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Farmers have been warned to be on high alert for a scam artist who has conned farmers nationwide out of thousands of euro.
More than 30 farmers have been conned into paying between €1,000 and €20,000 as a deposit for a farm shed.
It is believed that at least 31 individuals have paid cash or made bank transfers to the tune of around €140,000 to the same individual.
One Co Cork farmer who lost €5,000 to the fraudster herself appealed online for anyone with any information or experience of the con artist to come forward. She has been inundated with callers since the weekend.
This man is taking money from decent hard-working people like ourselves and we want to stop him
“This man is taking money from decent hard-working people like ourselves and we want to stop him,” the farmer, who wishes to remain anonymous, told the Irish Farmers Journal.
“We want to gather together all the evidence and make sure he faces the consequences.”
The fraudster, who operates under multiple constantly changing company names, is a convincing seller.
“He is a great man to talk. He was in my home and you would think he is the most genuine fellow you could meet,” she said.
“He will list off respectable people in the locality and he will mention that he is related to certain people. He just sucks you in.”
More than 60 calls have been received about the fraudster in just two days, with 31 of the callers confirming they were victims of the scam.
Other callers have offered information about the man and how he operates.
Nationwide scam
Farmers have handed over between €4,000 and €5,000 on average in cash and bank transfers, but the deposit amount paid ranges from €1,000 to €20,000 in individual cases.
So far, victims have come forward from counties Kildare, Cork, Sligo, Mayo, Galway, Kerry and Laois. All have paid over money in the past four years and some as recently as three weeks ago.
The victims include elderly bachelor farmers.
In the majority of cases, the deposit is paid and the shed is never delivered. In some cases, steel is delivered for the shed, but it is the incorrect size and not CE-marked.
“My phone has been hopping,” the farmer said. “I want us all to stand together shoulder to shoulder and fight so that this man cannot continue ripping people off. Money is hard enough to come by in farming without someone like him taking it.”
Trusted sources
She urged farmers to be extra vigilant when buying sheds from unknown sources.
“Double- and triple-check the name with more than one person. Go on solocheck.ie to research the company, read internet reviews or even phone the guards to make sure the person you are dealing with is legitimate,” she warned.
“Don’t pay over cash and get receipts for everything. If you are handing over thousands of euro, be very careful who you are dealing with.”
Victims of the fraudster or anyone with any information are asked to call 085-829 4956 in confidence.
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