Plant & Machinery Buyers Guide
Buyers Guide
to Plant & Agriculture
Machinery
Plant & Machinery Buyers Guide
8 point buyers guide to plant and agriculture machinery
1. Research the market and compare prices so you know the price you’re paying is a fair one. But
beware! It is common for criminals to advertise machinery at “just below market value” to make it
sound attractive to buyers, but not so low as to arouse suspicion.
2. If the advert is accompanied by a photograph, copy the photo into google images. It is common for
criminals to search the internet for pictures of machines then use those pictures in the advert. If the
picture is of a machine that matches one from another country then it is quite possibly a scam!
3. Always ensure you complete a close up, ‘physical’ inspection of your intended purchase to help
determine its age, its condition and its value before handing over any money.
4. View the machinery in daylight and at the seller’s premises; check that the address matches the
address on any paperwork. Make a discreet note of makes, models and registration numbers of
vehicles parked at the address. It may be helpful to the police should you later discover a problem
with your purchase.
5. Get the equipment checked by an independent plant/agricultural fitter to ensure it is mechanically
sound.
6. Check that the stamped in serial/chassis number and VIN plate is intact and complete, and make
certain that it has not been tampered or interfered with?
7. Many keys required to start machines are universal, so do not assume that just because the seller
has a genuine manufacturers keys to fit the machine, that the machine must also be genuine.
8. Check for theft & outstanding finance, run a check with Datatag/CESAR/HPI provenance check.
(http://datatag.co.uk/provenance)
ID Limited
Tel: 08 450 700 440
www.datatag.co.uk
Datatag Certificate No. 665a/01
Certified to LPS 1224 Issue 2
Assessed to ISO 9001
LPCB ref. no. 665
Plant & Machinery Buyers Guide
Avoiding fraudulent sellers
Fraudulent adverts are placed by thieves posing as sellers, often trying to make
money from a hoax piece of machinery advertised at a bargain price. The seller
(fraudster) will often redirect you to their website and ask for several deposits of
money before they deliver the machinery, but, the machinery will never arrive and
you will end up out of pocket.
What should I look out for?
• The machinery may be advertised below the market value. Be mindful that criminals often advertise machines just under market value.
This makes the machine attractive to the buyer but not so much that it arouses suspicion.
• The photograph used was pulled from the internet, (use google images to check the source of the image!).
• The seller will prefer to email you and avoid talking to you on a phone call.
• The seller will say that you can’t actually view the machinery.
• You receive emails from a shipping company rather than the seller.
How do I identify a fraudulent advert?
• The machinery may be undervalued, if it looks too good to be true it most probably is.
• The telephone number may be unavailable and you will be asked to contact the seller by email.
• There may be text in the images again asking you to email the seller.
• Look at the advert text - the seller may include information claiming that they are unable to take phone calls, or contact by email only.
What to do if you think you’re a victim?
If you think you’ve been targeted by a fraudster, contact Auto Trader immediately by emailing scam@autotrader.co.uk or calling
0845 071 0487.
ID Limited
Tel: 08 450 700 440
www.datatag.co.uk
Datatag Certificate No. 665a/01
Certified to LPS 1224 Issue 2
Assessed to ISO 9001
LPCB ref. no. 665
Plant & Machinery Buyers Guide
Fraudulent buyers and email scams
One of the most common online scams to affect all kinds of internet users is the
Advance Fee Fraud, which encourages sellers to transfer “shipping fees” to “buyers”
abroad.
What’s involved?
The scam usually involves a fraudster gaining the victim’s trust over a period of several emails, convincing sellers they genuinely want to
buy, sending a fake cheque or false PayPal payments to cover the cost before insisting on money for “shipping fees”. A number of sellers
advertising Plant & Farm Machinery have been contacted in this way, but the emails are easy to spot.
Typically they will:
• Originate from webmail accounts, such as Yahoo, Hotmail or Gmail.
• Be poorly written, or look as though they’re being sent in bulk with the seller’s vehicle details crudely pasted in.
• Encourage sellers to use money transfer services such as Western Union.
