Scammers target farmers buying equipment online
F a r m i n g h a s n o t b e e n immune f r o m t h e move towards online sales during the Covid pandemic, but this week the dangers of falling prey to a s cam have been highlighted.
And farmers were yesterday warned to remain particularly vigilant to fraudulent scams and other criminal activity during the curr e n t c r i s i s , e s p e c i a l l y a s many of the government r e s t r i c t i o n s h ave me a n t that buyers have increasingly been turning to the internet for expensive farm equipment.
T h e w a r n i n g w a s p u t out after an Orkney farmer, looking to buy a tractor from an on-line seller, was taken in by criminals.
The purchase of the tractor through a well-known internet auction site saw the farmer transfer payment for the tractor to what is now believed to be a fake account and he is now unable to contact the seller.
NFU S cotland said that t h e i n c i d e n t s e r ve d a s a sad reminder to all farmers and crofters of the need to be vigilant when undertaking online purchases:
“It is always upsetting to hear about scams hitting the farming communit y, especially when it is within our own region,” said the
union’s regional chairman in Orkney, Alan Corrigall.
“T h e r e a l i t y i s t h a t t h o s e looking to scam and defraud are ever present and this incid e n t m u s t h e l p s e r ve a s a reminder to all of the potential pitfalls when purchasing online.”
C o mme n t i n g o n t h e i n c i - d e n t , C h i e f I n s p e c t o r Ma t t Webb of Kirkwall Police Station said:
"We have received a report involving a fraud where tract o r s a r e b e i n g a d v e r t i s e d for sale online and payment requested to be made through a fake Paypal account.”
He said that the police would always urge people to be vigilant and to do their due diligence when buying online, p a r t i c u l a r l y i f p u r c h a s i n g expensive equipment:
"F r a u d s t e r s g o t o g r e a t lengths to make themselves a p p e a r l e g i t i m a t e s o i t i s important to take your time to ensure you are buying from a genuine seller."
The approach was backed up by rural insurers NFU Mutual in their own warning about the growing sophistication of those involved in on-line criminal activities:
“Gone are the days when y o u c o u l d e a s i l y s p o t a suspicious email - today’s cyber criminals are mast e r s a t c a t c h i n g u s o f f - guard,” said the Mutual.
With 741,123 fraud and cyber crimes repor ted to Action Fraud last year the insurer also warned that scams were much wider than just internet auctions or even suspicious e-mails:
“A n d i t ’s n o t j u s t y o u r inbox but in text messages, online and by phone. S c a m m e r s a r e g e t t i n g smar ter, which means, if we want to stay safe and protect ourselves and our a s s e t s , we’v e g o t t o g e t smarter too.”
T h e i n s u r e r s a i d t h a t m a n y s c a m s c o u l d b e identified by checking and double checking the sending email address, name or contact number of those involved.
A d v i s i n g b u s i n e s s e s to consider all the issues carefully before committing to online purchases, it said that sticking to trusted brands and websites was one option:
“If you’re ever in doubt if the request is genuine, don’t click the link and go dire ctly to the o rganisa - tion’s website.”