Herefordshire farmer loses £39,000 in machinery ad fraud

A Herefordshire farmer says he has lost £39,000 after he was caught out by a fraudulent machinery scam.

An advert purporting to be Braydestone Farms, which carried multiple used machines for sale, was featured in the farming press in October.

Farmer John Price spotted a Claas Lexion 570 combine being advertised for £76,500 and he phoned the seller and agreed a deal for £70,000, including VAT.

See also: How cybercriminals target farmers and machinery buyers

The potato, beef and sheep farmer, 68, was asked to send a deposit of £39,000 to secure the machine, despite not having viewed it.

Mr Price asked his secretary to send the deposit by bank transfer, which she did, but she grew suspicious after the seller requested the final payment upon delivery to be sent to a different bank account, which they have since linked to a jewellers in Liverpool.

Making excuses

The farmer has not received the combine or a refund and says the fake seller keeps making excuses that the delivery of his combine has been delayed due to problems with transport.

“I rang the seller. He said he had a brother and they were selling some surplus kit; a combine and three tractors,” said Mr Price.

“I believed him. He came across very well. I’m pretty good at listening to people and I trusted him. He sounded genuine.”

Farmers Weekly understands Mr Price may be one of several farmers who has been duped by the scam.

The advert featured the details about the machines, including various photos and descriptions.

It also included two contact numbers, including a landline for the Norwich area and a mobile phone number. However, it did not include any contact email address or website.

Business compromised

Farmers Weekly acknowledges that the real Braydestone Farms, which is owned and run by Guy Gowing and based in Norfolk, is a legitimate trading business that has been compromised by this imposter fraud.

Both Mr Price and Mr Gowing have reported the matter to Action Fraud.

Every week, Farmers Weekly magazine features a half-page cautionary advert in our classified section to help direct the buyer to follow best practice and questions to ask of the seller prior to any kind of financial transaction.