TENNESSEE FARMERS BEWARE OF ONLINE CATTLE SCAM – ONE FARMER LOST $15,000
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — The Tennessee Department of Agriculture is warning residents about potential online scams involving purchasing cattle online.
State officials posted to their Facebook page about a Coffee County farmer who spoke to an alleged scammer claiming to be in Arkansas about purchasing livestock on a site called “Cattle Exchange.”
The farmer saw photos/video of the cattle and settled on a price. The “seller” requested a $15,000 deposit, which was sent via wire transfer, with the remaining fee to be paid upon delivery.
After sending the initial payment, the scammer requested the farmer sign a contract and pay the fee in full before delivery. The farmer then realized something was wrong and contacted law enforcement.
He called the police, but investigators weren’t able to contact the “seller” since the wire transfer went to a bank outside of the United States.
