Fraudsters are targeting Irish farmers with ‘purchase scams’ for bogus farm machinery
The farming community has been urged to be on high alert for fraudsters targeting business owners online, including farmers, with fake farm machinery sales.
The warning from Bank of Ireland came as the National Ploughing Championships kicked off in Ratheniska, Co Laoise yesterday.
“Financial crime is a persistent and growing problem in our society, and no individual or type of business is safe from being targeted by fraudsters”
Fraudsters are directly targeting famers with pop up social media ads, leading to bogus machinery websites.
How bogus machinery sales are catching farmers out
Fraudsters are highly skilled at creating fake websites that appear genuine and persuade shoppers to share their payment information.
Many scams are centred around vehicles like camper vans and tractors, while others create websites to look like well-known companies.
The purchaser is often lured by the false promise of a reduced price or bargain and asked to pay directly, sending money from their bank account to another via bank transfer, which provides little protection. Once the payment is transferred, the seller usually cuts all contact, and the product or service doesn’t arrive.
Bank of Ireland’s Fraud and Security team will give a series of talks at the Bank of Ireland pavilion (Block 2, Row 13, Stand 223) at the National Ploughing Championships this week, with advice for farmers on how to safeguard their business and finances from fraudsters.
No one is safe from fraud epidemic
Nicola Sadlier, Head of Fraud, Bank of Ireland said: “Financial crime is a persistent and growing problem in our society, and no individual or type of business is safe from being targeted by fraudsters.
“One recent example of a purchase scam among the farming community involved a poultry farmer purchasing machinery, who saw a social media pop-up ad on their computer. The farmer contacted the company via the social media platform and details were exchanged. The bogus company then sent an invoice for the machinery and payment of c€49,000 was sent for the purchase. Once funds were sent, they did not receive a response to emails and all communication ceased.
“Fraudsters are directly targeting businesses daily, finding new ways to directly target specific business types. That is why we are here at the National Ploughing Championships to warn the farming and agrifood community around the risk fraud poses to their business, and to give them some practical advice on how to safeguard their livelihoods against the threat of fraud.”
How to avoid fraud
Bank of Ireland’s advice to customers when making a purchase for their farm or business:
- Research and read reviews to check the site and the seller are genuine.
- Be alert to poor grammar and spelling, poor image quality or vague product descriptions.
- Beware of pop-up ads on your social media feed (fraudsters can pay to have their ads appear there).
- Go directly to the online shopping site by typing the web address into your web browser.
- Always view large purchases in person prior to making full payment for them.
- Links in unsolicited emails or on social media are not always safe and should be avoided.
- Use secure payment methods, try and pay by debit or credit card, or the secure payment method recommended by reputable online retailers and auction sites, as this could give you more protection.
If people suspect they have been a victim of fraud they should contact their bank immediately so that the bank can take action to stop a fraud in progress and try to recover funds.
Bank of Ireland customers can call our Fraud Team 24/7, on the Freephone line 1800 946 764.
Full schedule of Bank of Ireland talks at National Ploughing Championships
| Day | Time | Title | Panellists |
| Tuesday 17th | 11am | Preparing for Winter – getting your farm financially fit | Pat Byrnes, Bank of Ireland
Philip O’Connor, IFAC Liam Hennessy, FDC |
| 12.30pm | Understanding Renewables- making your farm more sustainable | Mark Glennon, Bank of Ireland
Pat Smith, Local Power Stephen Robb, Irish Farmers Journal Brendan Gildea, Farmer |
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| 1.30pm | Planning Succession on your Farm | Eoin Lowry, Bank of Ireland
Aisling Meehan, Agricultural Solicitor |
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| 3pm | Financial Fraud Awareness on your Farm | Emily Gough, Bank of Ireland
Nicola Sadlier, Bank of Ireland Paul O’Brien, Bank of Ireland |
|
| Wednesday 18th | 11am | Challenging the status quo- leading the sector into the future | Susan Maher, Bank of Ireland
Elaine Houlihan, President Macra na Feirme Mary Kinston, Farmer, Chair Dairy Women Ireland Anne Marie Butler, Teagasc |
| 12.30pm | Thinking different: The sustainable dairy farm of the future | Eoin Lowry, Bank of Ireland
John Fitzgerald, Bank of Ireland Siobhan Kavanagh, Teagasc |
|
| 2pm | Financial Fraud Awareness on your Farm | Emily Gough, Bank of Ireland
Nicola Sadlier, Bank of Ireland Paul O’Brien, Bank of Ireland |
|
| Thursday 19st | 11am | Developing healthy foods as consumer trends change | Lucy Ryan, Bank of Ireland
Andrea Milley, Ion Organic Oils |
| 12pm | Building a sustainable food brand in Ireland | Lucy Ryan, Bank of Ireland
Clive Gee, G’s Jams and Abbey Farm Foods |
Main image at top: Paul O’Brien and Emily Gough from the Bank of Ireland Fraud team brief farmers about fraud at the Ploughing Championships 2024
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