Avoiding Fraud
Fraudulent and Scam Messages
All Internet adverts systems are being targeted by fraudsters trying to trick people into parting with money or banking details without ever receiving payments for their advertised goods.
Many of these messages are sent out by 'robot' software and have not been aimed at you personally - thousands of people get the same message every day. They are working on a numbers game - if they send out enough messages a few people will respond and get conned.
These messages are usually easy to spot as they use strange grammar and are general in tone and rarely ask specific questions about your items for sale.
You may get enquiries, particularly from outside the UK, offering to buy your goods by sending you a larger value cheque or money order than your asking price, and asking for you to cash the cheque and send the difference with your goods. The cheque will bounce. These messages often are often badly written and use poor English. Look out for phrases like 'current condition' and 'final asking price' which are often used and a lack of specific knowledge about the items they are enquiring about.
Here's a couple of typical examples...
I saw your advertised 17.2 TB Chestnut Gelding for sale .So I picked interest in it,moreso with the full description that was attached to selling price. Also i will like to know if you will accept a banker draft or a cheque for the payment .Since I have not seen the pictures i will like to know it's present condition and pics.i need your fast respound Regands
Hi, My name is Andrew. I specialise in purchase of Horses for my customers and i get paid in commission by the buyer, after payment has been confirmed by the seller to the buyer. I have a customer who is interested in purchasing your (Handsome 16.1hh TB x gelding) mentioned above and we would like to know the last price you are selling. We will arrange for the pick up once payment is confirmed by you. Please acknowledge the reciept of our inquiry and we will inform the buyer of your confirmation of acceptance to sell and have the funds remitted to you as soon as possible. I will appreciate it if you get back to me via my email box.. Thanks and have a nice day.
Recent Trends
A more recent trend is to copy the advert details from a genuine advert so a listing looks believable but often the price is very low. These scams still rely on you sending money in advance of getting the goods. Once you get into conversation you will find their knowledge of horses or the goods is very poor and are easily tripped up on 'technical' questions.
Here's a long reply from one of these dubious sellers
Hello
nice reading from you in regards to my Friesian mare .will come with all health papers and one year health guarantee. this Friesian {Corcia} is not only beautiful, completely healthy and sound, great, sane, trail horse deluxe! has awesome four beat gaits. will also canter if you ask her to. not spooky, forward moving and enjoys trail riding. lunges beautifully and listens to voice cues well. one of the best horses I have ever rode and will do what you ask of her when you ask.loves attention and grooming and is easy to groom, trim, shoe and handle in every way. has great feet but I keep shoes on her in the Summer and Spring just because of trail riding some rocky terrain. She would be a great horse for a man or a woman but I think, or like to think,Corcia will prefers women. :) I am only giving Corcia because i lost my husband in a gasty motor accident and so could not give the Friesian real love and care .My late husband was an experienced beginner and he really enjoyed riding where as I am an experienced rider and also enjoy riding Corcia.So therefore, I am sure that it will be great for just about any riding level from experienced beginner on up the scale. I also know that Corcia would make a fantastic field trial horse if someone was interested in her for that because Corcia has great endurance and listens so well. I want Corcia to find a great home and will only sell to such a home. Also, Corcia is fine with other horses or without them. She has lived in a boarding situation before and did just as well as she does in a private home situation.up to date on vaccines and dental care. I don't know what else I can say about Corcia other than if you are looking for a horse that will be the same everyday and bring you hours of enjoyment whether out on the trail or in the pasture then, it might be the horse for you! I thought I would go ahead and post her so that somebody could start enjoying her during the nice Fall weather that is soon approaching.I will like to know the particular breed of horse you are used with and you have ever had a Horse before .
Note the American terms for a horse that was supposed to be in the UK and a one year health guarantee?
Be Sensible
You don't know who's at the other end of the Internet so treat any communication with an unknown advertiser with caution. If the offer looks too good to be true it probably is! Ask detailed questions that only a horse owner/rider would be able to answer and if you get back vague answers or poor English be suspicious.
Google is a wonderful tool to look up email addresses and telephone numbers to see if the seller has cropped up somewhere else.
Try to talk to the seller on the phone and if it's unavoidable but to send money in advance of the goods then ask yourself, 'Am I prepared to risk this money?'.
If you are accepting a cheque get positive confirmation from your bank that it has fully cleared and is not a forgery or stolen before sending goods.
Dealing with Suspicious Adverts
The best way to deal with them is to just ignore and don't reply to any communications. Always communicate with potential purchasers/sellers through the site where your personal details are not revealed to the other party unless you've already included them in your advert.
If you see a suspicious advert on Dunsters or have had messages you're not sure about let us know and we'll look into it.