The horseworld has been targeted by conmen again this week, including an event rider who beleives he has been contacted by fraudsters three times this year.
Last month, eventer Clayton Fredericks had a narrow escape with a conman who tried to buy a horse with a false banker’s draft (news, 5 February).
Now, fellow eventer Paul Tapner thinks the same man contacted him offering to pay the full £40,000 asking price for a horse he is selling.
“I told him I don’t sell horses untried, “ Paul told H&H.
Then, on Wednesday (11 February), Paul was emailed by a man from Wales who said he wanted to buy another horse, Lilly, unseen and would send extra money to pay the transportation company.
The third scam came by text message on Friday (13 January).
“I have been selling horses in the UK for 10 years and to my knowledge I have never been approached in this way before,” said Paul.
Sellers of less expensive horses are being targeted, too.
Paul Neve, who runs Stylaways stud in March, Cambridgeshire, was emailed by a man in response to an advert for a broodmare he’s selling for £2,000. The man wanted to buy the mare unseen and pay extra to cover transportation.
Scam protection advice is available at www.consumerdirect.gov
This article was first published in Horse & Hound (19 February, ’09)
