Not GP related but tell me what you think

[Raine59]

Please tell me what you think of the following situation and if I am being unreasonable.

This morning I was looking at the pet ads on Craigslist (yeah, looking for GPs even though I have enough) and found an ad with this headline: need to pick up a kitten for me in (name of my town) - (name of her town, about 30 min drive from me). The ad read: I need someone to pick up a kitten for me in (name of my town). I have a condition that i cant drive.If u can help please email me at (email address given).

So I thought I would be a good samaritan since I love cats/kittens and sent her an email which read: I think I could help you with the kitten if you still need someone. But tomorrow afternoon would be the earliest I could do it. You need someone to pick it up in (my town) and take it to you in (your town), right?

Immediately she replies: Yeah

I replied immediately: Can you give me the addresses where to pick it up and deliver and phone numbers if possible?

An hour or so later I had not heard from her and needed to go do some errands so I left. I was gone about an hour and a half and when I came back I had 2 emails from her. The first said: Someone wants to meet at the Walmart in (my town) The second one, sent about an hour or so later said: U there.

The following is the rest of our exchanges this afternoon.
Me: I need more specific information than you are giving me.

Her: when can u pick up the kitten for me?

Me: I can do it tomorrow afternoon if that will work for you and the person who has the kitten. But I need the name and phone number of the person who has the kitten and I need your address and phone number.

Her: my address is (address given) u can call me at xxx-xxxx thats the number to my gmail

(I tried calling her and got a message that it was not a working number, so I emailed her and told her and gave her my home and cell numbers and asked her to call me.)

Her: i dont have a cell at the moment

Me: Well if I can't call you and you can't even give me the name of the person who has this kitten, then I'm afraid I can't help you. Please find someone else to help you.

Her: Her name is (first name last name)

I did not reply as I'm getting tired of these shenanigans and I'm not sure she is competent to care for a kitten.

A little later:
Her: U there

(I am not going to respond as I already told her to find someone else.)

 

[MissJean]

Sounds like a stupid person I'd not waste my time with.

 

[James342]

Sounds like a stupid person I'd not waste my time with.

Yep sounds about right. To many of them about now adays

 

[TheGuineas]

ugh that person probably doesn't even deserve that kitten.... and probably wouldn't be able to take care of it if she cannot drive, cannot afford a cell phone, and cannot even find the time to thank you for the offer even...

 

[britgal98579]

I definately would ignore. People are strange and I think the whole things sounds fishy. You can never be to careful!

 

[Paula]

It sounds a potential scam to me and I think it's probably in your best interest not to involve yourself with random strangers posting ads on craigslist. CL is a hotbed for criminal activity and you can't trust anyone or anything you find there. This scenario potentially involves you going to two private residences and while I can appreciate you wanting to be helpful, it's simply not a safe situation to put yourself in.

I'm also a strong believer in the idea that if you can't find a way to physically get the animal yourself, you probably really shouldn't have the animal in the first place.

 

[BlueButterfly]

Sounds very shady. Especially since they can't drive there, can't get any family or friends to drive them there, and can't get the person giving them the kitten to drive to them. It also seems odd she didn't come up with a time and just asked you on the spot.

 

[ZooCavy]

Run, don't walk, away. If she is physically unable to drive most communities have driving services (mobility services, etc). There are also car services, taxis, etc.

Best case scenario she will get a kitten she can't take to the vet for shots, neutering, etc. Worse case scenario, you put yourself at risk. I have done some rescue drives (dogs) and they have always had lots of information and contact numbers. This does not sound safe.

 

[pinky]

There have been some really scary stories about people becoming victims after responding to craigslist ads. I'd run from this one. Also, never meet someone from a Craiglist ad without bringing someone else with you and meeting in a public place.

 

[kananaka]

There have been some really scary stories about people becoming victims after responding to craigslist ads. I'd run from this one. Also, never meet someone from a Craiglist ad without bringing someone else with you and meeting in a public place.

All I could think as I was reading the Op post was sounds like a scam. I would be really afraid! Craig list rapist comes to mind.