A ‘catty’ robbery

A WOMAN from the Phoenix area in Durban has been conned off thousands by a woman who claimed to be from Vryheid and was selling Persian kittens.

Nisa Khan received an advert in the form of an email from a Ms Estelle Atwood about the cats and fell hopelessly in love after seeing ‘their photos’.

The women started corresponding and Nisa was informed that the cost was R2000 per kitten, this, to Nisa, seemed only a trifle in comparison to the joy of owning one of the cuddly kittens.

“Estelle then informed me that she lived in Kommissie Street in Vryheid and even gave me the street number. I was also informed that I would have to pay an additional fee of R450 for the courier service,” said Nisa.

Once all had been discussed and payments were settled, Nisa was informed that the kitten was to be dropped off at the courier on February 9. That was the last she heard of Estelle.

You may also want to read: Vryheid SPCA – Why adopt an older cat? 

“I then received a call from Luchanca’s Pet Courier stating I must pay R 3100 for the crate of which R 3000 will be refunded upon delivery,” said Nisa.

The email read:

“We are sorry to inform you that we can’t use the crate your sender came with to transport your Kitten in for security reasons at this period,The crate that your sender(Mrs Estelle) brought the Kittens with is a domestic crate, which are not suitable for the Climatic condition. The Climatic condition this period requires a Temperature Regulating Crates which we are going to use to transport your Kitten in. So you are requested to get the crate . Without this crate, we are sorry, we will not handle the transportation of your Kitten because should anything happen to your Kitten, we will be held responsible, so get the crate from us. We have the crate here and we can give it on rent. We rent it for R100.00 per crate. But this will apply a caution fee of R 3000.00 which is FULLY refundable upon delivery of your Kitten. So if you wish to rent the crate from us, you are required to pay R 3100.00 which R 3000.00 will be fully refunded to you as the caution fee and the crate taken back to the company. But if you wish to keep the crate, then you will have to purchase it for R5500.00 . So make your decision and get back to us so that everything can be handled and your Kitten set for for delivery today.”

“I then paid the courier fee and received an email saying that my kitten would be in Durban at 8.30pm.

When the kitten did not arrive at the promised time I tried to contact the courier on the number I had received a call from earlier and got no reply,” said Nisa in dismay.

To date she has been unable to get hold of either the seller nor the courier company.

Nisa contacted the Vryheid Police Station and gave them the address she had been given by Estelle. When they arrived at the address all was locked up.

If you have any interesting stories please send them to: estella@caxton.co.za or Contact us on; 034 981 3930

The Vryheid SAPS’ Jethro Khumalo has recently warned community members to be very vigilant when buying things online as criminals are always looking for ways to make a quick buck.

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Nisa is currently unsure whether the woman that conned her will ever be caught but she trusts that the law will take its course.