Alta. RCMP warning farmers about equipment purchases

Aug 29, 2023

Farmers are transferring funds and not receiving their equipment

By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com

Airdrie RCMP are alerting farmers of fraudulent action online.

Between April and August, the RCMP have received multiple phone calls from victims about fraud involving ag equipment.

“Investigation has revealed that the victims are purchasing farm equipment online for low prices,” the detachment said in a press release. “However, once funds are transferred, the buyer can no longer contact the original seller or the freight team hired for the shipping of the farming equipment.”

Considering this, RCMP is reminding people to do their due diligence when making online purchases.

A couple from Ontario were the victims of fraud earlier in the year.

In March, Eddie and Susan Strickland from Amherstburg, Ont., sent $3,000 using a MoneyGram to a seller for a Kubota tractor they found on Facebook Marketplace.

The seller told the Stricklands she was in Togo, Africa, and the tractor would be shipped from Toronto.

And while the seller received the money, the family didn’t receive their tractor.

“We’re pretty … upset, embarrassed. Thought we did our homework, looked everything up online,” Susan told CBC in March.

The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre has a list of tips to help people protect themselves from scams and fraud.

The tips include doing research, not being afraid to say no, and remembering if something seems too good to be true, it likely is.

Farmers looking to purchase equipment from reputable sources can try the Farms.com Classifieds site.

Video: Case CE’s Big Motor Grader Bet: Meet the 325-HP GR935

Case Construction Equipment has joined forces with South African heavy equipment manufacturer Bell Equipment to bring its largest motor grader ever to market, the 325-horsepower, 51,209-pound GR935.

The three-model GR Series lineup will be rounded out by the GR925 and GR930. While full specifications have not been released, Case indicated that the models would range from 240 to 325 horsepower. Deliveries of the new graders are expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026.

To get a closer look at the GR935 motor grader and a complete overview of the GR Series lineup, check out Equipment World’s video above with Case CE Product Manager George MacIntyre from ConExpo earlier this year.

Case CE GR935 Motor Grader Overview

The GR935 is powered by a 325-horsepower Cummins engine paired with a continuous variable transmission (CVT) enabling consistent power delivery and smooth operation for heavy road construction, snow removal, maintenance, site preparation and government applications, Case says.

Electro-hydraulic controls or traditional mechanical control are available. The 6X6 all-wheel-drive GR935 features a hydrostatic system with a dedicated pump and motor on each front wheel, allowing the machine to more easily maintain a constant rate of speed. The top forward travel speed is 28 mph.

An optional blade impact system prevents damage to the moldboard if it hits an obstacle, such as a curb or manhole.

Case CE will have the exclusive distribution across the United States and Canada for the GR925, GR930 and GR935 models manufactured at Bell Equipment facilities. The GR Series graders join Case’s existing D Series lineup, which includes the 137-horsepower 836D and 173-horsepower 856D launched in 2025.