Emily Lees: Be warned – farm scammers are out there
Emily Lees © Emily Lees The English Oxford Dictionary defines humiliation as the act of causing someone to feel foolish. And this summer, specifically a Friday during haymaking, I did feel like a fool: I got scammed.
An older gentleman, or as I now describe him “a lying cheat”, arrived in his “business-branded” car.
He had noticed the large, crater-like pothole at our farm entrance, and with vast quantities of empathy, he had a solution for us.
He and his team had been working down the road, and had a small dollop of tarmac left. Would we like it, and had we any other potholes?
See also: Emily Lees – a great farm might not always be a great business
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I will be honest: I was not confident about his “generous” offer, however, his well-prepared script eventually persuaded my buy-in.
For example, they could not accept cash, and all work would be invoiced from his business, for which he produced a business card complete with website, address and positive reviews. Later that day when they arrived, all men were in hi-vis, looking clean, tidy and were polite.
I still had a bad feeling which came to the fore as we received his extortionate invoice along with the threat that he would not be leaving until he got paid.
I know now, having spoken to the Trading Standards, this is the moment to have called the police, but when being scammed you are numb. Stuck in denial and disbelief.
And then, when you come back to reality, you feel stupid. Idiotic. Embarrassed and ashamed. Then angry. And ultimately sad. That someone out there makes their living from conning hard-working individuals.
A few months have passed and, although I will always carry resentment for that *insert rude word* man and his team, I have been bolstered by the support of neighbours, friends and family, many of whom have experienced similar scenarios: bad jobs done by polite then threatening men, who now, terrifyingly, know where you live.
So be watchful and have caution, and trust your gut when something feels off. Scammers rely on our good nature, but a little vigilance can go a long way in protecting ourselves and our communities.