BBB warns of $223K heavy farm and trucking equipment online sales scam

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is warning buyers to beware of a nationwide scheme involving the online impersonation of a legitimate Missouri heavy equipment seller.

In a notice issued July 24, 2025, the BBB warned of a scam involving websites and online ads that impersonate retailer Cook Equipment & Trucking, a legitimate company based in Marble Hill, Missouri.

The group warns that scammers have used fake websites and Facebook Marketplace ads that appear to come from Cook Equipment & Trucking in order to find buyers for heavy equipment and farm machinery. After sending money for the equipment, victims report being “ghosted” by purchased items that never arrived.

The BBB reports that scammers have used three fraudulent websites, the most recent on July 14, 2025, and that they continue to publish deceptive ads on Facebook.

Losses reported to the BBB totaled around $223,000, including:

• $45,000 – Oak Hills, California (skid steer loader) 
• $32,000 – Hancock, Michigan (excavator) 
• $29,500 – Amanda, Ohio (trailer) 
• $29,000 – Greenville, North Carolina (trailer) 
• $28,000 – Eastman, Wisconsin (skid steer loader) 
• $31,000 – Des Moines, Iowa (excavator) 
• $29,000 – Blue, Arizona (skid steer) 

“Those shopping for heavy equipment and vehicles online should do their due diligence so they don’t fall victim to a virtual vehicle vendor scam,” said Michelle L. Corey, BBB St. Louis President and CEO. “If an item is priced well below market value, that’s a red flag.” 

The BBB offers consumers the following tips to help avoid scams like this one:

• Research the business at BBB.org or call your local BBB.
• Be skeptical of deals that seem too good to be true.
• Verify the website and contact the business directly.
• Read all terms and understand refund policies.
• Use a credit card for added protection.
• Report scams to BBB Scam Tracker, your state attorney general, the FTC, and the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center. Also notify the social media platform where the fraud was discovered. 
• For more insights, see BBB’s 2024 study on virtual vehicle vendor scams.