The email had two photos attached, and I knew straight away that this kitten was exactly what I was looking for.

One thing that stuck out was that this was written by someone whose first language is English. It didn't have the common spelling mistakes that are commonly made when English isn't the writer's original language.

I wanted this kitten, and it was up to me to convince this lady that I would provide a suitable home for him

I wrote a whole bunch of stuff about my history with cats, my interest in Burmese cats and what sort of life Diesel would have with me.

This also lulled me into a false sense of security - the only mention of money was that I wouldn't have to pay for the kitten. What mattered to Catherine Bennett was that he went to a suitable home.

As money was not an issue my focus was to convince this lady that I was the one who should have him.

I also included my phone number in the first email - I made it clear that she was welcome to call me with any more questions.
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Date: 24th November, 2020
Time: 11:10am

Hi Phil,

Good to read back from you.

My condolence for your lost(Kitten). Oh he was so cute what a white little man he was...

We like to learn a little more about the individual and family before our kitten is placed with his new family as we are curious to know more about his new home.

Read your previous message and have been very impressed as you have given 25% answers already to questions I was about asking, so I know truly where Diesel would be going.

I've learned it's a pet loving home that's experienced with cats, one of the big aspects we'll like to hear his new home has. A home Diesel gets the chance to have a company and playmate of his kind around him.

Just to put our minds at ease as if you don't mind me asking in accordance to the rest of the 75% left.

So how many of you live at home in total? And have you anyone home with special needs or health issues?

Have you currently any other pet or pets at home apart from Phoenix?(Bird, dog, fish, reptile etc)

Are you financially up to the task to take the responsibilities for Diesel?

Really how good and convenient is your home and environment going to be for Diesel?(Talking of how secured it would be).

Please do not mind asking much but you have to understand we do care a lot for him. Hope you were in my place you would do the same.
We're at Kalgoorlie as we just moved house here as previously mentioned. Noticed we're quite distantly separated but no worries whatever the case if we consider your home a genuine pet loving home for him, transportation can be arranged.

Look forward to hearing from you.

Catherine

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My Notes & Response: As with the first email it was all about the welfare and future for Diesel. These are the right questions that a concerned pet owner would ask - in hindsight, they have probably been copied from a web site somewhere.

I wrote a lengthy, detailed response - I covered each question with a good (and honest) answer.

As with my first response I wrote a bit of an essay about why she should let me have this kitten.

As with the first email the context and syntax of the email was good - I didn't identify anything that indicated that a scammer was behind it.

And, still no mention of money. Other than that I didn't have to pay any.

Once again, I included my phone number at the end of the email and made it a clear option that she could call me.
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Date: 25th November, 2020
Time: 6:59am

Wow sounds good. I'm impressed.

It was a great time for me learning from your previous message in regards to the rest of the questions as all now sounds perfect. I now have no fears nor worries as I now know exactly where Diesel will be going and how he will be treated. I will say thank you for being so honest with us. You will be very proud of Diesel as he will fulfill all those dreams of having a family pet home. He has a great personality with kids, adults and other home pets, a very obedient boy and playful.

But you would have to promise us you would take very good care of Diesel and you would send us lovely pictures and updates on how Diesel would be doing with the family from time to time.

May I ask how prepared is the family to take Diesel home?

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My Notes & Response:

Again, lots of concern from Catherine Bennett about the future home for Diesel. No mention of any money.

I had put in a consdierable effort into my last two emails to her - I did a very good job of convincing her that Diesel would have a good life with me.

It was sort-of ilke applying for a job - although I had a few questions the first priority was to get offered the job.

I also wrote that I'd been making phone calls about transport, and outlined a couple of options.
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Date: 26th November, 2020
Time: 11:50am

Hello Phil,

Regarding Diesel's transportation to you, can you allow us to do this as we just need to double check once again on the logistics/requirements available for is here.

Thank you,
Catherine
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My Notes & Response:

Nothing unexpected here:
1) she's in Kalgoorlie, so will be familiar with transport options. Also, it is unlikely that there is a Burmese cat breeder in Kalgoorlie, so Catherine Bennett would likely have had him transported to Kalgoorlie when she first got him.
2) It was obvious that the welfare of Diesel was important to her so it was logical that she would want to ensure that he was transport safely.

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Date: 26th November, 2020
Time: 1:02pm

Hi Phil,

Please allow me until evening at latest to confirm logistics with you. I'll be back as soon as it is made confirm.

Thank you,
Catherine
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My Notes & Response:

No problem. She was maintaining regular, reliable contact. Nothing to be concerned about.

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Date: 26th November, 2020
Time: 6:06pm

This transport service is offered by the airport itself. Like any other airport with an animal terminal. They're the "Department of Pets".

I can elaborate how it is going to work with them.
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My Notes & Response:

1) I couldn't imagine a business being named, "Department of Pets".

2) I Google searched anyway and couldn't find anything resembling that in Kalgoorlie or anywhere else.

Although this didn't make sense to me it didn't trigger any alarms - she said that could elaborate further and I decided that I'd have to be patient and see what she came back with.

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Date: 28th November, 2020
Time: 8:43am

Good morning Phil,

I am not sure you received my previous message?

I told you already we have a service to go with. I won’t understand why all the bulk of your messages then...
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My Notes & Response:

Whilst she said that she was making her own plans for transport, I had also done some research and made some phone calls.

I'd found someone in Kalgoorlie who had an excellent reputation for pet transport. Colin not only was extremely helpful and knowledgeable on the phone, but also has a Burmese cat himself.

