Scam Warning

Scammers unfortunately operate across the internet, and many are based overseas, making them difficult to track down and prosecute. It’s important to educate yourself and stay alert to the types of activity to watch for. If you think you’ve encountered a scam that doesn’t match any of the examples below, please contact us so we can update this page and keep the community informed.

Common Scam Types

Text Message Scams

If you are contacted via text message and asked to follow up by email, this is in all likelihood a scam. It is designed to move you off secure communication channels. If you receive a text message where the sender is labelled as “Equivont,” this is also a scam — the sender is using an anonymous web-SMS service to manipulate the sender’s display name. Equivont will never contact you via SMS text message.

Email Impersonation

Be cautious of emails that appear to come from Equivont but request personal information, payment details, or account credentials. Equivont will never ask for your password via email. Always verify that emails come from an official @equivont.com address. If something seems off, contact us directly at [email protected] before taking any action.

Advertising and Directory Scams

If you are contacted by someone claiming to represent Equivont and offering advertising packages, directory placements, or partnership opportunities that you did not initiate, verify their identity before proceeding. All official advertising and partnership inquiries originate from @equivont.com email addresses. Equivont does not use third-party sales agents and will never ask for payment via wire transfer, Western Union, cryptocurrency, or gift cards.

Horse Sale Scams

If you are using Equivont’s horses for sale section, be alert to the following warning signs:

  • A buyer or seller who refuses to speak by phone and will only communicate by email
  • A buyer who claims to be overseas or offshore and cannot inspect the horse in person
  • Payment via PayPal, Western Union, or wire transfer only — especially from unverified accounts
  • A buyer who overpays and asks you to refund the difference
  • A courier or shipping company introduced by the buyer to “handle paperwork” — this is a scam
  • Urgency pressure: being told you must act immediately or the deal will fall through
  • Requests to take the listing down before payment is confirmed and cleared

Unless funds are confirmed and cleared in your bank account, you have not been paid. Do not release a horse, sign paperwork, or make any payments based on screenshots, PayPal notifications, or email confirmations alone.

Payment Scams

If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Common signs of a payment scam include: a seller who only accepts payment via Western Union or wire transfer; a buyer who sends a check or PayPal payment for more than the asking price; or a party who is unable or unwilling to communicate in real time. Report any suspicious listings or contacts to us immediately.

Golden Rules

  • If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
  • Never pay money if you are the seller.
  • If a buyer or seller claims to be overseas and cannot meet in person, proceed with extreme caution.
  • Unless funds are confirmed and cleared in your account, you have not been paid.
  • Do not respond to text messages asking you to contact someone via email.
  • You control the transaction — you decide payment and logistics details.
  • A scammer will avoid talking to you by phone. Insist on a real conversation.
  • There is no such thing as an Equivont “Verified Trader” or “Verified Buyer” badge.
  • Do not trust financial documents sent to you via email. Fraudulent copies of PayPal confirmations and bank transfer receipts are easy to fabricate.
  • When in doubt, contact us.

Scam Email Examples

The following are examples of real scam messages that have been reported to Equivont. They are provided so you can recognize the patterns if you encounter something similar.

“Hi mate, Thanks for the response to my mail, i am ok with the price and i would like to purchase it from you… I am a British citizen and i reside in Cardiff, i am also a staff of Chevron and I work offshore… I would like to use this medium also to inform you that i will not be able come inspect the horse or pay cash as i am presently at work… I want to propose payments via pay pal cos it is the only option i am limited to now as i am off shore…”

“Thanks for the swift response… i will not be able to come for inspection, am a very busy type as i work long hours everyday… I have my own private courier company and the courier services company will be coming to pick it up. With the issue of my details, transferring the name of ownership and signing of all paperwork will be done by the courier services company agent so you don’t have to worry about that…”

“Thanks for the mail.. i would have loved to talk to you on phone but i work mainly offshore, our phone is down on the right now due to bad weather, we can only communicate with our base for now. Await your reply asap.”

These messages share the same patterns: the person cannot meet, cannot speak by phone, works offshore or overseas, and wants to use PayPal or a private courier. Do not engage with messages like these.

Known Scam Email Addresses

The following email addresses have been reported to Equivont in connection with scam activity. If you receive a message from any of these addresses, do not respond and report it to us at [email protected].

[email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]

This list is updated as new addresses are reported. If you receive a suspicious email in connection with Equivont that is not on this list, please forward it to [email protected] so we can investigate and add it.

Report a Scam

If you believe you have encountered a scam connected to Equivont or involving someone posing as an Equivont user or representative, please contact us immediately at [email protected]. Include as much detail as possible — email addresses, message content, phone numbers, and any other relevant information. We take these reports seriously and will investigate promptly.

Last Updated: April 2025