Consumer Watch with Natasha Pirrottina: How to avoid being scammed at farm gate by fake machinery deals

If it’s too good to good to be true, then it probably is. From fake farm machinery to livestock scams, criminals are getting more sophisticated, and their victims, our hard-working farmers, are losing thousands. These slick operations are creating fake websites and adverts that look professional and the prices are extremely attractive — too good to be true even. One victim lost nearly $30,000 trying to buy a tractor from a business called Epic Farming. He searched the ABN listed on the professional looking website and it matched to a similar named business, and after speaking with them over the phone and email he felt confident he was dealing with a legitimate seller. He paid via bank transfer and then the communication stopped, the tractor never arrived. This farmer had been scammed by this bogus business. It’s not just machinery these criminals are using to fleece our famers, livestock is also in their bag of rotten tricks. Reports have come in about people losing money trying to buy animals such as donkeys and chickens. One of the biggest red flags for these types of scams is being asked to pay by bank transfer. Scammers love this method of payment because once you pay, they are usually quick to transfer the money offshore and then there’s no guarantee the bank can get your money back. Instead pay using a secure payment method such as your credit card or PayPal. This offers better protection and allows for chargebacks in case of issues. Unfortunately, verification is getting more difficult as scammers evolve their techniques. Some will steal ABNs that link to real businesses with a similar name, others will boldly speak with you on the phone and answer your questions about the equipment to suck you in further. Consumer Protection recommends searching the address of the business and checking it out via Google Street View. Call nearby businesses to verify the business you’re dealing with exists. Reverse-Google-image-search the photos to check they aren’t being used in real business adverts or come from stock photo libraries. If possible, arrange to inspect the machinery or equipment yourself, or send a friend. Scammers will have all the excuses in the world as to why the machinery can’t be viewed in person – this is another red flag. Also be suspicious if the seller asks for personal identification documents as these scams can also be used to steal your identity. Ask people from your community, friends or family for recommendations — nothing beats word of mouth. Finally, maintain a healthy level of scepticism. Would someone really be selling a $70,000 tractor for $20,000? Report scams to scamnet.wa.gov.au or call 1300 30 40 54, email consumer@demirs.wa.gov.au Natasha Pirrottina is senior regional officer for Consumer Protection in the Mid West