If you receive an email which you believe to be from a fraudster:
•
•
•
•
Forward it to the abuse department of the sender’s email provider.
Use your email software to block further emails from the sender.
Do not respond
Forward it to the Auto Trader Customer Security Team - scam@autotrader.co.uk
What to do if you think you’re a victim
If you think you’ve been targeted by a fraudster, contact Auto Trader immediately by emailing Customersecurity@autotrader.co.uk or by
calling 0845 071 0487.
Phishing Emails
“Phishing” is someone trying to trick you into giving your personal information such as usernames, passwords and credit card details via an
email that looks like it’s from Auto Trader. Common scenarios scammers invent in order to gain victim’s log-in, credit card or other personal
details include:
• Sellers are sent a duplicate of their advert, with a link to a bogus version of Auto Trader’s sign-in page. Once supplied, the details will
be used to change the advert’s description and contact details.
• Sellers are contacted by scammers claiming to be from a credit card company’s fraud department calling about unusual purchases.
They will then ask for the card’s details in order to make a refund.
• Calls from scammers requesting credit card details for refunds.
• Emails detailing offers for Auto Trader customers, with a full refund if your car is not sold within three weeks.
We do occasionally contact customers to ask for payment details over the phone. If you’re unsure about a call, don’t provide your card
details and call Customer Security on 0845 071 0487.
ID Limited
Tel: 08 450 700 440
www.datatag.co.uk
Datatag Certificate No. 665a/01
Certified to LPS 1224 Issue 2
Assessed to ISO 9001
LPCB ref. no. 665
Plant & Machinery Buyers Guide
Be aware of stolen plant & farm equipment
Telehandlers, excavators, loaders, rollers, trailers, dumpers, tractors, quad bikes etc.
are stolen by organised criminal gangs and sold on to unsuspecting buyers.
We’ve created a checklist for buying plant & farm equipment safely.
Do a valuation
• Research the market to check the value of the machinery you are looking to buy. If it is under value, ask yourself why? If it looks too
good to be true it generally is. Be mindful that criminals often advertise machines just under market value. This makes the machine
attractive to the buyer but not so much that it arouses suspicion.
Payment
• Do not send money for machinery without viewing the machine. Always meet the seller before entering into any financial transaction
and at their premises.
Check it
• Ask for any documentation - Receipts, Service History, and V5C etc.
• Make sure that the correct type of serial number plate is fixed correctly to the chassis and that it has not been interfered with.
• Look for any previous owner decals - if you find any, call them to make sure they have sold it.
Datatag Provenance check
• Check the equipment with Datatag before you buy it - and do so when you are standing next to it if possible
• Visit Datatag/HPI check to see if the equipment is stolen or on finance.
Be aware - £1,000,000 worth of plant & equipment is stolen every week (source: Home Office)
If you have your suspicions then please ring our Customer Security Team on 0845 071 0487 or email customersecurity@autotrader.co.uk
and let us know
ID Limited
Tel: 08 450 700 440
www.datatag.co.uk
Datatag Certificate No. 665a/01
Certified to LPS 1224 Issue 2
Assessed to ISO 9001
LPCB ref. no. 665
Plant & Machinery Buyers Guide
Fake Escrow/shipping services
Fraudulent escrow/shipping services appear legitimate but are run by fake ‘sellers’.
The ‘seller’ places a fake advert with an unusually low price to grab the buyer’s
attention. When the buyer enquires about the vehicle they’re sent a standard reply,
promising to waiver the shipping costs and suggesting payment is made via a
particular escrow service. Signs it may be a fake escrow service includes false
licence numbers, logos and copyright details, as well as a mobile phone number disguised as a foreign landline. After the money is sent,
the buyer becomes impossible to contact and untraceable.
Fake Payment Protection Services
Criminals will set up fake Payment Protection Services to pay for you to pay for fraudulent Plant & Farm items.
The Criminals will often use well known brands to make them appear authentic. It advises that your money is safe and secure until the
machinery or vehicle arrives, in reality the money will be deposited into a bank account and you will never receive any goods. These can
include the following:
• Auto Trader Payment Protection - We do not offer any kind of payment protection service.
