald relayed in a statement, as reported by Orlando Weekly. The scammer concocted a story claiming Bella had been hit by a vehicle and was paralyzed, demanding an upfront payment of half the purported $5,400 surgery fee through payment platforms such as Cash App, Venmo, or Zelle.
Despite the urgency hammered by the caller, Fitzgerald's suspicions prompted her to reach out to OCAS directly, a move that confirmed her fears—the call was a scam. Diane Summers, manager for OCAS, emphasized that if the shelter were to contact a pet owner, they would never ask for money upfront. "When we reach out to owners about reclaiming a pet, the first thing we ask them to do is visit the shelter, not send money," Summers explained to Orlando Weekly.
Duplicating this distressing account, WFTV reported Fitzgerald's recollection of the scammer's insistence on immediate payment, leveraging the pet's life against the clock. Fitzgerald said, "He said he needed the payment immediately, or they would have to let Bella go." Acknowledging the predatory nature of these scams, Summers pointed out to WFTV that pet owners in the throes of desperation can overlook red flags.
OCAS wishes to reassure the community that their process for pet reclaiming involves set fees, which have never been conducted through mobile payment apps. Summers underscored the importance of in-person verification at the shelter for anyone contacted about a lost pet. "If someone is contacting you on behalf of our shelter and you have any suspicion about the legitimacy of the information, please visit our shelter in person to speak with our staff," she advised in statements reported by Orlando Weekly.
