How to Buy Farm Machinery Safely

• Research the market and compare prices so you know the price you're paying is a fair one. But beware! It is common for criminals to advertise machinery at "just below market value" to make it sound attractive to buyers, but not so low as to arouse suspicion.
• If the advert is accompanied by a photograph, copy the photo into google images. It is common for criminals to search the internet for pictures of machines then use those pictures in the advert. If the picture is of a machine that matches one from another country then it is quite possibly a scam!
• Always ensure you complete a close up, 'physical' inspection of your intended purchase to help determine its age, its condition and its value before handing over any money.
• View the machinery in daylight and at the seller's premises; check that the address matches the address on any paperwork. Make a discreet note of makes, models and registration numbers of vehicles parked at the address. It may be helpful to the police should you later discover a problem with your purchase.
• Get the equipment checked by an independent plant/agricultural fitter to ensure it is mechanically sound.
• Check that the stamped in serial/chassis number and VIN plate is intact and complete, and make certain that it has not been tampered or interfered with?
• Many keys required to start machines are universal, so do not assume that just because the seller has a genuine manufacturers keys to fit the machine, that the machine must also be genuine.
• Check for theft & outstanding finance, run a check with Datatag/CESAR/HPI provenance check. (http://datatag.co.uk/provenance)

Avoiding fraudulent sellers

Fraudulent adverts are placed by thieves posing as sellers, often trying to make money from a hoax piece of machinery advertised at a bargain price. The seller (fraudster) will often redirect you to their website and ask for several deposits of money before they deliver the machinery, but, the machinery will never arrive and you will end up out of pocket.

What should I look out for?

• The machinery may be advertised below the market value. Be mindful that criminals often advertise machines just under market value. This makes the machine attractive to the buyer but not so much that it arouses suspicion.
• The photograph used was pulled from the internet, (use Google images to check the source of the image!).
• The seller will prefer to email you and avoid talking to you on a phone call.
• The seller will say that you can't actually view the machinery
• You receive emails from a shipping company rather than the seller.

How do I identify a fraudulent advert?

• The machinery will be undervalue, if it looks too good to be true it probably is.
• The telephone number may be unavailable and you will be asked to contact the seller by email
• There may be text in the images again asking you to E Mail the seller
• Look at the advert text - the seller may include information claiming that they are unable to take phone calls, or contact by email only

What to do if you think you're a victim?

If you think you've been targeted by a fraudster, contact Farm Classifieds immediately by emailing info@classifieds.farm or calling 01543776395

Fraudulent buyers and email scams

One of the most common online scams to affect all kinds of internet users is the Advance Fee Fraud, which encourages sellers to transfer "shipping fees" to "buyers" abroad.

What's involved?

The scam usually involves a fraudster gaining the victim's trust over a period of several emails, convincing sellers they genuinely want to buy, sending a fake cheque or false PayPal payments to cover the cost before insisting on money for "shipping fees". A number of sellers advertising Plant & Farm Machinery have been contacted in this way, but the emails are easy to spot.

Typically they will

• Originate from webmail accounts, such as Yahoo, Hotmail or Gmail.
• Be poorly written, or look as though they're being sent in bulk with the seller's vehicle details crudely pasted in.
• Encourage sellers to use money transfer services such as Western Union.

If you receive an email which you believe to be from a fraudster

• Forward it to the abuse department of the sender's email provider.
• Use your email software to block further emails from the sender.
• Do not respond
• Forward it to Farm Classifieds- info@classifieds.farm

What to do if you think you're a victim

If you think you've been targeted by a fraudster, contact Farm Classifieds immediately by emailing info@classifieds.farm or calling 01543776395

Phishing Emails

"Phishing" is someone trying to trick you into giving your personal information such as usernames, passwords and payment card details via an email that looks like it's from Farm Classifieds. Common scenarios scammers invent in order to gain victim's log-in, credit card or other personal details include:

• Sellers are sent a duplicate of their advert, with a link to a bogus version of Farm Classifieds's sign-in page. Once supplied, the details will be used to change the advert's description and contact details.
• Sellers are contacted by scammers claiming to be from a credit card company's fraud department calling about unusual purchases. They will then ask for the card's details in order to make a refund.
• Calls from scammers requesting credit card details for refunds.
• Emails detailing offers for Farm Classfieds customers, with a full refund if your machine is not sold within three weeks.

We do not contact customers to ask for payment details over the phone. If you receive a call asking for money, don't provide your card details and call Farm Classifieds on 01543396775