Released on: November 10, 2007, 2:15 pm

Press Release Author: Nick Fitzpatrick

Industry: Agriculture

Press Release Summary: Aden Brook Farms (www.adenbrookfarms.com) is sending out a
warning to hay suppliers and buyers across the U.S. and Canada to beware of "hay
scams."

Press Release Body: Pine Bush, N.Y. - Aden Brook Farms (www.adenbrookfarms.com) is
sending out a warning to hay suppliers and buyers across the U.S. and Canada to
beware of "hay scams."

Despite-or because of-the high level of trust in the agriculture industry, some
scammers are taking advantage of farmers and other hay suppliers and buyers. No
longer is it just an occasional crooked hay dealer overstating the weight of the
bales. These hay scams are full-blown operations, taking advantage of trusting,
hardworking people.

The typical scam begins in a seemingly standard way: a potential "customer" sends an
e-mail to a farmer or hay supplier inquiring about the prices of the supplier's hay
and the possibility of a long distance purchase, usually to a location outside of
the country. This "customer" will not negotiate price much but will likely place a
sizeable order for which he or she will offer complete upfront payment in the form
of a certified check.

The check will arrive and will include a sizeable overpayment. The "customer"
contacts the farmer by e-mail or phone and explains that the overpayment is due to
the fact that his or her selected shipping company requires an upfront payment. The
"customer" claims that he or she cannot pay the shipping company in US funds due to
the currency exchange, so he or she asks the farmer to pay the shipping company with
the excess funds.

The farmer, eager to fill the customer's needs and having already accepted payment,
will agree to forward the funds to the shipping company. Another person posing as
the shipping company representative will then contact the farmer and give him or her
an account number-most likely through a Western Union or another legitimate money
transfer service-to which to wire transfer the funds.

The unsuspecting farmer or hay supplier will then transfer the overpayment portion
of the certified check-sometimes as much $5000 per container-to this account.
Because the check is certified, the bank clears it right away and the funds are
transferred.

The farmer or hay supplier likely will not hear from this "customer" again. No
shipping company will come to pick up the hay. The hay supplier might think that he
or she got the better end of the deal-the hay is already paid for, after all-but as
many as 34 days later, the check bounces. The bank will take the money right out of
the hay supplier's account without warning and if that overdraws the account, the
bank will demand the funds plus a fee.

This exact scam has happened to over 4100 farmers and hay suppliers. The FBI can do
nothing to help these farmers because the scam originates from outside of the
country over the Internet and there are too many cases like this in the industry and
other industries for the FBI to be able to handle each individual circumstance.

Hay suppliers are not the only ones to become victims of hay scams. Hay buyers have
as well. Scammers pose as fake hay companies or farmers and target areas of the U.S.
that are stricken with drought and where hay is in extremely short supply.

The scammers post ads on free-to-post hay-related search engines in which they
describe hay for sale at extremely good prices and customers in need of hay respond.
As is the industry standard, the scammers ask for prepayment and will probably
accept wire transfers only. The customer will send payment and never hear from them
again.

Nick Fitzpatrick, CEO of Aden Brook Farms, offers simple tips for any farmer, hay
supplier, or hay buyer to avoid scammers:

1. Always check the person's e-mail address. Scammers often say that they are part
of a reputable hay supplier but use generic email addresses.
2. Pay attention to discussions and e-mails to see if the person slips up. There are
many common industry terms that anyone in the industry knows but the scammers do
not.
3. Ask the person where he or she is from and then ask for his or her phone number.
The area code many not match the location.
4. If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. If the price to purchase hay
is considerably lower than other quotes or if a person buying hay does not try to
negotiate the price very much, then there something wrong.
5. Question overconfidence. A constantly boasting person is probably actually
working a very small operation.

Within the last year, Aden Brook Farms has fielded over one hundred scam attempts
and has not fallen for a scam even once. To protect hay suppliers and buyers from
scams, Aden Brook Farms offers its services as a reputable wholesale hay, straw, and
wood shavings company that acts as trusted go-between among hay suppliers and
buyers.

About Aden Brook Farms: Aden Brook Farms has been a leading distributor of hay,
straw, and wood shavings since its inception in 1998. Aden Brook Farms has connected
sellers to buyers and made the products available wholesale to farms and other sales
and feeding operations across the United States, from Alaska to Hawaii, and most
predominantly in the South and on the East Coast. For more information on Aden Brook
Farms products and to purchase wholesale hay, straw, or wood shavings online, visit
www.adenbrookfarms.com.

###

Web Site: http://www.adenbrookfarms.com

Contact Details: CONTACT: Nick Fitzpatrick
Aden Brook Farms
105 Depot Street, Pine Bush, NY 12566
Phone: (800) 747-3811
Nick@adenbrookfarms.com
www.adenbrookfarms.com