Seattle man caught in missing cat scam
Mar 19, 2025, 5:55 AM
Little Wayne Shorter, a 14-year-old cat involved in the scam. (Photo courtesy of 成人X站 7)
(Photo courtesy of 成人X站 7)
Scammers are preying on owners whose pets have gone missing by pretending to be with local animal shelters.
鈥淚 would do anything to get my baby boy back,鈥� said cat owner Justin Hills.
Hills told 成人X站 7 it鈥檚 been an emotional roller coaster ever since his now 14-year-old cat Little Wayne Shorter went missing in November.
Two weeks later, he got a phone call from someone claiming to be with the Seattle Animal Shelter.
鈥淭he guy was rehearsed, was smooth. He sounded like, you know, an experienced person,鈥� Hills added. 鈥淭hey knew they had done some research on me before they called. You know, they knew my name. They knew my cat鈥檚 name, you know, the address and all this.鈥�
Hills says they told him what no pet owner wants to hear.
鈥淗e has been injured. He was hit by a car.听He needs surgery. Do you want to go ahead with that surgery? And then they wanted, asked if I could Venmo them $2,800,鈥� Hills explained.
The Seattle Animal Shelter told 成人X站 7 that鈥檚 a听.
“鈥奧e would never ask somebody over the phone to make a payment. We鈥檙e going to get that pet to a veterinarian and get it care and treatment, and then we鈥檒l work out how to get the pet back to the owner after that,鈥� said Don Baxter, Manager of Field Services.
Hills says he knew something wasn鈥檛 right, but he was willing to take the risk for Little Wayne.
鈥淭he back of my head is screaming, 鈥楾his is a scam. This is a scam.鈥� But at the same time, because it鈥檚 such an emotional pull,听I鈥檓 thinking, even if there鈥檚 only a 10% chance that this is real,听you know, I want to go ahead with it,鈥� he said.
Hills said he called his bank about it, which advised him it was a scam.
Fortunately, he never sent the money. But he warns other pet owners to think twice as these scammers aim to take advantage of your emotions.
鈥淗e was my fur child. He was my kid. You know, it still breaks my heart that he鈥檚 gone,鈥� Hill said.
The Seattle Animal Shelter says if your pet is lost, visit their lost pet page:听. You can also call (206) 386-7387 or visit the shelter between open hours Tues-Fri and Sat/Sun from 1-5 p.m.
