Lily on Petfinder. Is this guy for real?

[Sevaede]

Last night, I posted Lily up for adoption on Petfinder. It didn't take very long to get a response. I've let Troy read these and he doesn't like the way this guy acts so eager.

Date: Sat, 8 Jul 2006 04:52:07 -0700 (PDT)
From: "leroy smith" Add to Address Book Add Mobile Alert
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Subject: your pet
To: [email protected]

Hello
My name is mr Smith i cam accross your ad and it caught my attention which i am glad about the pet in particular,kindly let me know your final asking amount of the pet and it present working condition.Please include pics for more of it verification,i will be looking forward t your immedaite responds.
Rgds
Smith

And

Date: Sat, 8 Jul 2006 11:37:08 -0700 (PDT)
From: "leroy smith" Add to Address Book Add Mobile Alert
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Subject: Re: your pet
To: "Angelique Copa"

yea those are the pets i will like to buy and i will like to read from you asap

Angelique Copa wrote: Are you inquiring about the ads I have posted on Petfinder? If so, I will be happy to see an adoption worked

Suggestions?

I asked him where he currently lives (as I will not ship her) and told him that she has an adoption fee and WILL be spayed so as not to cause an confusion.

[jazzcat]

I'm a bit lost as to who Lily is, sorry, but my opinion of this guy is no way! What the heck does he mean by "it present working condition". Sounds like he is looking for an animal to breed or something. Sounds shady to me. With all this talk of final asking amount and and buying it he doesn't sound like someone wants to "adopt" a pet to me.

I think if he keeps persuing it I'd just tell him that you are looking for someone who isn't so concerned with costs and more interested in the animal itself.

If I wanted to adopt an animal on petfinders my first questions would be about the animal's personality, health and so forth.

[G535]

If you have any doubts at all about the people who want to adopt her then don't do it! I also don't like the way this guy comes across.

[Randy_K]

Far too creepy for me! I wouldn't place a cat or kitten with someone like that. Please wait for a better candidate.

[Sevaede]

I really had a lot of reservations myself. I will *NOT* be adopting her to him. Thank you all very much, I really appreciate your advice!

Troy says he fears that the guy is trying to find a breeder and it doesn't sound like it would be a very good home for her anyways. I agree.

Jaazcat, attached is a picture of Lily. She is a kitten that Troy and I rescued from the inside of his moms car. We tried to find her people but to no avail. So, now she is up for adoption.

The first picture was taken earlier this week.

[catmandu]

Present working condition?
Unless this person is expressing himself very badly, I think he wants a breeder too.
No way, Jose'.

[smokey the elder]

Boy does that EVER not pass the smell test. I would be put off by the very poor communication skills. (I'm anal about that in emails.) Beyond that, the very wording ("working condition")?? This is a living being, not a lawnmower!

[orangemm]

NO. Just NO. Sounds creepy to me.

[Laura's Babies]

I would have to ask him just WHAT kind of work did he plan for her to do!

[catnapper]

I have no idea what he's saying. Its a very poorly worded email. I too never let people who had such bad communication take one of my fosters.

[Zippy]

This person sounds like a nutjob.

[moosmom]

Go with your gut instincts. Just say no!

[QueenScoopalot]

For some reason this guys name rings a bell as one who's on D.N.A. (do not adopt) lists due to either animal mutilations, or using adopted animals to train fighting dogs. I would never let an animal go via the internet until references were provided, and confirmed. Ask who their vet is, and follow through with a call to them to assure it's an actual vet clinic, and not someone posing as one. Find out if any other pets in the house are spayed etc. Ask if they've had pets before, and what happened to them if they don't have them any longer. I'd be highly suspicious of someone so eager to adopt a never seen animal! You're probably better off placing an ad on the vet clinics bulletin board to find adopters. And spreading the word via friends. Hope Lily gets a good home, and I'm sure there's more cautionary words to add here.

[jazzcat]

Thanks for the pictures, I remember her now. She's really getting big already. Ashame you can't keep her.

I have a question. You said you put her on petfinder, did you do a classified ad? Is there anyway you could get a rescue or shelter to do a courtesy listing for you? I just think if it's tied with a group you might get better response and mabye fewer of the nutcases.

[boscibo]

This is a classic scam letter - he doesn't want the cat at all - he wants your money. The scam is he pays the adoption fee and shipping cost by cashiers check and overpays you, and instructs you to send a third party (also in on the scam) the overpayment. The check bounces, and you're out the overpayment.

This type of scam has been going on for years, usually for big ticket items like cars, boats, motorcycles...etc. Any way to make a buck, I guess.