DEALER REPORTS FRAUD ATTEMPT

Pete Bullock of the Big Mower Co, Aylesbury, has contacted Service Dealer to let other dealers know about an attempted fraud that he recently experienced.

Pete said, "I got contacted by email over a machine I had advertised on Machinery4golf. A Toro SR72 aerator second hand, in good order, £8500 Net.

"This chap wanted to buy machine with a cheque. I replied saying this was a bit of a 'last week' way of doing things, BACS is the way ahead.

"He, Thomas Marc, insisted this was the only way he could do it, saying he would send a cheque for the equivalent in Euros. Thomas said it would clear in a few days and he would organise transport to pick machine up ASAP.

"A few days later a cheque for 14000 euros turns up. With a good deal of suspicion, I go to my bank, Lloyds, to see what they thought. Reception told me being a business customer of many years, the bank would initially honour the amount and transfer the funds into my account. It would then take 6 to 8 weeks for the actual transfer to take place from Credit Agricole France to Lloyds UK. However, if the funds did not transfer due to lack of funds etc, then Lloyds would take back the funds transferred originally sent.

"That being said I instructed Lloyds to only transfer funds once the cheque was honoured. I didn't want to have pretend money my account!

"Within a week I got a call from a manager at Lloyds saying the cheque was 'refer to drawer' and the whole thing was a scam.

"I have now just sold the machine to a regular customer in Oxford. All good and happy. BACS is only the way ahead, particularly if you are dealing with abroad / Europe. And beware of a Thomas Marc!"