KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Great Plains SPCA is warning the community about a serious and ongoing scam in which criminals are using the organization's name to target individuals who have recently lost a pet.

Scammers are calling grieving pet owners and falsely claiming to have found their beloved animal, Great Plains SPCA said. They allege the pet has been injured and requires emergency surgery, then demand thousands of dollars be wired or transferred to a specific account before they will "release" the animal.

In a recent case, Great Plains SPCA said a woman was contacted multiple times but recognized the scam from prior experience.

"We are heartbroken that scammers are preying on people during one of the most vulnerable moments a pet owner can face," said Tam Singer, CEO of Great Plains SPCA.

See Full Page