Cattle buyer scam aimed at producer’s sense of trust

There’s a scam out there targetting cattle producers, with some in Alberta and other parts of Canada getting hit.

Based on exploiting trust, the scam runs like this.

A person planning to buy cattle mentions during the negotiations they will be responsible for transporting the cattle. Following several e-mails discussing the deal, the breeder is sent an authentic looking cheque for the cattle.

The cheque is followed by notification the order has been changed and a request for a partial refund with instruction to deposit it in an account number provided to the breeder.

The breeder pays the refund which is the scammer’s profit. The authentic looking cheque comes back NSF.

The RCMP is investigating. Up to March 6 RCMP had no report of this scam in Saskatchewan.

The Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association suggests producers use their best judgment when dealing with new or unknown buyers. Some hints include:

— Be cautious; if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. — Use your right to check out any buyer by getting written information, a call back number and references.

— Ask for and confirm details about the buyer.

— While banks may give you cash for the cheque it may take weeks to clear the cheque. You are responsible for any missing money. To report a fraud call your local RCMP or call the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501.