Minnesota family victim of fraud involving missing cat

Submitted Photo LOST CAT: A young male cat by the name of Orange Orange went missing Feb. 13 from the stable gates at Oaklawn Park. The cat's owners were contacted Monday by a man claiming to have the cat in his possession. After scamming the family out of $225, it was determined the caller either did not have the cat or had no intention of returning him.
Submitted Photo LOST CAT: A young male cat by the name of Orange Orange went missing Feb. 13 from the stable gates at Oaklawn Park. The cat's owners were contacted Monday by a man claiming to have the cat in his possession. After scamming the family out of $225, it was determined the caller either did not have the cat or had no intention of returning him.

A family from Minnesota staying in Hot Springs for live thoroughbred horse racing at Oaklawn Park were reportedly victims of a computer fraud scam this week by an unknown person who extorted money claiming to have found their lost cat.

Hot Springs police have noted the person responsible for the scam could be charged with computer fraud, a felony punishable by up to six years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

According to a police report, on Tuesday morning, officers responded to the parking lot of the Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, 170 Pakis St., and made contact with the victim, who stated that his 4-year-old daughter's cat, Orange Orange, went missing Feb. 13 from the stable gates area at Oaklawn Park, where the victims have horses.

The victim said his wife posted to social media about the cat and advertised around Oaklawn and the surrounding area, but didn't get a response, initially. He noted they didn't list their phone numbers on any of the postings.

On Monday, the victim received a text message from an unknown number, stating, "I have your cat." The sender, who stated he was a 58-year-old man and identified himself as "Jimmy," claimed his daughter found the cat in Hot Springs and brought it to him in Little Rock. He indicated he would return the cat but needed $65 for gas money.

"At first he seemed like he was trying to be helpful, telling us he was willing to walk through hell to get our daughter's cat back to her," the victim's wife, who declined to be identified, told The Sentinel-Record on Wednesday.

"Then he started being difficult and sending messages saying that we must not want him back badly enough if we weren't willing to pay," she said. Despite their uneasy feeling, they complied and sent him the money via PayPal.

"Jimmy" contacted the victims again claiming he needed more money, but assured them he would reimburse them upon his arrival. Still fearing for the safe return of their cat, the victims sent him another $60. The caller canceled the Monday meeting, but agreed to meet them Tuesday.

The caller texted the wife Tuesday saying he would meet them at Cracker Barrel after receiving another payment of $100. He threatened to keep the cat if his demands were not met. The victims stated they "wanted the cat back very badly," and continued to meet the man's demands for money.

The wife said she continued to plead with him over text messages, and even tried to lure him out by promising to give him her wedding ring. "I told him I'd give him my wedding ring if he would just give me the cat back. It's sad walking to a barn and seeing your horses, but not your barn cat," she said.

The victims contacted police to report their cat was being held for ransom. Officers told the victims to require photographic evidence that "Jimmy" was really in possession of the cat or for him to meet with them before paying any more money. The man never appeared and cut off all communication with the victims. It was later determined that he used a mobile texting application to disguise his identity.

"He tried to use my daughter's love for her animal, and her parents' love for her against everyone," the wife said.

The victims stated they believed "Jimmy" had possession of their cat because their phone numbers were not provided on the post, but were on the cat's collar and name tag. It was later discovered the wife's name and phone number were posted on the Arkansas Lost and Found Pet Network. The wife said she contacted the network in reference to the missing cat, but had asked for the phone number not to be used.

The victims have since made plans to contact ALFPN and PayPal about the scam. If the true identity of "Jimmy" is discovered, they said they wanted to pursue charges. The victims are reportedly out a total of $225 paid to the suspect.

"Hopefully with technology being what it is today the police will be able to find him. The best we can hope for now is that this man never had Orange Orange," the wife said.

Orange Orange is a young, neutered male cat, orange and white in color, and answers when called. He was last seen wearing a leather collar with a pink name tag. His owner's names and numbers are listed on both the tag and the collar.

Anyone with any information regarding the incident or a possible suspect should contact the HSPD at 321-6789.

Local on 03/23/2017

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