Franklin County Sheriff Warns of Online Equipment Scam

Authorities say scammers are using local addresses to advertise fake high-value items for sale.

Published on Mar. 7, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Franklin County Sheriff's Office is warning residents about an online scam involving the use of local addresses to advertise boats, heavy equipment, and other valuable items at attractive prices. Scammers are cloning legitimate business websites and directing potential buyers to send money without ever receiving the advertised item. Authorities have received multiple reports from victims across several states who have lost thousands of dollars in these fraudulent transactions.

Why it matters

This scam takes advantage of rural residents and targets unsuspecting buyers looking for good deals online. It highlights the need for increased vigilance when making high-value purchases remotely, as scammers become more sophisticated in their tactics to exploit trusting consumers.

The details

According to Sheriff Aaron Dodd, scammers have been copying the business names and addresses of local residents to make their online listings appear legitimate. In one case, a victim transferred over $20,000 for a boat that did not actually exist. The Sheriff's Office has received at least 10 reports from concerned buyers across multiple states, including Texas, Montana, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Florida.

  • In recent weeks, the Franklin County Sheriff's Office has received several reports of this scam.
  • The scam has been occurring on websites like Equipment Trader and Facebook Marketplace.

The players

Franklin County Sheriff's Office

The local law enforcement agency that is warning residents about the online equipment scam.

Aaron Dodd

The Sheriff of Franklin County who is advising the public to be cautious when making high-value purchases online.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“For residents here, it does have a local connection to it, but what I really want to warn people is be careful what you're purchasing, be careful who you're wiring money to.”

— Aaron Dodd, Sheriff (RadioOnTheGo)

“I can sit back and kind of say to myself like, 'oh, I would never do that. I would never fall for that.' I would make sure I'm shaking your hand and putting the money in your hand and I have already previously looked at the item. It just kind of goes back to like this boat, it's priced right. It's priced probably 75 % of retail value. So it is something that somebody may advertise for this amount, but it's just a little too good to be true. So we just have to be so wary of what we're doing online.”

— Aaron Dodd, Sheriff (RadioOnTheGo)

What’s next

The Sheriff's Office is advising buyers to independently verify sellers, avoid wiring money, and contact local law enforcement before completing any high-dollar online transaction.

The takeaway

This scam highlights the need for increased vigilance when making online purchases, especially for high-value items. Consumers should be wary of deals that seem too good to be true and take steps to verify the legitimacy of sellers before sending any money.