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How to avoid scammers

Scammers go where livestock, feed, and equipment are sold for bank transfers. Below are the schemes we see most often, and a few rules: if you follow them, it’s almost impossible to fool you.

Key rules

  • Agree in the CattleSales chat

    The correspondence is saved: if the other person disappears or changes the terms, moderators will see what you agreed on. A request to urgently move to WhatsApp or Telegram is already a reason to be suspicious.

  • Do not tell anyone the codes from WhatsApp and SMS

    The login code is only for you. CattleSales employees never ask for it, neither in chat nor by phone: anyone asking for the code is trying to take your account or money.

  • Do not pay in advance for something you have not seen

    A deposit “to hold the animal,” payment to the transporter, or “for a vet certificate” before meeting is the most common scam in the livestock market. Money is paid upon handover, after inspection.

  • Do not enter card details via someone else’s link

    To receive a transfer, all you need is a card number or phone number. The expiry date, CVV code, and SMS code are only needed by someone who is going to withdraw money from your card.

  • See the animal in person or by video call

    Photos can easily be downloaded from someone else’s listing. Ask for a video call or a fresh video showing a note with today’s date and your name next to the animal.

Real and fake addresses

Our addresses

  • cattles.net
  • russia.cattles.net
  • china.cattles.net
  • india.cattles.net

Fakes

  • cattles-net.com
  • cattles.net.pay-confirm.com
  • delivery-cattles.net
  • cattless.net

Our address is only cattles.net or an address that ends with «.cattles.net», for example a country site. Anything that comes after our name («cattles.net.pay-confirm.com») or is attached to it with a hyphen is an external site.

How scams work

For buyers

A deposit to “hold” the animal

The seller lists a good animal below market price and asks for a deposit “before others take it.” After the transfer, they disappear.

Example conversation
Scammer

The bull is still with me, but three people already want it. Send a deposit — I’ll take down the listing and hold it for you until Saturday.

You

Can I come see it first?

Scammer

I’m out on pasture; the farm is far away. I can’t hold it without a deposit. I’ll send my wife’s card number in WhatsApp.

You

Transferred. When can I pick it up?

You

Hello? Why aren’t you replying?

How it happens
  1. The price is noticeably lower than similar listings.
  2. Pressures you: there are many interested buyers, no time to wait.
  3. Asks for a deposit to someone else’s card and moves you to another messenger.
  4. After the transfer, disappears or asks for more — “for a vet certificate.”
The mistake
  • Transferred money for an animal you haven’t seen.
  • Left the CattleSales chat — moderators have no conversation record.
The right way
  • First see the animal in person or via video call.
  • Pay on handover, after inspection and document verification.
  • Arrange everything in the CattleSales chat.

Fake livestock carrier

A seller “from another region” offers to send animals by livestock truck through “CattleSales delivery” and sends a payment link. We don’t have such a service — the link leads to a fake website.

Example conversation
Scammer

I’m far away, but I’ll send the sheep by livestock truck. CattleSales has its own delivery: the money will be charged to the carrier only when you receive the animals.

You

Okay. What do I need to do?

Scammer

Place the order using the link https://delivery-cattles.net/order/58213 and enter your card details; everything is secure there.

You

I entered my card and the SMS code. The money was charged, and the order is still “under review”…

How it happens
  1. The seller can’t meet in person and offers delivery themselves.
  2. Sends a link to a website that looks like ours.
  3. The site asks for card details and an SMS code.
The mistake
  • Believed that the platform has delivery with payment via link.
  • Entered card details and the SMS code on someone else’s website.
The right way
  • Check the address: ours is only cattles.net and addresses ending in “.cattles.net”.
  • Arrange transport yourself and pay the carrier when loading or delivery takes place.

Paid “vet certificate,” “customs clearance,” and “insurance”

A purchase from another country: after agreeing on the price, the seller or “middleman” asks you to pay for a veterinary certificate, customs fee, insurance, or quarantine. A new payment is found every time.

Example conversation
Scammer

Twenty head are ready to be sent. A veterinary certificate is needed for the border — pay for it today, loading is tomorrow.

You

Paid. When is the shipment?

