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By Curtis Galbraith

RCMP

Alberta RCMP warning of hay selling scam

Oct 14, 2021 | 5:28 PM

Alberta RCMP have sent out a warning about online scams for selling hay.

This involves scammers listing hay for sale on places such as social media and demanding payment before the hay is delivered, or even before the buyer has a chance to see it or verify anything about the seller.

Police say incidents reported to both Grande Prairie and Evansburg RCMP involved money being sent through an e-transfer after a fake listing was put on Facebook Marketplace.

Mounties say victims have already been scammed out of $64,000, a number that may actually be higher as some cases may not have been reported.

The amounts stolen at any one time range from $1,000 to $5,000.

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RCMP say signs of a scam include sellers always communicating by text messages rather than phone conversations, lower prices, and a need to pay a deposit followed by excuses about no delivery before the communication ends.

Police say incidents like this can be reported to the local detachment or the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or on its website.