TDA has received alerts from Johnson and Karnes counties about scammers contacting hay sellers. The supposed hay buyer will send the seller a check in excess of the amount the hay is being sold for and then ask the seller to wire the extra money somewhere else. The scammers explain the overpayment by saying they need to cover taxes or shipping costs; however, then the check bounces and the scammer already has the money wired to them. The hay seller is then left to pay the money back to the bank.

TDA recommends always reaching out to your local law enforcement agency if something seems fishy about a transaction or purchase. In addition, you may use TDA’s Hay Hotline to locate hay sellers and buyers in your area by visiting the Texas Department of Agriculture website.  

—From Texas Department of Agriculture news release