Help us stop fraud. If you receive a suspicious email or posting let us and law enforcement know right away.
Step 1 - Report fraud to U.S. Farmer:
Forward any suspicious emails to us immediately at fraud@usfarmer.com. Don't change anything in the e-mail including the subject line.
If you believe there is a fraudulent posting on our site please copy the URL to the page that contains that post and email it to us.
We will make every effort to remove and report fraud on our site. To speak directly to a Customer Service Representative, call 1-800-845-2281 (Mon.-Fri. 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. EST).
Step 2 - Report fraud to law enforcement:
File a complaint with the Internet Fraud Complaint Center to inform federal and state law enforcement agencies.
You can forward any "Spam emails" to spam@uce.gov of the FTC. They store all spam mail in a database shared by law enforcement.
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U.S. Farmer tries to limit or prevent as much fraud and spam possible. However, there isn't a foolproof way to eliminate all fraud.
Everyday spammers create new schemes to commit fraud. Therefore it is best to be cautious with each purchase and use your best judgement in all transactions.
Buying equipment you find online is a lot like buying equipment through a classified ad in the newspaper or an equipment magazine such as U.S. Farmer. In either case, use your best judgment. |
| please know that usfarmer.com does NOT: |
- Own, Buy, Sell Or Endorse equipment on our site. Our site is used as a free service by individuals, dealerships also list equipment themselves. We can't verify or authenticate claims by individuals or dealers on our site.
- Recommend nor endorse any dealer or service offerred via dealers on our site. U.S. Farmer doesn't guarantee any service or transaction. We only offer a mechanism to bring the buyers and sellers of equipment together.
- Get involved in transactions between sellers and buyers. U.S. Farmer never initiates or takes part in transactions between sellers and buyers. It is up to each party to fully research the credentials of the other and use wise judgement when performing transactions.
- Endorse any particular escrow or payment service. For a fee, an escrow service holds the buyer's payment until the seller has delivered the item purchased. Such a third-party service can protect both parties from fraud. However, scammers often set up fake escrow services. They claim an affiliation with well-known companies like USFarmer.com to create a sense of security.
Remember these tips before you agree to use an escrow service:
- Avoid any service that implies an affiliation or partnership with USFarmer.com.
- Verify an escrow service's legitimacy by checking with state regulators.
- Decline the transaction if the other party insists on using an escrow service that you're not sure about.
And once you find an escrow service you're comfortable with, be sure you understand:
- What conditions must be met before the payment is released to the seller.
- What the escrow service charges.
- Which party is expected to pay the fee.
The only time we'll ever request your credit card information is when you're in the process of purchasing a print classified ad on our website, paid magazine subscription or checking out from our online merchandise store.
Know the equipment's market value
Be suspicious of a vehicle priced significantly below market value. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Know the equipment's history
Ask the seller to provide details about the equipment's history. Determine how many owners, the primary uses for the equipment and its maintenance records.
Inspect the equipment
Schedule an inspection with a professional mechanic or an inspection service if the equipment is not in your area. An early inspection can help you identify problems. However, keep in mind that an inspection isn't a warranty and won't guarantee equipment is free from defects or that inspectors have identified all existing problems.
Confirm contact information
Before you send payment, verify the seller's street address and phone number- an email address is not enough. ZIP codes, area codes and addresses should match up. Be wary if the seller is located overseas.
Use email wisely
Avoid sending sensitive personal or financial information (such as your social security number, credit card number or checking account number) to a seller via email. Remember that email communications are not secure and can be easily forwarded to others.
Get a detailed receipt
Ask the seller for a receipt that states whether the vehicle is being sold with a warranty or "as is."
Confirm contact information
Be particularly wary of buyers willing to purchase your equipment sight-unseen, especially buyers located overseas. Always verify the buyer's street address and phone number.
Secure payment first
Do not transfer the equipment until you have payment in hand at the agreed upon price.
Verify that a certified check is genuine
Before you deposit a certified check, verify authenticity with the issuing bank-not just your bank. Make sure the account contains sufficient funds and the issuing bank guarantees payment on the check. It may take a week or more for the check to clear. It hasn't cleared just because your bank has accepted it and credited your account.
Beware of overpayment or other complicated payment schemes
Don't agree to any plan where the buyer asks to send a check for more than the sale price and requests that the seller refund the difference. And be suspicious of any buyer who proposes making payment through a friend or agent of the buyer.
| beware of reproduced ebay postings |
Spammers often duplicate information from ebay.com to use as their own. This way they can have actual photos and descriptions of a very real product. The spammer will then modify the contact information to their own so that you begin a communications channel with the fraudulent spammer instead of the original owner. Often times the spammer will modify the original price to make it appear like a great deal to spur buyers into action.
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An easy method to identify listings from ebay.com is to look for the ebay.com photo watermark. This is a translucent camera often in the bottom right of the photo. See the example to the left.
Unfortunately the spammers don't always use ebay.com photos, so you will still need to practice some of the safe online shopping methods listed above.
If someone ever asks you to use ebay.com or a similar site to purchase the item in question be wary.
Often times they redirect a buyer to a "phishing" website. A phishing site is one that looks identical to the real thing, but is modified to collect personal information from its visitors or fraudulently process funds.
Instead of clicking a link in an email from another user, directly type the URL of the 3rd party website in your browser and search for the listing.
(ie: www.ebay.com) |
Visit the sites below to learn more about Internet fraud.
Internet Fraud Complaint Center (IFCC)
Internet Fraud Preventive Measures
Better Business Bureau (BBB)
Be a Smarter Consumer
Tips to Avoid Online Escrow Fraud
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
Practical Tips to Help You Be on Guard Against Internet Fraud
Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC)
Fake Seals and Phony Numbers: How Fraudsters Try to Look Legit
