Sick trolls threaten to poison family's missing dog
The owners of a dog who went missing just after Christmas say online trolls have emailed them threatening to poison their pet if they are not paid off.
Linda Lissaman has blasted the “sick” trolls behind the messages, sent after rare beagle Jake disappeared on December 27.
Jake was being walked beside the railways station in Berkswell, near Solihull, when he ran off after spotting a fox.
It is not unusual for him to disappear for an hour – but this time he didn’t return.
Linda, aged 53, from Leamington, and her family tried every way they could to get publicity for the much-loved missing three-year-old pet. They posted his details online on a handful of prominent missing dog websites. Then, in January they started receiving emails claiming Jake had been found.
Linda asked for pictures to verify it but the emailer assured them the dog they had found was theirs – before asking for £210 to drive Jake to their Leamington home.
When Linda said she would pay on arrival the emailer wrote: “Oh am afraid I can only collect the money via PayPal or I poison the beagle bye.”
He then wrote: “Since I don’t hear from you and the beagle food is too expensive and I don’t think I can bear it anymore maybe I will kill him or I should drop him inside a river close to my house here cus am travel today.”
Linda called in the police who said the emailer could be prosecuted for sending a malicious communication – but officers soon traced the sender to Kenya.
The family are still searching for Jake, who was last spotted in Ryton in January.
He is a chocolate tri-coloured beagle, which is unusual in the UK.
If you spot Jake go to the Facebook group ‘Search continues for Jake the beagle’.
THE EMAIL EXCHANGE:
Scammer: “Hello I found your family Beagle around my area and I can help u out by sending him back to u if you don’t mind get back to me as soon as possible so we can make arrangement sending him back”
Linda: “Hello, Please send photo so we can confirm its our beagle. Thank you”
Scammer: “Yes it’s yours and it has been here in London with me for a while now....I can send him through dhl or fedex if u want...I don’t have camera but with your description that’s your beagle Thanks.”
Linda: “That’s great. When and how did you find him? What is your address? its easy for us to collect him. Thank you”
Scammer: “I just found him at the back of my new garden, sorry I won’t be around until next month all you need is to give me your address so the dhl can drop him....”
Linda: “DHL do not take livestock. We will have to collect him today. please send your address”
Scammer: “Well you can giv me your address I will drive down to you house and deliver the beagle....but before you can collect him you will need to pay me both the feeding he took since a week plus and you will also pay for my gas to your pace properly total of GBP 210 so let me know if you can pay for it Thanks.”
Linda: “We will collect or you can deliver, but strictly Cash on delivery non negotiable.”
Scammer: “Oh am afraid I can only collect the money via PayPal or I poison the beagle bye.”
Scammer: “Since I don’t hear from you and the beagle food is too expensive and I don’t think I can bear it anymore maybe I will kill him or I should drop him inside a river close to my house here cus am travel today.”