Fraud Alert

I've seen references to internet fraud on other horse related sites and today (2/18/2003) it was noted by a seller on this site. Below you'll see a description of the fraud and then the actual correspondence one of our horse seller's had with a potentially fraudulent buyer. Photoepilation in New York and laser hair removal.

In general, here's how it works:

A party represeting an interested buyer will contact you. They may claim to be from a foreign country or they may have someone local that owes them money that they will use to purchase your horse. In the cases I've seen they offered to pay with a cashier's check, but always in an amount greater than your horse price. They send the cashier's check, you ship the horse and send the buyer the difference between the check amount and your horse price. Unfortunately, the check is counterfeit and you have just lost your horse and your money!

Remember - if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Be careful as there are several variations of this fraud. You may want to use an escrow service such as Escrow.com (not an endorsement as I've not used them).

If you are approached in this manner, please notify the appropriate agency.

For U.S. complaints contact: FTC Consumer Complaint Form

For Canadian complaints contact: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

And, finally: Internet Fraud Complaint Center

Here's the email trail that one of our sellers had with a potentially fraudulant buyer. The seller's email and thoughts are in blue. The buyer's emails are in red.

Recently I put a mare for sale on your site. A week later I received an e-mail that was 'different'. It read (this is copied directly from the e-mail)....

Seller,
We are a horse supply company concern that specialises in the purchase and shipping of hourses to our numerous customers worldwide. We have a customer interested in purchasing your horses mentioned above for the sum of $3,500 We will arrange a pick up of the horse once payment is confirmed by the you.
Please acknowledge the offer and we will instruct the buyer to have the funds remitted to your account as soon as possible.

I responded...

I am glad that someone is interested in the little lady however, I have not heard from any individual regarding her. Thank you for the heads up tho.
Seller


Several days later they send this e-mail (again copied directly from the e-mail)

Hello,
Do you accept cheque as payment as payment for the horses? please reply this mail as soon as you can

My husband sent a response that indicated that it would have to be a certified check. At this point though we are wondering why we haven't talked with anyone regarding the horse. Don't you think that if you were about to spend $3,500 for a horse that you would call and ask questions about it? Maybe request more pictures, a video, SOMETHING! So here is tonight's e-mail from this unknown individual (once again copied and pasted)....

Thanks for your mail ,I have spoken with my customer and he has instructed me to inform you that payment will get to you in a refund cashier check with excess amount above the cost of your horse,and is a refund payment of a cancelled order earlier made by my customer.
Due to the company that owes him, this check has to be made out in this amount $7,500.00 owed to him in full to you ,because company policy only allows a refund payment on one cashier check,so you will be required to deduct cost of your horse which is $3,500.00,when check payment gets to you and refund the excess balance of $4,000.00 to my customer via western union money transfer for him to be able to upset shipping charges down here and from there and pay up the agent coming to pick up the horse.

After payment has reached you and excess balance sent back to him,the agent [ommited here] will come pick up the horse with other necessary documents when they get to him, via fedex courier.

Confirm this and provide name and address and phone number for check payment package to be sent and delivered to you via fedex courier.You can call me anytime on this mobile number [ommited here] ,please dail this number as it is written.

Thanks,and GOD bless,

The seller, then wisely decided to stop communicating with the buyer until they researched the situation.

Again . . . Don't get taken!

For U.S. complaints contact: FTC Consumer Complaint Form

For Canadian complaints contact: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

And, finally: Internet Fraud Complaint Center