The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about an online scam using rural Franklin County addresses to advertise boats and heavy equipment at attractive prices.
In an email to RadioOnTheGo News Sheriff Aaron Dodd says the scam features attractive deals on items such as boats, pickup trucks, tractors, skid loaders and trailers. The listings have appeared on platforms including Equipment Trader, Boat Trader and Facebook Marketplace, but direct buyers to professional-looking cloned websites that appear legitimate.
In one case, a victim transferred more than $20,000 to the fictitious seller.
The Sheriff’s Office has received at least ten calls from concerned buyers across several states, including Texas, Montana, Indiana, Wisconsin and Florida. Some callers were verifying the business, while others had already sent money.
Officials say the scammers often provide convincing inspection reports and use real Franklin County addresses to gain trust.
Residents are urged to verify sellers independently, avoid wiring money and contact local law enforcement before completing high-dollar online purchases.