Scammer

Customs requires additional livestock-in-transit insurance. Otherwise, the herd will be held at the border, and you’ll lose everything you’ve already paid.

You

Pay again? You said this was the last fee…

How it happens
  1. The price is agreed, the animals are “already ready to be sent.”
  2. An urgent payment for documents or a fee appears.
  3. Then comes the next one, under threat of losing what has already been paid.
The mistake
  • Paid for documents and fees without checking them with the veterinary service and customs.
  • Made each new payment to avoid losing the previous one.
The right way
  • Veterinary documents are prepared by the seller before shipment — ask for a photo and verify the number with the veterinary service.
  • Customs payments go to the state using official bank details, not to a private person’s card.
  • Stop after the first “unexpected” extra charge.

Someone else’s photos of the animal

The listing has great photos of a purebred bull, but they were taken from someone else’s listing or from the internet. There is no animal, or they deliver something completely different.

Example conversation
You

Can we do a video call? I want to see the bull moving.

Scammer

The camera is broken, the connection in the village is poor. The bull is exactly like in the photo, 100 percent.

You

Then send a fresh video: the bull and a note with today’s date.

Scammer

I don’t have time. Are you buying it or not? Two others called yesterday.

How it happens
  1. The photos are too good for that price.
  2. The seller refuses video for any reason.
  3. Presses for payment, citing other buyers.
The mistake
  • Trusted photos that cannot be verified.
  • Did not back out of the deal when the seller did not show the animal.
The right way
  • Ask for a video call or a fresh video with a note: date and your name.
  • Check the photo with a reverse image search — this finds the original.
  • Refusal to show the animal is a reason to back out of the deal.

Substitution of the animal during handover

During the inspection, they show a healthy pregnant cow, but at loading they hand over another one — older, sick, or not pregnant. Sometimes part of the batch is swapped.

Example conversation
Scammer

The cow you looked at you’ll pick up on Friday. She’s at pasture now, we’ll drive her in the morning.

You

Okay. I wrote down the number of her ear tag.

Scammer

Our tags often get lost, don’t worry — it’s the same cow.

You

There’s no tag, and the cow looks older. Is this definitely her?

How it happens
  1. After inspection, the animal is “taken away” to pasture or another yard.
  2. Handover is rushed, in the evening, or in a different place.
  3. Tags and identifying marks have “been lost”.
The mistake
  • Did not write down the ear tag number and identifying marks during the inspection.
  • Took the animal without checking it against the one inspected.
The right way
  • Photograph the ear tag, brand, and identifying marks during inspection and compare them at handover.
  • Match the ear tag number with the veterinary passport.
  • Pay after loading that exact animal.

For sellers

Fake receipt and “extra” transfer

The buyer sends a screenshot of a receipt or an SMS about a deposit for an amount greater than agreed and asks to return the difference. There is no money in the account — the receipt is fake.

Example conversation
Scammer

I sent payment for five sheep, here’s the receipt. Oh, I made a mistake and transferred more than needed. Please return the difference, I really need it.

You

I’ll check in the bank now.

Scammer

The bank is still processing it, but you already got an SMS — you can see that. It’s urgent, I need to pay for medicine!

You

There is no incoming payment in the bank app.

How it happens
  1. The buyer agrees to the price without haggling.
  2. Sends a receipt or SMS for an amount greater than agreed.
  3. Puts on the guilt and asks to return the difference immediately.
The mistake
  • Trusted the screenshot and SMS without checking the account.
  • Returned the “extra” before the money actually arrived.
The right way
  • Check for the payment only in the bank app — not by screenshot or SMS.
  • Do not return anything at the buyer’s request: an erroneous transfer is canceled by the bank itself.
  • Hand over the animal only after the money has arrived.

“Enter your card to receive the money”

The buyer says they have “already paid via a secure transaction” and sends a link where you need to enter your card number, expiration date, CVV, and the SMS code. In reality, you are not confirming receipt, but a charge.

Example conversation
Scammer

Paid via CattleSales secure transaction. To receive the money, open https://cattles.net.pay-confirm.com/receive and enter your card.

You

Why do you need the expiration date and CVV? For a transfer, I only need the number.

