Hay Purchaser Fraud and Scams
June 2007

This is the finest hay scam information website I have found.  Please check it out!

A current scam is for the scammer to contact the producer by e-mail and want to purchase a quantity of hay.  We have been seeing the request as relatively small amounts (100 bales, 300 bales, and/or 10 tons). 

Here is how the scam works:

Scammer:  I would like a price on your hay (without transportation costs).

Scammer:  I will send you a (check- money order) and will have my (truck- transport-shipper- hauler) pick it up.

Scammer:  I have sent you a (check - money order) by (UPS - FedEx) and here is the tracking number.  I want you to cash it immediately, retain the amount for the hay as we have previously agreed upon and (Western Union - Money gram- wire) the remainder to my (hauler- shipper) at the following Western Union address.   Reply to me with the following information so my hauler can pick up the money.

(Variation is to say "I accidentally wrote the check for too much --- I included too many money orders-- etc. --- so please wire the excess back to me" )

The "remainder" is always a sizable amount ($800 to several Thousands).

What will happen is..... The check or money order is a computer printed fake (and be aware that even fake Cashier's Checks are now showing up) and will bounce but you will only learn it bounced several weeks later and that is AFTER you have wired the funds out and they can not be recovered.

BE AWARE THAT IF YOU DEPOSITE THE CHECK AND THEN YOU ASK THE BANK IF THE CHECK HAS "CLEARED" IT IS NOT THE SAME AS "IF THE CHECK HAS SETTLED".  It can take many weeks for a bad check to work it's way through the system and come back.  The current laws force the banks to "Make your money available" in a very short time and this is often considered "CLEARED" by the public but if the check has not settled (actually payed by the other bank and not contested by the account holder) the bogus check can be returned and the funds removed from your account.

No one shows up to pick up the hay.   They don't want your hay, they want the Western Union money.  They are thieves and you are left owing the bank for the amount of the bounced funds.

All you have are the e-mails and an e-mail address of the scammer which can not be traced back to the scammer as the vast majority of these come through Yahoo from NIGERIA!

One scammer was in communication with us for 3 months before sending the 'bait'.  The name used was female but from the way the words in the e-mail were used, I am sure it was a hairy chested, cigar smoking man with dirty underwear.  The e-mails originated in Nigeria.

Suggestions:  Ask price inquiries for their name, address and phone number so you can check the validity of the person.  Refer them to a web page such as this one.  Have a policy of not selling hay unless the funds have arrived well in advance and you have verified the funds are at the issuing bank.  (Remember that even Cashier's Checks are now suspect!)  NEVER pay the trucker from the funds and NEVER EVER wire money back to someone you do not personally know.

If you receive a UPS or FedEx package containing the 'funds', use the tracking number to find out where it was sent from. The Nigerians have people here in the US who will print up the check, UPS it out and pick up the Wired Money and send it out of the US and back to the scammer.

BEWARE!!! and be VERY Careful!