Seminole County Couple Falls Victim to Online Fraud
A couple from Seminole County has reportedly become victims of a fraudulent scheme involving social media advertisements. They paid thousands for a tractor that was never delivered, after transferring the funds wirelessly.
George and Melania Griffin, residents of Geneva, showcased a smaller John Deere tractor they currently use in their land clearing and development business. They were hopeful about upgrading to a larger model they saw advertised on Facebook. The ad was for a John Deere tractor with a high cab and air conditioning, which seemed perfect for their needs.
The tractor was advertised for $23,480, plus an additional $1,000 for delivery. “It appeared to be a reasonable deal for our business,” George Griffin stated. However, their excitement turned to disappointment when the tractor never arrived, as investigations revealed that the purported company, Atlas Truck Equipment, doesn’t actually exist in Houston, Texas.
Upon realizing they had been scammed, the Griffins reached out to the financial crimes division within the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office. WESH 2 Investigates was present when a detective gathered necessary documents and filed a report, informing the Griffins that recovering their money might not be possible.
Melania expressed her frustration, saying, “I couldn’t believe that we fell for this scam, especially since we are cautious about protecting my 86-year-old mother who lives with us.” They subsequently contacted the Better Business Bureau (BBB) of Central Florida, who informed them that this type of fraud is known as an imposter scam and is increasingly common across the nation.
Holly Salmons, the CEO of the BBB of Central Florida, emphasized that as more consumers feel comfortable shopping online, they become more susceptible to such scams. She noted that the fraudsters did an impressive job creating a convincing website, but inconsistencies like mismatched business names and addresses should raise red flags.
Further investigation showed that while a legitimate trucking company exists under a similar name, its property greatly differed from the images found on the scam website. Moreover, the reviews associated with Atlas Truck Equipment were almost universally positive, which is notably unusual. To protect themselves, consumers are advised to research companies through the BBB’s “Scam Tracker” and search for company names followed by “scam” to uncover any prior complaints. If you suspect you’ve been scammed, you are encouraged to file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau, the Florida Attorney General’s office, or the Federal Trade Commission.
