CLAY COUNTY, Nc – Farmers are being warned about a growing scam involving criminals impersonating legitimate farm equipment businesses and offering tractors and other equipment that do not actually exist.

The Clay County warning highlights information from the Federal Trade Commission, which has received reports of scammers targeting farmers through fake equipment listings.

According to the FTC, the scam often begins with an advertisement for a tractor posted on social media or a website. The equipment may be offered at an unusually attractive price and appear to be listed by a legitimate business.

In some cases, scammers impersonate businesses that farmers may already know or have previously purchased equipment from.

After a potential buyer makes contact, the scammer may provide a purchase agreement and invoice and request thousands of dollars through a wire transfer as a deposit or full payment. A delivery date is then arranged.

The equipment, however, never arrives.

According to the FTC, scammers may stop responding altogether or provide excuses for the delayed delivery, such as claiming there is a problem with the delivery truck. By that point, the victim may be left without both the money and the equipment.

The FTC recommends researching a business before making a purchase based on an online advertisement. Consumers can search the company’s name along with terms such as “scam” or “complaint” to look for reports from other customers.

Officials also warn that the first results displayed by an online search engine may be paid advertisements. Scammers can use those advertisements to impersonate legitimate businesses while directing customers to contact information controlled by the scammer.

Consumers are encouraged to look beyond paid advertisements and verify that they are using the legitimate website and contact information for the business.

The FTC also warns against sellers who insist on payment through methods such as wire transfers, gift cards, cryptocurrency or payment apps. Scammers often favor these payment methods because recovering the money can be extremely difficult once a transaction is completed.

Farmers considering expensive equipment purchases are encouraged to independently verify the seller and the equipment before sending any money.