Gardaí have advised that extra caution is needed if sellers ask for money to be sent to PO boxes or money transfer companies rather than bank accounts. This advice came as a number of machinery scams have been detected in recent weeks and months.

In one case, a tractor was advertised at an attractively low price, with a UK number for farmers to contact. It transpired that the photograph in the fraudulent advert had been taken from the website of a legitimate tractor dealer, without him knowing.

Gardaí have advised that no personal, financial or security information be given to any person or company unless the buyer themselves is satisfied that they are genuine. What may sound like a professional and well-intentioned sale often can be the very opposite.

Advice from the FTMTA to machinery dealerships

For all card not present sales, the following details must be obtained:

  • The card number.
  • Cardholder’s name, as it appears on the card.
  • Card expiry date.
  • The cardholder’s billing address.
  • Delivery address (if different to billing address).
  • Contact phone number (preferably a landline number as mobile phone numbers are not always traceable).
  • The name of the card-issuing bank.
  • The card security code (CSC) – the three digits on the signature panel (The CSC will be verified online against the card, by the card issuer).

    • Minimise the risk of fraud by considering these points:

    If you become suspicious of a customer, take your time checking them out. If you are not fully comfortable with them, don’t proceed with the sale.

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    Dealers warned to watch out for card scam