Broward County Animal Care (BCAC) is alerting the public to a recent scam in which individuals are impersonating agency staff and demanding payment for the return of lost pets.
The scammers have reportedly contacted pet owners, falsely claiming their pets are injured and requiring a recovery fee.
The agency emphasized that BCAC will never request payment over the phone or through unofficial channels to return lost animals. Officials warn residents to be vigilant, as scammers have been spoofing caller ID to make it appear that these fraudulent calls are coming from BCAC.
“While we work to reunite lost pets with their families, we never charge fees for this service via phone,” said Doug Brightwell, BCAC director. “If you receive such a call, please contact authorities immediately or give us a call at (954) 359-1313.”
They encourage Broward County residents to maintain current pet registration and to rely on official BCAC resources when searching for lost animals. These resources include the agency’s website, the official phone lines, and the county’s 311 system.
Residents receiving a suspicious call are advised to report it immediately. For more information, BCAC’s Public Information Officer, Zachary Rinkins, can be contacted at zrinkins@broward.org or (954) 654-9836.
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