ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) –  The City of Albuquerque Animal Welfare Department (AWD) issued a warning to Albuquerque residents and other animal shelters about telephone scams. The department said scammers might call claiming to be from AWD and ask for money in relation to your missing pet. Thieves are targeting people who lost pets and asking the owner for payment over the phone to get their lost pet back. Story continues below News: Former New Mexico State Police officer faces charges related to Medicaid fraud Trending: Are rideshare companies overcharging New Mexico customers? News: 2 dead after fiery crash causes closure on I-40 Community: New Mexico Strange: Prominent Ghost Stories in Albuquerque's Old Town Officials said pet owners may also be told that their pet needs emergency surgery and demand payment immediately in order to do the surgery. AWD said it does call pet owners to inform them that their pet is at the shelter and will instruct the owner to go to the shelter to reclaim their pet. If the pet is already spayed or neutered, he or she will be returned to the owner free of charge. If the pet is not spayed or neutered, the owner will be told the amount of the reclaim fee and to go to the shelter to pay the fee. AWD said it would never ask for payment ahead of time to reclaim your pet and would not insist you use gift cards, Cash App, or electronic payment. “This is a heartbreaking situation for people who just want to find their beloved missing pets,” Carolyn Ortega, director of Animal Welfare Department, said in a news release. “We encourage the community to help us protect the owners of lost pets by spreading the word of these terrible scams with colleagues, friends and family.” If you come across scams, you are asked to contact the New Mexico Department of Justice Toll-Free at 1-844-255-9210 and report scams to the Federal Trade Commission: Report Now .