Purrs In Our Hearts - Cat Forum UK

Lost & Found Cats => Lost & Found General => Topic started by: BazandGem on April 13, 2010, 12:56:30 PM

Title: Junk mail claiming to have my lost pet
Post by: BazandGem on April 13, 2010, 12:56:30 PM
Hi everyone,

I've just received the following which presumably came as spam from one of the lost pet notices I've got all over the web at the moment about Bazza. Now, there is no Christ Embassy Church anywhere near me and I'm fairly sure it's an American who's written the email, and one who can't spell very well at that, so I haven't been taken in by it, but how horrible it must be if you actually fall for it and whatever ensuing demands these people make  >:(

Gem x

HELLO,
MY NAME IS PASTOR (MRS) LORIE CANDY. I AM AN ANIMAL VET AND ALSO ONE OF THE PASTORS OF THE CHRIST EMBASSY CHURCH. FEW DAYS AGO I SAW YOUR MISSING PET ROAMING ABOUT THE STREET AND I HAD TO RESCUE IT FOR KEEPS UNTIL I FINALLY FIND THE RIGHTFUL OWNER SO THAT I GET GIVE IT BACK TO HIM OR HER, BUT RIGHT NOW I AM ON EVANGELISM WORK FOR SOUL REDEMPTION IN NIGERIAIN WEST AFRICA, SO BECAUSE I DONT WANT YOUR PET TO BE ALONE AT HOME IN STATE I HAD TO TRAVEL DOWN HERE WITH IT. RIGHT NOW SINCE I FOUND YOU (THE OWNER), I AM HONESTLY WILLING TO RETURN BACK YOUR PET TO YOU, BUT YOU HAVE TO PROOF SOME REAL FACTS THAT YOU ARE THE REAL OWNER OF THE PET BY SENDING ANY RECENT PICTURE(S) OF THIS LOVING AND CUTE PET AND YOU MUST ALSO BE ABLE TO TELL ME HIS OR HER NAME AND THE EXACT DAY AND TIME THAT YOUR PET HAD BEEN MISSING. PLEASE YOU MUST ALSO BEAR IN MIND THAT WHEN YOU SATIFY THAT YOU ARE THE REL OWNER OF THSIS BEAUTIFUL PET, ALL SHIPPING AND ANY OTHER TRAVELLING EXPENSES WILL BE INCURED BY YOU.
ONE MORE THING, ARE YOU BORN AGAIN, CO WE ARE IN THE END TIME AND YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN TO BE ABLE TO MAKE HEAVEN. GOD BLESS YOU AS I HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU SOON.
PASTOR LORIE
Title: Re: Junk mail claiming to have my lost pet
Post by: Dawn F on April 13, 2010, 12:59:35 PM
sadly people do do this kind of thing  :hug:
Title: Re: Junk mail claiming to have my lost pet
Post by: Teresa Pawcats on April 13, 2010, 13:03:37 PM
I remember this type of scam causing someone terrible pain before Purrs was born.
Title: Re: Junk mail claiming to have my lost pet
Post by: puggy1975 Zoe on April 13, 2010, 13:30:41 PM
Thats really sick
Title: Re: Junk mail claiming to have my lost pet
Post by: Mark on April 13, 2010, 19:38:09 PM
It sounds like a typical Nigerian scam mail.

They have even sent Sharon an email offering an unwanted ultrasound scanner - obviously there was no scanner. What would have happened, is they would ask the charity to send them £500 or whatever for delivery and that would be the end of it  >:( - they have no scuples and will target anyomne they think is vulnerable. Don't be upset by it is nothing personal,  just the scum of the earth trying to con anyone they can.\

I used to run a B&B and I still get emails asking for rooms for 6 newly ordained priests for a week with meals included. I know how that scam works if people are vulnerable enough to fall for it.
Title: Re: Junk mail claiming to have my lost pet
Post by: Gill (sneakiefeline) on April 13, 2010, 22:14:44 PM
please delete email and ignore, the others arre right  :hug: :hug:
Title: Re: Junk mail claiming to have my lost pet
Post by: Sam (Fussy_Furball) on April 13, 2010, 22:55:25 PM
Delete and ignore hun.
Title: Re: Junk mail claiming to have my lost pet
Post by: BazandGem on April 14, 2010, 13:17:03 PM
It was deleted as soon as I'd copied it - just thought it may make others aware it's a scam in case they were to fall for it. It's so generic it's unlikely they would, but you never know.

Gem x
Title: Re: Junk mail claiming to have my lost pet
Post by: Pinkbear (Julie) on April 14, 2010, 21:43:49 PM
When my Tilly was AWOL for three months a couple of years back we put posters up everywhere and as a result had phone messages from local chavs claiming they'd seen her body floating down the river. More than once we raced down to the river trying to see if there really was a dead cat there.  >:( It nearly tore us apart as it's the not knowing which causes more pain.  :'(

I've seen those scamming mails before. They are sick, sick people with too much technology and not enough brains to use it constructively.  :tired:

I really hope your pud turns up soon. As I say, we found Tilly after three months living rough in an overgrown garden 3 houses away. Very often they are very nearby but too scared to come out when you call.  ;) :hug: :hug:
Title: Re: Junk mail claiming to have my lost pet
Post by: YogiDot on April 14, 2010, 22:17:36 PM
When I found Yogi I tried to trace his owners but drew the line at putting up "found" posters with a mobile number on it. 

A friend who put up lost cat posters was contacted and lured to a potential mugging (or worse) by some sick scammo.  Fortunately she took a family member with her to check out every sighting resulting from the posters, and on this occasion had smelt a rat anyway, so was safe.  The guy ran off when he saw her brother behind her.

I hope Bazza is found soon
Title: Re: Junk mail claiming to have my lost pet
Post by: Mark on April 14, 2010, 23:54:52 PM
The lady who used to look after the cat in London told me about someone that put a lost poster up. They got a call saying someone had the cat and it would be tortured unless they came up with a ransom  >:( - I think this one ended well though.
Title: Re: Junk mail claiming to have my lost pet
Post by: JennyLynn on April 18, 2010, 14:21:11 PM
There are some really sick people in this world. You did the right thing deleting and ignoring. Dont give up!!

 :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: x x x x