FTC warns US farmers about farm equipment sales scams

Brief retelling from RIA II

American farmers are transferring thousands of dollars to scammers who post false advertisements for the sale of farm equipment.

The attackers issue an invoice for the equipment, receive a deposit or full payment, but do not deliver, after which they stop communicating or come up with new excuses.

The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) advises carefully vetting potential sellers and not using bank transfers or cryptocurrency for payment.

WASHINGTON, September 15 - RIA Novosti. The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has revealed how American farmers are transferring thousands of dollars during the harvest season to scammers who place false advertisements for the sale of agricultural equipment.

“It all starts like this: you scroll through your social media feed and see an advertisement for a tractor. The price is attractive, and the seller inspires confidence. Or you search online and see a tractor from a well-known seller, perhaps you have even bought equipment before,” the commission describes the fraudulent schemes that Americans have complained about.

After contacting the seller, he sends a contract and issues an invoice, the FTC says.

“They usually require several thousand dollars to be transferred as a deposit or full payment and set a delivery date. It never materializes. It turns out that there was no real company, and it’s all a scam. The attacker either stops communicating or comes up with new excuses,” the department said.

According to complaints from consumer advocates, "the commission is receiving reports of a fraudulent scheme that is targeting some of the hardest working people - farmers."

In order not to lose money, the commission advises carefully checking potential sellers using an Internet search and the query “scammers”, not opening links on the first lines of search results, since scammers use paid promotion mechanisms, and not using bank transfers and cryptocurrency for payment.