Ranchers Targeted by Criminals Posing as Buyers

Reports are coming in weekly, from both local law enforcement and individuals, warning of attempts to steal livestock, hay or equipment using counterfeit checks. In many cases the checks appear to be cashiers checks. Jeremy Fuchs, with the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA), says his group is raising the alarm after special rangers noted weekly reports of these thefts by fraud attempts. "Thus far, of the people our rangers have spoken to, no one has completed a transaction and been fully victimized," said Fuchs. "They have seen the warning signs and contacted their local banker or law enforcement before they cashed the check." Fuchs says this scam is particularly dangerous because these checks may appear to be legitimate, and then once the cattle, hay or equipment is gone, the check will be returned as counterfeit. This type of crime, he added, can be very difficult to solve. The thieves are hiding behind technology, and identifying them is not easy. "In many cases you'd be working to identify people out of state or even out of country. They use technology to make it appear they live somewhere they don't, or they are calling from a number that does not exist. It's difficult on many levels, making prevention and awareness of red flags essential," said Fuchs...more