It was obvious that Colin was the best option to assist with transporting Diesel to Perth and explained this to Catherine. It was confusing that she would ignore that and insist that she find her own transport method - all she would have had to do is call a few people and she'd hear the same positive feedback that I did.

This didn't make sense, and was frustrating, but I was also aware that she might have another option, such as an individual truck driver who she knew personally.
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Date: 30th November, 2020
Time: 7:33am

Hi Phil,

This is how it is going to work with the airport pet delivery service.

We would take Diesel alongside your full delivery information and all his belongings to the airport, get him registered under your full names and address you will send which shall include the closest airport to you.
You would have 2 options for delivery. Either you would go collect Diesel from the airport on arrival or he can be delivered right away to you from the airport on arrival.
Once he's registered with the airport pet delivery service, they would program his transition to you, once his transition is programmed, you would be contacted with delivery details(departure and arrival time).
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My Notes & Response:

Part of this email didn't make sense, but I wasn't particularly suspicious. Anyone who lives in Kalgoorlie would know the only commercial airport in Perth is the Perth Domestic Airport (although there is another airport for small, and mostly non-commercial, aircraft).

I replied that I would happily pick him up at the airport, and supplied my address and phone number.

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Date: 30th November, 2020
Time: 11:02am

Hi Phil,

We are able to send him over tomorrow.

Yes there's one more thing and we haven't talked about.

It is the freight fee...
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My Notes & Response:

The transport cost was the elephant in the room that hadn't been addressed yet, and I was a bit surprised that Catherine left it so late.

Knowing that all I had to pay is a freight fee, and to a commercial company, I wrote back that as soon as I got the company's details I would get it paid.

I was watching to see if I was asked to pay her directly, and then she would pay the freight company, but that didn't come up.
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Date: 30th November, 2020
Time: 11:56am

I mentioned above that you were going to be contacted by the airport freight service once Diesel is dropped off them/registered as they would provide you with delivery info(departure and arrival time) as well as the invoice for paying.
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My Notes & Response:

Everything had been going to well but suddently I didn't hear from Catherine for a few days.

Once again I had emailed her with some options that I had researched, and was disappointed when she showed no interest in considering those options.

But, she confirmed that I'd be paying the freight company direct via invoice, which was reassuring.
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Date: 3rd December, 2020
Time: 11:51am

Hi Phil,

I thought from my last message I was going to hear from you in confirmation to proceed but since I didn't, I couldn't figure myself around it. We're still up with the adoption but would hear from you how, when we can get on to it.

Thank you,
Catherine
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My Notes & Response:
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Date: 3rd December, 2020
Time: 2:41pm

Hello Phil,

Thank you about that but we would proceed to it as I had explained to you above/before.
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My Notes & Response:

Well, ok then... once again, no interest in the options that I had looked into, but although a tad frustated and disappointed I perceived this as Catherine wanting to have full control over the transport decision to ensure the well being of Diesel.
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Date: 5th December, 2020
Time: 5:07pm

I want to send him tomorrow as I'll be dropping him off the service in the morning.
I want to just ask of you to stay alert at your email all day beginning morning. Can you do this please?
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My Notes & Response:

Finally, after the last few days of dithering things were finally going to happen.

Catherine's focus was still to do everything via email, and to not use the phone at all.
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Date: 6th December, 2020
Time: 10:03am

Just want to let you know I am heading now to the airport alongside Peaches with all her belongings to get her registered to your full delivery info.
Would let you know as soon as I am done with registration.
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My Notes & Response:

Ahhhh.... what??? Who's "Peaches" and what with this "she" business? Diesel is a male...
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Date: 6th December, 2020
Time: 10:04am

Sorry I mentioned Peaches rather Diesel.
Please forgive my mistake.
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My Notes & Response: I assumed that she was also re-homing another pet on the same day - maybe another cat, or a dog.
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Date: 6th December, 2020
Time: 10:11am

Let me explain this please as Diesel is so bonded to our daughter, I turned sometimes to interchange them....as I would call Diesel Peaches vice versa...
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My Notes & Response:

This one didn't make any sense at all... but I wasn't concerned, Diesel was going to be arriving in Perth later that afternoon and I was keenly waiting for the freight invoice to come through so that I could ensure he would be on that afternoon's flight.
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Date: 6th December, 2020
Time: 11:42am

Diesel is now with the airport pet delivery service. They told me they would get to you. Please do let me know once you read or hear anything from them.
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My Notes & Response:

Alright... now it's really happening... Diesel is at the airport. I already knew that the flight for that afternoon departs Kalgoorlie at 4:30pm, and that pets are stored in an air-conditioned office until they get put on the plane (ie it's very hot out in Kalgoorlie).
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Date: 6th December, 2020
Time: 11:46am

DEAR CLIENT,

PLEASE DOWNLOAD THIS PDF AND READ CAREFULLY. YOU HAVE UP TO 2 HOURS FROM THE TIME THIS EMAIL IS SENT TO YOU TO SORT PAYMENT.


WE STRIVE ALWAYS FOR A BETTER SERVICE,
THANKS FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING,
CUSTOMER SATISFACTION IS OUR GREATEST CONCERN.
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My Notes & Response: And this is where it all came crashing down. As soon as I looked at the invoice I realised I had to start to accept that Diesel doesn't exist and this whole thing was a scam.

The invoice that came with the email was clearly a fake. I was in disbelief - two weeks of this and I had to deal with the sudden reality that it was all fake.

However, I was lucky that the invoice was so bad. I later heard that scammers will make a booking for a suitable flight and get the invoice direct from the airline, but then modify the payment details on the invoice. With the correct airline, flight number and all other details someone is much more likely to pay it. The invoice:
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