By Frank Giles
In a world where artificial intelligence (AI) can make images and videos that look real, scammers are taking advantage of the technology and all the ways potential victims can be reached through their phones, emails and social media accounts.
A Specialty Crop Grower article last month featured Gene McAvoy, a well-known agriculturalist, whose Facebook page was hacked. Victims lost more than $30,000 to the scammer. When an online scam occurs, there’s little hope for recourse for the victims. The likelihood is low that the perpetrator will be caught and face justice.
Be Vigilant
Recently, the Georgia Department of Agriculture issued a scam alert. The agency’s law enforcement division announced it had identified fraudulent schemes in which scammers create highly convincing websites and online advertisements that appear to represent legitimate farm equipment dealerships.
In many cases, the dealerships themselves are real businesses. However, criminals are using AI and other advanced technology to imitate those businesses, creating convincing websites, advertisements, emails and communications designed to deceive potential buyers.
Victims typically locate tractors or other agricultural equipment advertised online at attractive prices. After expressing interest, they are contacted by individuals posing as dealership representatives through telephone calls or text messages. The scammers then instruct buyers to wire funds or electronically transfer money to complete the purchase. Once payment is made, the equipment does not exist or is never delivered, and the funds are often unrecoverable.
“Unfortunately, our state’s No. 1 industry is not immune to crime, and Georgia farmers are being targeted by online scammers. The safest approach is to personally visit the dealership, put your own eyes on the equipment and complete the purchase in person,” advised Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler J Harper. “Taking these extra steps can prevent significant financial losses while we work to hold the perpetrators accountable.”
The Georgia Department of Agriculture urges farmers and agricultural businesses to exercise caution before purchasing equipment online. Prior to sending any payment:
- Verify the dealership by independently locating its official phone number and contacting the business directly.
- Discuss large online purchases with your financial institution before transferring funds.
- Be extremely cautious of requests to wire money or send electronic payments to unfamiliar accounts.
- Whenever possible, travel to the dealership in person and inspect the equipment yourself. Complete the transaction using a cashier’s check or another secure payment method.
Anyone who believes they have been a target of fraud should immediately contact their financial institution and report the incident to local law enforcement. Suspected fraud involving agricultural businesses may also be reported to the Georgia Department of Agriculture Law Enforcement Division.
Growing Problem
While there are no comprehensive statistics on how farmers and people in the agricultural industry are being impacted by online scams, national statistics show this is a growing problem
across the board. The Federal Bureau of Investigation reported $16.6 billion in 2024 losses for victims, but the true losses are likely higher due to the tendency of victims to not report the incidence.
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