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Honored Contributor
Posts: 24,685
Registered: ‎07-21-2011

Attn: Are Looking to purchase a kitten?

A friend's daughter wanted to purchase a Devon Rex kitten.  She looked at several websites and finally settled on one  It was $700 and the money would go thru Zelle (I never heard of Zelle) but it does exist.   She apparently sent the money by Zelle and that is when the communication ended.  No kitten and blocked from calling.

 

Always use your Mastercard or Visa.  Do not use these banking instruments.  Your credit card will take care of any fraud and misrepresentation.  How awful to lose all that money and not get your kitten.

kindness is strength
Honored Contributor
Posts: 14,574
Registered: ‎11-24-2013

Re: Attn: Are Looking to purchase a kitten?

@Katcat1 Zelle is a reputable and long established way to send money. Both myself and family members have used it for years.

 

The daughter got scammed. I doubt if she ever verified the seller's credentials or anything else. 

 

Maybe next time she should find a reputable breeder if she doesn't want to adopt a kitten.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 11,300
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: Attn: Are Looking to purchase a kitten?

They just did a story about this type of scam on the evening news a few days ago.  A lot of people have lost money thinking they were buying a puppy or kitten, only to find their money gone and no new family member.

 

The only way I'd buy a new kitten, if I definitely wanted a particular breed, is to go to the breeder and see the kittens.  

 

Two of my cats are from my local no-kill animal shelter and I adore them.  My oldest cat is a Tonkinese that I got from a reputable breeder.  I just love cats in all their variety.

 

I also sponsor an elderly cat that the shelter has deemed not adoptable.  They've tried, but she's just happiest at the shelter, so that's her forever home.

 

@Katcat1 - Has she contacted Zelle to inform them of what happened?  I thought some of these online money apps had some kind of guarantee, but perhaps not all.  It wouldn't hurt to ask.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 43,277
Registered: ‎08-23-2010

Re: Attn: Are Looking to purchase a kitten?

@Katcat1 

 

Sorry, but I'm in the group that thinks people should never purchase an animal ... they should ADOPT from their local shelters.   Cat Very Happy

 

$700 for a kitten?  Yes, I know this sounds harsh, but I'm glad she lost her money.  She could have adopted a beautiful kitten at her local shelter and had $600 left to donate to that shelter for all the good they do.  Cat Very Happy

 

JMO, of course.   Cat Very Happy

Honored Contributor
Posts: 34,822
Registered: ‎03-10-2010

Re: Attn: Are Looking to purchase a kitten?


@Tinkrbl44 wrote:

@Katcat1 

 

Sorry, but I'm in the group that thinks people should never purchase an animal ... they should ADOPT from their local shelters.   Cat Very Happy

 

$700 for a kitten?  Yes, I know this sounds harsh, but I'm glad she lost her money.  She could have adopted a beautiful kitten at her local shelter and had $600 left to donate to that shelter for all the good they do.  Cat Very Happy

 

JMO, of course.   Cat Very Happy


@Tinkrbl44 I respect your opinion, however I am someone who wants very much to preserve the wonderful animal breeds we have now.  

 

I wouldn't look forward to the world without Collies, Cocker Spanials, St. Bernards, those crazy Terries, and many many other very special and unique animal breeds. I can't imagine the cat world without the Siamese. 

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Posts: 1,386
Registered: ‎07-14-2010

Re: Attn: Are Looking to purchase a kitten?

@Tinkrbl44 Purebred cats deserve a loving home too. 

Honored Contributor
Posts: 11,300
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: Attn: Are Looking to purchase a kitten?

[ Edited ]

I don't think anyone should be judged for preferring a particular breed of animal.  No one has the right to impose his/her own views on another.  Every person has the right to make that decision for him/herself.

 

I've had Siamese, Burmese and Tonkinese.  I love Orientals and they have a personality all their own.

 

I believe you can love purebred and mixed breed equally.  My money, my choice.  No one else's business.  That's JMO, of course.

 

(And saying you're glad someone lost her money is just plain mean.  That's the same as saying you're glad there are crooks out there waiting to steal someone's money, as well as their joy.  Just because they don't agree with your view of the "right" way to acquire a new family member?  SMH.)

Honored Contributor
Posts: 15,927
Registered: ‎02-27-2012

Re: Attn: Are Looking to purchase a kitten?

[ Edited ]

I found this info online:

 

Zelle is safe, as long as you know and trust the person you're sending money to.

 

Once you authorize a payment, it'll go through, and there's no form of fraud protection.

 

The biggest drawback of Zelle is that it doesn't offer fraud protection for authorized payments. In other words, if you purchase something online and use Zelle to pay for it, you have no recourse if you never receive the item you paid for.

 

For example, if you use Zelle to purchase an item from Craigslist, and it turns out you were scammed, Zelle won't refund you. Thus, they advise that you only use the service to pay people you absolutely know and trust. 

 

 

That is a total shame.  I would never use Zelle, Venmo or any of these services and appreciate you sharing this sad story....it is a warning I appreciate!!

Honored Contributor
Posts: 43,277
Registered: ‎08-23-2010

Re: Attn: Are Looking to purchase a kitten?


@Venezia wrote:

I don't think anyone should be judged for preferring a particular breed of animal.  No one has the right to impose his/her own views on another.  Every person has the right to make that decision for him/herself.

 

I've had Siamese, Burmese and Tonkinese.  I love Orientals and they have a personality all their own.

 

I believe you can love purebred and mixed breed equally.  My money, my choice.  No one else's business.  That's JMO, of course.

 

(And saying you're glad someone lost her money is just plain mean.  That's the same as saying you're glad there are crooks out there waiting to steal someone's money, as well as their joy.  Just because they don't agree with your view of the "right" way to acquire a new family member?  SMH.)


 

@Venezia 

 

I prefaced that comment by saying my opinion might seem harsh, but I guess you missed that.  I donate regularly to no-kill shelters and feel strongly about the good work they do. 

 

I don't know how old that person is, but buying one very, very expensive kitten without seeing it in person, just off a website, is asking for trouble.  Just my opinion, of course.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 43,277
Registered: ‎08-23-2010

Re: Attn: Are Looking to purchase a kitten?


@RespectLife wrote:

I found this info online:

 

Zelle is safe, as long as you know and trust the person you're sending money to.

 

Once you authorize a payment, it'll go through, and there's no form of fraud protection.

 

The biggest drawback of Zelle is that it doesn't offer fraud protection for authorized payments. In other words, if you purchase something online and use Zelle to pay for it, you have no recourse if you never receive the item you paid for.

 

For example, if you use Zelle to purchase an item from Craigslist, and it turns out you were scammed, Zelle won't refund you. Thus, they advise that you only use the service to pay people you absolutely know and trust. 

 

 

That is a total shame.  I would never use Zelle, Venmo or any of these services and appreciate you sharing this sad story....it is a warning I appreciate!!


 

@RespectLife 

 

Huh ....  I wonder why she didn't use Paypal which is much more reliable.