Farmers targeted in online hay selling scam

Nixon says con artists are contacting businesses registered on the Missouri Department of Agriculture’s Hay Directory Web site, found at www.mda.mo.gov, where farmers register to advertise and sell their hay.

In this case, the hay seller receives an e-mail from someone claiming to be a hay buyer. The seller then receives a large check and is asked to wire money to a hauler, who will supposedly come and pick up the bales of hay. The seller finds out days later that the original check has bounced.

The technique is a variation of the classic overpayment scam, where the con artist mails a check to a seller, then asks the seller to send part of that money elsewhere via wire transfer.

“I strongly encourage farmers to follow the time-tested practice of doing business and accepting payment from hay buyers face to face, rather than wiring money to a stranger,” Nixon said in a news release.

Consumers with questions or complaints can call the attorney general’s consumer protection hotline at (800) 392-8222 or visit www.ago.mo.gov