Media contact:
Misti Preston
Phone: (573) 751-8596
Misti.Preston@mda.mo.gov

For Immediate Release: September 27, 2007

Agriculture Department Reminds Producers of Hay Scam

(JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.) – The Missouri Department of Agriculture (MDA) is reminding hay producers across the state listed on the Missouri Hay Directory of a ploy where producers are contacted by a supposed interested buyer potentially scamming them out of thousands of dollars.

“Once again, we are asking our producers to make good business decisions when dealing with anyone interested in purchasing hay,” said Katie Smith, director of MDA. “The Missouri Hay Directory has truly been a success for over 10 years and it is unfortunate that someone is trying to take advantage of our producers. We ask that producers make sure they have some level of confidence in the buyer and their method of payment.”

In recent and past situations, producers selling hay receive contact from someone claiming they are interested in making a purchase. The producers then receive a substantial check and, in addition, are asked to wire transfer funds to a truck hauler who will supposedly pick up the bales of hay. This is considered an overpayment scam where the buyer mails a check to the seller asking the seller to send part of the funds via wire transfer to a hauling company. The producer then finds out days and sometimes weeks later that the original payment has not cleared.

For more information regarding the Missouri Hay Directory, visit www.mda.mo.gov.

[ Print | Back ]