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Catherina Cunnane
Catherina Cunnanehttps://www.thatsfarming.com/
Catherina Cunnane hails from a sixth-generation drystock and specialised pedigree suckler enterprise in Co. Mayo. She currently holds the positions of editor and general manager at That's Farming, having joined the firm during its start-up phase in 2015.
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Teenager scammed out of savings whilst trying to buy first tractor

A 14-year-old has fallen victim to a scam and has lost thousands of pounds whilst attempting to purchase his first tractor.

According to Planet Radio, teenager, Harvey Waters, used his life savings to invest in the agricultural machine.

The radio station reports that Waters’ father went into a bank and drew out £8,500 to transfer to the family account to pay the eBay seller for the tractor by card.

No delivery made 

His mother, Rachel, told the radio station that “everything seemed legitimate”, and they had communicated with the seller by phone and email on several occasions.

The seller had set a delivery date, and the family transferred the money via Paypal.

Radio Plant reports that “as soon as the funds were sent, the money went into an account abroad, and no delivery was made”.

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The teenager’s mother had no correspondence and could not contact the seller. At that point, she knew the family had been scammed.

She told Planet Radio: “It was sickening, absolutely sickening, and stupidity on our part as well.”

“It’s my son’s life savings. He had saved up since he was born to buy his first tractor, and he got so excited. When he realised his money was gone, he was absolutely distraught.”

“It is going to probably take another 14 years for him to save up again if we can try and help him along as well.”

Rachel is urging other people not to fall victim to similar scams.

Be very, very careful. Do your homework prior to any purchases being made,” she warned.
“If something seems too good to be true, then it probably is,” she concluded.

£8,500 eBay tractor scam

An Essex farmer recently lost but has since recovered £8,500 in a sophisticated internet sales scam.

Seb Blake fell victim to the scam last week after forking out £8,500 for a 2002 Case CS94 tractor advertised on eBay.

He told Farmers Weekly that he wanted to replace his 1985 Case tractor and spotted this aforementioned agricultural vehicle for sale at a farm in Hook, Hampshire.

He later discovered that the farm exists, but the seller details were fake. The Essex farmer soon realised that he had been the victim of a tractor scam.

Halifax Bank has since funded the amount into his account, while the online auction website removed the fake tractor advert in question on Friday, April 9th, 2021.

“I was embarrassed, and I was a fool. But at least I’m a fool with my money back,” the farmer told the publication.

“Unless you can put your hands on a tractor, touch it, start it up and drive it away, then don’t buy it,” he warned fellow farmers.

You can read about other cases and read more about online fraud and advise from the Gardaí.

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