Alta. RCMP warning farmers about equipment purchases

Farmers are transferring funds and not receiving their equipment

By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com

Airdrie RCMP are alerting farmers of fraudulent action online.

Between April and August, the RCMP have received multiple phone calls from victims about fraud involving ag equipment.

“Investigation has revealed that the victims are purchasing farm equipment online for low prices,” the detachment said in a press release. “However, once funds are transferred, the buyer can no longer contact the original seller or the freight team hired for the shipping of the farming equipment.”

Considering this, RCMP is reminding people to do their due diligence when making online purchases.

A couple from Ontario were the victims of fraud earlier in the year.

In March, Eddie and Susan Strickland from Amherstburg, Ont., sent $3,000 using a MoneyGram to a seller for a Kubota tractor they found on Facebook Marketplace.

The seller told the Stricklands she was in Togo, Africa, and the tractor would be shipped from Toronto.

And while the seller received the money, the family didn’t receive their tractor.

“We’re pretty … upset, embarrassed. Thought we did our homework, looked everything up online,” Susan told CBC in March.

The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre has a list of tips to help people protect themselves from scams and fraud.

The tips include doing research, not being afraid to say no, and remembering if something seems too good to be true, it likely is.

Farmers looking to purchase equipment from reputable sources can try the Farms.com Classifieds site.