ATTENTION BUYERS AND SELLERS: FRAUD ALERT - Usually Involving Foreign Countries, Counterfeit Cashiers Checks, and Untraceable Wire Transfers.

A very serious matter has come to our attention, and we feel it is our duty to inform our users regarding any type of large scale fraudulent activity that may be taking place in the oilfield industry.

People selling oilfield equipment and products are receiving buyer inquiries from a third party regarding the purchase of a product from a potential buyer in other countries (Nigeria, Africa, London, Hong Kong, and others). This inquiry attempts to arrange the purchase of a product with a cashiers check covering the price of the product/product and shipping. After the product/product has been shipped, they ask you to refund the shipping charges as part of a "finders fee" arrangement. They may also send you a check larger than the purchase price and ask for a refund of the difference.

Unfortunately, the CASHIERS CHECK IS COUNTERFEIT. This fact is not discovered until the product/product and/or your money (the difference in the check they send to their victims and the lower sales price of the product/product) have been forwarded to the scam artist.

This scam may take various forms including purchasing frozen semen, tack, equipment, using WIRE TRANSFERS, even scammers posing as sellers on our site, etc. Scams may have misspellings (most common variation is check spelled as CHEQUE, bad English, foreign countries, and making offers for a client or other third party.

There are all types of scams in this world which apply to the product industry, just like any other industry. To help you in recognizing these types of scams, we have provided a list of guidelines. They are only guidelines, and should always be used with common sense.

**REMEMBER THE OLD SAYING - "IF SOUNDS TO GOOD TO BE TRUE, IT PROBABLY IS."

**BIG PROMISES - Claims such as offering more money than the asking price without any initial contact (conversation) to the seller.

**CASHIERS CHEQUE (NOTE SPELLING) - This "Cheque" will usually be more than the asking price. They will send you a (COUNTERFEIT) cashiers "cheque" or certified "cheque" and ask you to send the difference to them or their shipper by WIRE TRANSFER or Western Union. Note: The misspelling of check is not always used. Be aware of all checks for more than the asking price.

**REQUESTS FOR FINANCIAL INFO - Never give out your bank information (or any other financial information) without establishing a comfort level with the buyer or seller.

**GET SOMETHING IN WRITING - You should never complete a transaction without something in writing and signed. Draft up a contract with a lawyer if affordable (usually for products sold/bought at a high price). If not, write down the terms in English and get it signed. Any buyer or seller that hesitates or resists, is usually a sure sign of a problem.

If you ,or anyone you know, have been scammed or contacted by a scammer, and you would like to share your experience with other buyers/sellers, Contact Us, and we will post your experience in our guidelines.

Some tips to avoid being scammed when buying online.
 

Remember, scammers are sharp and constantly using newer tricks to take you for your money. ALWAYS USE CAUTION WHEN TRANSACTING ONLINE.

Online scams know no national borders or boundaries; they respect no investigative jurisdictions. But, as with all scammers, they have one objective — to separate you from your money!

An interesting point about fraud is that it is a crime in which you decide on whether to participate. Hanging up the phone or not responding to shady mailings or emails makes it difficult for the scammer to commit fraud. But con artists are very persuasive, using all types of excuses, explanations, and offers to lead you — and your money — away from common sense.

Good judgment, and a healthy dose of skepticism are the best defenses against becoming a victim. Remember, if it looks too good to be true, it probably is!