Online hay sale scam making the rounds in Alberta
Posted October 14, 2021 12:23 pm.
Last Updated October 14, 2021 12:27 pm.
EDMONTON – Alberta Mounties are warning rural and farming communities to be wary of online hay sellers.
Extreme heat and drought conditions in the Prairiesover the summer have limited crop yields for many farmers, and hay is hard to come by.
The RCMP says there’s a high demand for hay and prices have increased. Police say that has given fraudsters a golden opportunity.
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Various detachments have reported hay scams, with the victims losing at least $64,000. Investigators believe that this amount could be even higher with some cases potentially going unreported.
Scammers are placing listings for hay on buy-and-sell platforms, requesting payment before buyers have the opportunity to research the producer, see the product, or get the delivery.
Evansburg and Grande Prairie detachments both received similar reports of transactions on Facebook Marketplace for a purchase of hay where a quantity of money was sent through an e-transfer, but no hay was ever delivered.
Police say in all reported cases like this, victims paid between $1,000 and $5,000.
