| It is our duty to inform our users regarding any type of fraudulent activity that may be taking place related to the horse industry. We strongly believe in educating everyone to create an environment that is beneficial to both the buyer and the seller. There are all kinds of scams in this world that apply to the horse industry just like any other industry. Here are some that we are aware of. Foreign Check Fraud Scams People selling horses and horse related products are receiving buyer inquiries from a third party regarding the purchase of a horse or other products from a potential buyer from other countries. In their communication they will attempt to arrange the purchase of the horse or item with a cashiers check for the purchase of your horse or product plus shipping costs. They may also send you a check larger than the purchase price and ask for a refund of the difference. Beware, in all reported cases the CASHIER'S CHECK IS COUNTERFEIT. The seller may not know this until the transaction has been completed. This scam may take various forms including purchasing frozen semen, tack, equipment, using wire transfers, there are even scammers posing as sellers on many sites. Horse Traders In addition to the check-fraud scams, there are fraudulent horse traders in this world who make their living making money from unsuspecting horse buyers who do not take the time to check all the facts before purchasing a horse. PLEASE do ALL your homework before buying a horse or any product. HorseCountryonline does not accept payments for the purchase of your items and we do not have any kind of deposit insurance on payments and any messages you may receive of this nature are completely fraudulent. All transactions are directly between the seller and buyer on a private basis. An interesting point about fraud is that it is a crime in which you decide on whether to participate. Hanging up the phone or not responding to shady mailings or emails makes it difficult for the scammer to commit fraud. But con artists are very persuasive, using all types of excuses, explanations, and offers to lead you — and your money — away from common sense. If you suspect fraud or feel you are a victim of such activity below are sites where you can report your complaint. Reporting Fraud Internet Crime Complaint Center For U.S. complaints use the Federal Trade Commission Consumer Complaint Form. For Canadian Complaints contact the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. You may also report to RipoffReport.com. Guidelines To help you in recognizing these types of scams, we have provided below a list of indicators. They are only guidelines, and as always, should be tempered with common sense. - Big Promises Claims such as offering more money than the asking price without an initial conversation regarding the horse are almost always a sure sign of a scam. Be careful of any individual who wants to send you more than your asking price. - Cashiers Cheque (note spelling) for MORE than Your Asking Price They will send you a (COUNTERFEIT) cashiers check or certified check (usually spelled cheque) and ask you to send the difference to them or their shipper by wire transfer or Western Union. - High Pressure Tactics Be wary of individuals asking you to speed up the transaction beyond your comfort range. Again, a legitimate deal probably isn\'t going to move as fast as your money. Don\'t let yourself be pressured -- think things through. - Requests for financial information. Don't give out any bank information without establishing a comfort level with the buyer or seller. - Always get something in writing. You should never complete a transaction without first writing down the terms of the deal and have each party sign it. If you can't afford a lawyer to draft up a contract, you still should write down the terms of the deal in plain English and get it signed. Any buyer or seller that is hesitant or resists is usually a sure sign of a potential problem. * Remember the old saying, "If it sounds to good to be true, it probably is." |
| Fraud Information |