Perhaps with an amusing but true story. A few years ago a customer who had bought a horsebox from me had it stolen. When the insurance had paid out she came to me for another box. A few weeks later my son went to look at a box that was advertised for sale on one of the equestrian web sites. This seller had several horseboxes for sale, the one my son looked at was without doubt the stolen box with a change of registration and chassis plate. The seller was charming, well spoken and dressed impeccably for the hunting field, he was also a giant of a man so I instructed my son to make a polite but quick get away. My son said later that nothing in this man's demeanour or in the location of the vehicle would have alerted him to the fact it was a stolen horsebox, it was actually some very distinctive work done by my husband pre sale that gave the game away. My son had an old school friend staying with him, a Welsh Rugby player, who went along for the ride. When I told my son , by phone, not to make waves but make a quick exit there were no arguments he said the seller made his welsh rugby player look like a midget!
I immediately informed all concerned including the local police and horsewatch. None responded but three weeks later the insurance company contacted me to ask the whereabouts of the box but by then it was sold and the evidence lost. Two years later it resurfaced again for sale and again was sold. I suppose the only losers in this were the insurers because at least the unwitting new owners of the stolen box got themselves some horse transport unlike the victims of the current day scams described below. Horsebox crime has become more sophisticated there is no longer any need to dirty your hands and go to the physical effort of stealing a box, changing its identity and have the hassle of selling. No you can now sit on a yacht in the med with a drink in one hand and lap top in the other and make piles of money.........
Well by now most people if they are half awake must be aware that horsebox photos and descriptions are being lifted from bono fide web sites and being offered at half price or less on a variety of equestrian web sites and of course on ebay. The advertiser gives phone numbers that are always unobtainable , the locations are varied and the only point of contact is email. The story varies little; working on an oil rig in the north sea, going through a divorce, horsebox is in Inverness but don't worry I have found a safe way for you to transfer payment which will protect your money and I will deliver. More recently they must have grown a tad bored with this (I know I have) after all oil rigs, divorces and horseboxes stuck in outer Mongolia aren't very glamorous and perhaps don't put the victim in the right buying frame of mind,so recently to add some spice, a french connection has been added.They are now happily married living in wedded bliss in the french countryside having sold their farm in this country (and no doubt given up the oil rig grind) and need to sell the box and would bring it back to this country and deliver on receipt of funds. It had to be done this way because,oh dear , someone had wasted them an expensive journey saying they would buy the box and when they delivered it this person did not have any money......they even sent me a very blurred impression of a passport to reassure me of their integrity.......And even though the market value is £23,000 they will let you have it for a mere £5,950 because at the end of the day they are philanthropists.
Well this is a major scam and judging by the number of phone calls I have received from people who have lost their money, a pretty lucrative one.
Now I come to the latest scam which is a little too close to home for comfort. Last night someone emailed to ask me if the Marlborough Hunter was still available. I replied that it had SOLD on the listing which in fact meant it had sold. He got back to me and said he was only asking as he had been offered this box (at half its value of course). He went back to the seller and challenged her to which she replied she had bought the box from me and was now selling it. I reaffirmed that this was definitely not the case. She had sent him the photos lifted off my web site which clearly show the reg no and it was just luck that he remembered having seen this box on this web site. His girl friend just could not believe this was a scam as the seller was so plausible and was all for transferring the money.She had already paid £400 up front for some tack which to date has not been delivered! She actually said to me that she could not believe it was a scam and if it was, the scammer "deserved an oscar". The name of the seller, who said she was from Kent and was selling up all things horsey as she was pregnant, was as imaginative as the tack and the horsebox.
She said she was "Poppy Eastwood" but I suppose she could be anyone. Primrose Southwood? Daisey Northwood? Rose Westwood? Take your pick. Actually I rather like "Easter Poppy". So Easter Poppy, as you obviously read my web site, give it up - you've been rumbled..........
9/9/13 new scam alert. Oh dear.....I think the scammers must be following my web site and taking a few tips from it. They realise that divorces/working on oil rigs/ moving to France really don't foster sympathy or patriotism to the extent of making the buyer feel the need to help out by relieving them of their horsebox.....
So watch out for that brave young man (commanding officer actually) about to be shipped out to Afghanistan. He is suffering a double misfortune, his horse has died and now he himself is facing the horrors of war. He has two lovely boxes for sale but sadly he can't let you view as he is stuck with them on an army base. However if you send him the money (£14,000 and £9,500) he will use the military service to deliver them to your door and he knows you will be delighted with your purchase........
And also don't waste your sympathy or money on the grieving widow who can't show you her box because someone has already been to see it and attempted a scam on her......
And don't mock the afflicted unless it is that poor man born deaf so he can't actually speak to you or allow you to meet him (too embarrassing when he won't be able to hear what you are saying) but knows you will be delighted by the bargain he is offering you at a third of its market value so just send the money and he will have it delivered to your door........
Honestly these stories are coming thick and fast maybe we should take nominations for the most inventive......
I am currently aware of horseboxes being described as built by reputable companies at the more expensive end of the price range when indeed they are of unknown pedigree, so if its important to you to know who built your box check out its provenance before parting with money!
2/5/2015
Just been talking to someone who has lost £8,000 to a different type of scam. There is someone claiming to have a horsebox company and offering new builds at competitive prices. Apparently this guy (name can be supplied to any interested parties)is very convincing and has scammed at least five people this year, the police have been informed and he has previous convictions for fraud.
I suppose the only way to avoid this type of scam is to meet the coach builder in person, inspect the donor vehicle that is being offered and make sure you are in possession of the log book for that vehicle before parting with a deposit.