An Garda Síochána has declined to comment on whether it is investigating the nationwide shed scam , as revealed by the Irish Farmers Journal.
The scam, in which farmers pay substantial deposits for sheds that are never delivered or have the wrong size and specification materials delivered, has affected farmers and companies in at least 11 counties. “We won’t be discussing any ongoing criminal investigation,” a member of An Garda Siochana told the Irish Farmers Journal.
Victims of the scam artist have so far come forward in the southeast region of Waterford, Wexford, Kilkenny, Tipperary and the southwest counties of Cork, Kerry, as well as the western counties of Mayo, Sligo and Galway and Laois and Westmeath in the midlands.
Farmers and steel suppliers have been left out of pocket for sums ranging from €1,000 to €29,000. Many of the farmers paid shed deposits in cash, by bank transfer and by cheque to an individual who traded under multiple company names.
Some victims were scammed up to five years ago, while others paid over their money in recent weeks. Dozens of farmers and up to 10 companies have come forward with information about the fraudster.
The Irish Association of Steel Fabricators has advised anyone buying a shed to thoroughly check all references, ask for CE certification and, if necessary, contact the association to verify the seller is genuine.
If you have been a victim of the scam, contact cmurphy@farmersjournal.ieI gave him €4,000 and I never
got a nut or a bolt
“I came across him in late 2015. I wanted to put up a calf shed and it was hard enough to get someone at that time of year but this fellow answered the phone. He seemed very genuine, he knew everything about sheds and offered me some great advice. He was in my yard for two hours on a Sunday morning and we measured everything. He came into the kitchen and sat down with myself, my mother and father and the young fellow.
‘‘The shed was to cost €10,500 and I gave him a cheque for €4,000 made out to his company. I never got a nut or a bolt for my shed from him.
‘‘I had a few things to do on the farm before the shed could go up but by January I was ready for it and I needed it done before the calves arrived.
‘‘First of all he didn’t answer the phone for weeks. Then, when he finally did answer, he told me he had been dying of the flu. Then he told me a big long rigmarole about a stalker trying to ruin his business.
‘‘If he promised me once, he promised me 100 times that he would get me the shed but I never got a thing.”
Read more
More victims of nationwide shed scam emerge
Shed scam: how the fraudster operates
An Garda Síochána has declined to comment on whether it is investigating the nationwide shed scam , as revealed by the Irish Farmers Journal.
The scam, in which farmers pay substantial deposits for sheds that are never delivered or have the wrong size and specification materials delivered, has affected farmers and companies in at least 11 counties. “We won’t be discussing any ongoing criminal investigation,” a member of An Garda Siochana told the Irish Farmers Journal.
Victims of the scam artist have so far come forward in the southeast region of Waterford, Wexford, Kilkenny, Tipperary and the southwest counties of Cork, Kerry, as well as the western counties of Mayo, Sligo and Galway and Laois and Westmeath in the midlands.
Farmers and steel suppliers have been left out of pocket for sums ranging from €1,000 to €29,000. Many of the farmers paid shed deposits in cash, by bank transfer and by cheque to an individual who traded under multiple company names.
Some victims were scammed up to five years ago, while others paid over their money in recent weeks. Dozens of farmers and up to 10 companies have come forward with information about the fraudster.
The Irish Association of Steel Fabricators has advised anyone buying a shed to thoroughly check all references, ask for CE certification and, if necessary, contact the association to verify the seller is genuine.
If you have been a victim of the scam, contact cmurphy@farmersjournal.ieI gave him €4,000 and I never
got a nut or a bolt
“I came across him in late 2015. I wanted to put up a calf shed and it was hard enough to get someone at that time of year but this fellow answered the phone. He seemed very genuine, he knew everything about sheds and offered me some great advice. He was in my yard for two hours on a Sunday morning and we measured everything. He came into the kitchen and sat down with myself, my mother and father and the young fellow.
‘‘The shed was to cost €10,500 and I gave him a cheque for €4,000 made out to his company. I never got a nut or a bolt for my shed from him.
‘‘I had a few things to do on the farm before the shed could go up but by January I was ready for it and I needed it done before the calves arrived.
‘‘First of all he didn’t answer the phone for weeks. Then, when he finally did answer, he told me he had been dying of the flu. Then he told me a big long rigmarole about a stalker trying to ruin his business.
‘‘If he promised me once, he promised me 100 times that he would get me the shed but I never got a thing.”
Read more
More victims of nationwide shed scam emerge
Shed scam: how the fraudster operates
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