(Transcript)
From AlexBrownRacing
Pets held for ransom: it sounds absurd, but imagine that your pet goes missing, only to have someone say they have it, and demand hundreds of dollars in return.
It's happening in Central Texas, and it's a warning you'll only see on KXAN Austin News.
(The following is a transcript written by KXAN Austin News' Carla Castano).
It appears to be a scam: people are preying on vulnerable pet owners who have posted ads on craigslist and just want their pets back home.
Your cat's missing.
"It really is just a hole in my heart. I know a lot of people say, 'She's just a cat,' but she's a part of our family," said Katie Hughes, who owns a missing cat named Eko.
"Searching the neighborhood, putting up posters," said Katarina Villanueva, who owns a missing cat named Stinky.
You head to the shelter, and while there are plenty of cats there, your cat isn't.
"We immediately posted ads on craigslist," said Hughes.
Then hope comes in the form of an e-mail.
"'I am your neighbor. I pick up your pet,'" said Hughes.
"'I need money to pay my bills,'" said Villanueva.
"'I am requesting for the amount of $300 to send back your cat to you,'" said Hughes.
"'You will be sending the $300 to my contact,'" said Villanueva.
"'If you play pranks with me, you would blame yourself for doing that. I'm very sorry, and I hope you would find it in your heart to forgive me for my inhumane act," said Hughes.
They realized it was a scam.
- "I sent him, 'I will happily pay the $300 if you have my cat,'" said Villanueva.
"My first instinct was, 'Gosh, OK, I'll pay. I want Eko back,'" said Hughes.
"Many times, people steal and hold them for ransom, and many times people pay," said Joe Munoz with the Austin Police Department.
Before Stinky's or Eko's owners wired the money...
"It was Western Union to New Mexico," said Villanueva.***
"There's no way a kidnapper would be sending me an e-mail," said Hughes.
Still, both said they can see how someone desperate to get their pet back could fall for it.
"I would pay $300. I'd pay more for my cat if I thought somebody actually had him and if I thought somebody would actually return him. So, I'm sure some people would send the $300 and just sit and wait and hope that the cat would come back," said Villanueva.
"You'll go to pretty much any lengths to do that, and it's just awful that there are people out there scouring Web sites for lost-and-found ads, trying to cash in on them," said Hughes.
Department of Public Safety officials have taken a report and are investigating the case.
It seems, however, that the scammer is based out of Nigeria and is targeting Austin-area craigslist postings.
