Salina Woman Loses $7,000 in Online Cat Adoption Scam
A Salina woman was defrauded of $7,000 after responding to a Facebook advertisement for a Maine Coon cat, according to the Salina Police Department (SPD). The incident occurred on Monday, September 29th.
The 57-year-old woman found an ad on Facebook from a profile named “Nathan’s Free Kittens for Adoption adn Rehoming.” After expressing interest, she was asked to pay $100 for the cat via a Walmart gift card. She was told the animal would be shipped through a company called Global Logistic, based in Lincoln, Nebraska.
The requests for money quickly escalated. The woman received messages from someone claiming to represent Global Logistic, demanding $300 for a “pet carrier rental fee” and another $300 for “transportation fees,” both paid with prepaid Visa gift cards. Subsequent requests included $1,000 for “refundable insurance” and $1,500 for a “transfer fee” purportedly refunded upon delivery. A further $1,000 was requested as a “nanny fee” to continue the cat’s care, and $2,800 was requested for additional transport and nanny fees, all paid using gift cards.
The woman received a video of a cat, leading her to believe the transaction was legitimate, but growing suspicions prompted her to inform the scammers she had contacted law enforcement. Following this message, the Facebook profile and the original advertisement were removed.
The SPD is using this case to warn the public about online scams. They advise extreme caution when using computers and social media, specifically warning against clicking on pop-up advertisements. Individuals experiencing computer issues should seek assistance from a trusted and reputable technician.
the department strongly cautions against sending money to individuals met online, particularly if requests involve gift cards or cryptocurrency like Bitcoin. They emphasize the importance of consulting with trusted family members, banks, or law enforcement before making any such payments, as funds sent in this manner are extremely arduous to recover. Red flags include repeated requests for additional fees and instructions to keep the transaction secret from banks or authorities.