Scammer

The system confirms the recipient this way. Then the code will come — enter that too.

You

Entered… and money was charged from the card.

How it happens
  1. The buyer does not haggle and immediately “pays.”
  2. Sends a link to “receive money.”
  3. The page asks for all card details and the SMS code.
The mistake
  • Opened the link from the buyer.
  • Entered the expiration date, CVV, and the SMS code — that is enough to charge the money.
The right way
  • To receive a transfer, the card number or phone number is enough.
  • Remember: CattleSales has no “secure transaction” with payment by link.
  • Check the site address: ours is only cattles.net and addresses ending in “.cattles.net”.

“Tell me the code from the message”

The person claims to be a buyer, a CattleSales employee, or a bank employee and asks you to say the “confirmation code.” This is the login code for your account or payment confirmation.

Example conversation
Scammer

Hello, CattleSales support here. Your listing will be blocked for a violation. To keep it, give us the code that will come in WhatsApp.

You

And what violation is it for?

Scammer

Details after the review. The code is valid for two minutes, then the listing will be deleted along with the account.

You

I gave the code — and I got kicked out of the app.

How it happens
  1. They write or call pretending to be support or a bank.
  2. They scare you with blocking, a fine, or account deletion.
  3. They urgently demand that you say the code from the message.
The mistake
  • Believed that support could ask for the code.
  • Got scared by the threat and rushed.
The right way
  • Do not tell the WhatsApp or SMS code to anyone — we never ask for it.
  • Our notifications come in the app and on the website, in the “System” tab in messages.

The “buyer abroad” and their “courier”

The buyer cannot come themselves — they are “abroad” or “on shift” — and sends a courier or transporter. Then either they ask you to pay for delivery “with reimbursement,” or the courier takes the animal away and the payment never arrives.

Example conversation
Scammer

I’m currently working abroad, buying the horse for my father. I’ll send a transporter, and I’ll transfer the payment as soon as they load it.

You

Okay, I’ll wait.

Scammer

The transporter asks for an advance for fuel. Pay him, and I’ll return everything together with the horse’s price.

You

First payment for the horse, then loading.

How it happens
  1. The buyer cannot come and does not haggle.
  2. Asks you to pay “their” expenses — promises to return them with the price.
  3. Or wants to take the animal before payment.
The mistake
  • Agreed to pay the buyer’s expenses.
  • Was ready to hand over the animal before the money arrived.
The right way
  • To pay nothing to either the buyer or their carrier.
  • Hand over the animal when the money is visible in the bank app.

Signs of a scammer

  • The price is much lower than the market price

    A cow for half price or a tractor “urgent, cheap” is a lure. Compare with similar listings.

  • You are being rushed

    “Many people are interested,” “only until evening,” “the code is valid for two minutes” — the rush is needed so you don’t have time to think and check.

  • Asks for prepayment

    Deposit, reservation, or payment for delivery or documents before you have seen the animal or item.

  • Asks for card details or a code

    Card expiration date, CVV code, or a code from SMS or WhatsApp are only needed to take your money.

  • Takes you out of the CattleSales chat

    Asks you to urgently move to another messenger so moderators won’t have the conversation.

  • Plays on your sympathy

    Illness, debts, urgent surgery — a touching story is needed so you delay checking.

  • Refuses to meet or do a video call

    “No time,” “the camera is broken,” “bad signal in the village.” Someone who really has the animal can show it.

If you've been scammed

  1. Stop communicating

    Don’t reply, don’t send more money, and don’t believe promises to return everything “if you add a little more.”

  2. Call your bank

    Block the card and ask to dispute the transfer. The sooner you call, the better the chances of getting your money back. The bank’s number is on the back of the card and in its app.

  3. Save the evidence

    Screenshots of the chat, phone number, payment details you sent money to, links, and receipts.

  4. Complain to us

    Click “Report listing” on the listing page or write to support — we’ll block the scammer so they can’t trick others.

  5. Contact the police

    File a fraud report and attach the saved evidence.

Encountered a scammer?

Write to support or click «Report listing» on its page — we will check and block the violator so they cannot deceive others.

Write to support