• Google Wallet/Checkout
• PayPal Protection
• Yahoo Payment Protection
• EBay payment Protection
If you have any suspicions then please ring our Customer Security Team on 0845 071 0487 or email customersecurity@autotrader.co.uk
and let us know.
Top Tips to buy safely
• Do not send money for machinery without viewing it. We recommend that you always meet the seller before entering into any financial
transaction.
• Check the company details and the address they have supplied. Is it legitimate?
• Look at similar items for sale on Auto Trader and see how the item you’re looking at compares in price.
• If the machinery is significantly cheaper, ask yourself why? If it looks too good to be true it generally is. Be mindful that criminals often
advertise machines just under market value. This makes the machine attractive to the buyer but not so much that it arouses suspicion.
• Ask to see any paperwork relating to the piece of machinery
If you require further information please contact our Customer Security Team on 0845 071 0487.
ID Limited
Tel: 08 450 700 440
www.datatag.co.uk
Datatag Certificate No. 665a/01
Certified to LPS 1224 Issue 2
Assessed to ISO 9001
LPCB ref. no. 665
Plant & Machinery Buyers Guide
Useful contacts
There are plenty of organisations which can help you if things go wrong, but if you have an experience - good or bad -let us know at
enquiries@autotrader.co.uk.
Citizens Advice
A government-funded website providing information on how
to resolve consumer issues once goods or services have been
purchased.
Metropolitan Police Fraud Alert
A Metropolitan Police website which is part of an initiative to tackle
economic crime, providing useful information for plant buyers and
sellers across Britain.
Action Fraud
Action Fraud is run by the government’s National Fraud Authority.
It offers a 24-hour online fraud reporting service and provides help
and advice over the phone through the Action Fraud contact centre.
You can talk to their fraud specialists by calling 0300 123 2040.
Motor Codes
An industry body which operates codes of practice covering the
sale of new plants, service and repair and vehicle warranties
DVLA
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) maintains records
of licensed drivers and registered vehicles for the Department of
Transport.
Direct.gov Motoring
Government website offering advice about public services across
England and Wales with a large section dedicated to motoring.
PANIU (Plant and Agriculture National Intelligence Unit)
A national police unit set up in 2007 and funded by the insurance
industry. If you suspect that you have been offered a suspect piece
of machinery you can report it confidentially to PANIU by calling
0207 2307290.
Vehicle Safe Trading Advisory Group (VSTAG)
An industry body initiated by Auto Trader designed to combat
vehicle related fraud for buyers and sellers of cars, motorcycles and
vans.
MOT Validity Check
You can check if an MOT certificate is legal or if a vehicle has failed
its MOT test online with Directgov by submitting the MOT certificate
number.
Direct.gov Buyer Beware
Tips on how to stay safe from fraud when buying a plant, including
an interactive guide to the Vehicle Registration Certificate (V5C).
ID Limited
Tel: 08 450 700 440
www.datatag.co.uk
Datatag Certificate No. 665a/01
Certified to LPS 1224 Issue 2
Assessed to ISO 9001
LPCB ref. no. 665
Retail Motor Industry Federation
The RMI represents plant dealers and is focussed on raising
standards across the industry.
OFT Approved
The OFT Approved scheme means signatories are members of
Office of Fair Trading approved trade associations. Members display
the Approved code’s logo and customers will be treated fairly if
problems arise.
Scottish Motor Trade Association
The SMTA represents plant dealers in Scotland and seeks to
“encourage, promote and protect” its members and their customers.
Trading Standards
A not-for-profit organisation which seeks to safeguard consumers’
health and safety and wellbeing from unscrupulous businesses.
Companies House
Website allowing users to search for information on registered
businesses, such as information on its accounts and whether it has
been dissolved.
Get Safe Online
An initiative to help internet users stay safe online with information
on avoiding scams and how to protect your computer.
Phonepay Plus
An organisation which regulates premium-rate phone services in
the UK, providing information on the costs and how to complain
about these services.