Deputies are warning online consumers to beware of a business that claims to be located in Medford. On December 28, 2017, a woman from Ohio called the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office to report a potential scam involving an online company located at 3491 South Pacific Highway. The caller was about to wire money to “KSD Trailers LLC” to purchase a horse trailer; but, her bank warned her the funds were destined for an account in Spain. Upon further investigation, the woman realized the business was likely a fraud.
The website (www.ksdtrailers.online) lists numerous horse trailers for sale, valued at thousands of dollars each. A deputy checked the listed business address and found the location does not exist. The website claims KSD has additional locations in Europe and lists no local phone number. The company does not appear in local business directories.
A similar report surfaced in the Roseburg area in September. The website in that case (dks-trailers.com) was nearly identical, with the letters in the company name transposed (“DKS Trailers LLC”). The DKS website is no longer available. A complaint was made to the Better Business Bureau (BBB) on September 22, 2017, earning the company an “F” rating for deceptive business practices. The BBB confirmed the business was not located at the listed address in Roseburg, nor was it registered with the Oregon Secretary of State.
News reports warning consumers about “DKS Trailers LLC” were published in October. An update to the company’s BBB listing shows a subsequent complaint about “KSD Trailers LLC” of Medford on November 28, 2017.
Deputies warn potential consumers locally and beyond. Because the business claims to be “online only” with international shipping available, the apparent scam could potentially affect consumers around the world. Reports of online fraud can be made to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (www.ic3.gov).
The Better Business Bureau offers the following tips when considering an online purchase:
- Protect personal information. Read a site’s privacy policy and understand what personal information is being requested and how it will be used. If a site doesn’t have a privacy policy, that’s a big red flag that it may be a scam.
- Think before clicking. Be especially cautious about email solicitations and online ads on social media sites. Many sketchy retailers advertise great deals or trendy clothing that don’t measure up to the promotional hype.
- Beware of too-good-to-be-true deals. Offers on websites and in unsolicited emails may offer free or very low prices on hard-to-find items. There may be hidden costs, or your purchase may sign you up for a monthly charge. Look for and read the fine print.
- Know the advertiser. Some of the best deals are only available online, but be careful. It’s easy for a fake site to mimic a famous retailer’s website, so make sure you are shopping with a legitimate site. Consumers should check out retailers at bbb.org/northwest before they shop.
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