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  Discussion on Nigerian Fraud Hits Horse Trailer Customers
Author Message
Member:
pbauer

Posted on Wednesday, Jun 20, 2007 - 3:08 pm:

News Release June 18th, 2007
For Immediate Release
Contact: Tom Scheve - EquiSpirit Trailers
1-877-575-1771
tomequispirit@earthlink.net



The Nigerian internet fraud, which has pounded US email accounts touting to make large money transfers in exchange for fees, has taken on a new spin with internet horse trailer sales. The increasing growth of equestrian websites offering free classified ads has provided an effective catalyst for the Nigerian scam artists to test their new scheme. Horse trailers have been targeted because they are high ticket items.

We discovered it through first hand experience, stated Tom Scheve, CEO of EquiInternational Inc./EquiSpirit Trailers. A California horse owner, who happened to also be an investigator, called our office to warn us She had found a brand new 2007 EquiSpirit two horse model on freehorseads.com that was offered at more than ½ off the price. The buyer hoped there was some good reason for the low price, but there was not. When the seller became evasive about showing her the trailer, and wanted a substantial deposit up front, she became suspicious and called us. Since we sell EquiSpirits direct throughout the country instead of through dealers, we can keep close track of our trailers and customers. We quickly discerned that the pictures on the ad were lifted from our web sight, and that the seller did not exist in our files.

The way it works is this: First, information and pictures of a particular horse trailer are lifted from a trailer dealer website. Next, a classified type ad is created and placed on as many free-advertising websites as they can find. Once contact is made by an unsuspecting customer, a substantial deposit or even the entire amount is asked for in advance.

I think that most horse owners will be sharp enough to detect that something is wrong says, Tom. The people working this fraud are not horse owners so email responses to trailer questions are usually odd or evasive, sentence structure and grammar are strange, and in our case, the price was too low to be believable. But I suspect that the pitch will improve if the results show promise, so buyers need to be cautious.

Mr. Scheve has supplied a transcript of the email that took place. The name of the customer has been deleted, but the reply (Maria) is the real name used.

Buyer: L
Seller (fraud): Maria
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Is your horse trailer still for sale? Thanks.
L
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Hello L,

Thanks for the interest shown in my trailer .I will like you to know that i still have the trailer for sale though i am having several other buyers. The trailer is almost new and in excellent condition and i have attached the pictures for you.

Let me know if you are still interested.

Thanks, Maria
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Hi Maria, what is the price you want for it? We would have to get a loan to get it...we have two beautiful horses, a thoroughbred and a quarter horse and no trailer! Didn't know how expensive horses were until we got them...what a hobby, huh?

We do have great credit and would have no problem qualifying....
L
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Hello L,

Thanks for your interest. My price for my horse trailer would be $4950. I will request you make a deposit if you want me to hold the horse trailer for you.

Hope to hear from you.

Maria.
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Maria,

I don't know if you got our email we sent on Sunday. My husband works in the area and would like to look at the trailer ASAP...then would like to give you a check for the entire amount if it’s as it appears. Can you advise if the title is clear and whether there is a pink slip available?

Thanks,
L
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Hello Linda,

I got your email and I understand the content very much but as i have stated in my previous email to you, I will like you to know that I am on a missionary trip in Dayton, Ohio. The trailer is parked at home in California and I have contacted California Cartage Company for the shipping of the trailer to you so kindly get back to me with your full name, address and telephone number to make the necessary arrangements.

More so, I will make the shipping to you with no additional cost so let me read from you soon.

Thanks. Maria
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Hi Maria,

We live in B________, California. The phone number is xxx-xxx-xxxx. I should be in most of the day tomorrow.

How would we arrange payment to you, and is it possible to see the trailer first? How would you arrange for transfer of the pink slip and title?

Thanks,
L
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The email was tracked to Lagos, Nigeria, which was routed by Satellite through the Netherlands, and the FBI has been contacted. So far says Scheve, we have heard nothing back from the FBI, and as of yet, the ad has not been deleted from freehorseads.com even after numerous requests.




Besides owning EquiSpirit, Tom Scheve and wife Neva have produced three books on horse trailers, and continually contribute national articles on horse trailer safety. For more information contact equispirit@earthlink.net, equispirit.com.
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