While you may feel deeply rooted in the traditional nature of your farm work and the rhythms of your farmland, it is hard to ignore the ever-increasing prominence of technology and digital advancements in our daily lives. Smiles and handshakes are being replaced by an email signature. Cold hard cash is giving way to a swipe of plastic.
These technologies can offer convenience and efficiency to mundane tasks. They also open opportunities for networking and communication that may not have been possible in person.
For farmers and landowners embarking on the search for the right land or the right farmer, this is a good thing. Email listservs, FarmLink profile databases, and social media allow you to reach new networks with your search. Especially given that most farmland changes hands without ever being listed for sale, telling your story and connecting with more informal community networks is an important part of generating leads for your search.
Being public about your search, though, can also open you up to digital fraud and scams. Not every user of new technology has good intentions. Have you ever had a sense that something wasn’t quite right? A deal too good to be true? A string of communication that seemed just a little off? We need to all be wary of the risks associated with new technologies.
One of the farmers we were working with had posted about his search via an Illinois FarmLink profile. He received an email inquiry from an interested investor who wanted to help with the farmland purchase. They went back and forth via email, but the investor never wanted to talk on the phone or meet in person (red flag #1). The farmer then received an official looking document via email to enter into a long-term contract with the investor, but upon reading the document closely, the details were vague (red flag #2). Towards the end of the document, the investor requested the farmer’s bank account information so the money could be directly transferred into the account (red flag #3). When the investor first reached out, the deal seemed great, but as the signs started to add up, it became clear to the farmer that this was a fraudulent arrangement designed to take advantage of him in a moment of need.
We don’t share this story to scare you or deter you from using technology. Rather, we hope to give you some practical tips to protect yourself and be cautious when connecting to new networks and sharing your search online.
Here are the top five factors to evaluate when being approached from someone online:
- Contact information: Check for misspelling or unfamiliar domains.
- Urgency: Beware of encouragement for swift action.
- Too good to be true: Think about whether or not the request/offer is reasonable.
- Generic greetings: “Dear Customer” instead of your name. Misspellings can also be identified here.
- Suspicious links or attachments: These can be shared to make something seem more official, but don’t be fooled. Look closely at the details before using any links or attachments.
Here are some corrective actions:
- Take your time: Do not react impulsively despite any threats or sense of urgency implied.
- Verify the source: Check out the company or individual through a separate web search. Make a phone call to your usual contact if it is an organization you routinely do business with. On social media platforms, look through their profile or user history. A request for a phone call may also be appropriate. You can also ask other individuals for a second opinion.
- Safeguard your personal info: Do not offer banking details, codes, or passwords through online communication.
- Report: Many email providers and social media platforms have the means to escalate the issue and report on phishing or scams.
We’ve also heard plenty of positive stories from farmers and landowners who’ve made valuable connections for their search online. So we encourage you to put your search and story out there but use these tips to stay vigilant and safe.