HorseCity.com Leads the Charge to Capture Online Horse Scam Artists
Augusta, Ga. October 20, 2004 — HorseCity.com officials turned over key evidence of an online sales scam to the FBI today. This comes two years after secretly beginning to compile valuable data from several scam artists online. HorseCity.com helped net some of the most valuable data to date in the efforts to track down these criminals. HorseCity.com, an American Horse Publications electronic publication member, is one of the few equine Web sites to publicly take an active stand against this activity. Working with the Internet Fraud Complaint Center (IFCC), HorseCity.com has pushed over 1,000 complaints of fraud to the FBI. The IFCC is a partnership between the FBI and the National White Collar Crime Center. Its mission is to address fraud committed over the Internet.
The scheme targets individuals who use Internet classified ads to sell merchandise. Typically someone posing as an interested buyer outside the United States contacts a seller. The supposed buyer tells the seller that an associate of the buyer’s in the United States owes him money. Therefore, he will have this associate send the seller a cashier's check for the amount owed to the buyer. This amount will be thousands of dollars more than the price of the merchandise and the seller is told the excess amount will be used to pay the shipping costs associated with getting the merchandise to his location. The seller is then instructed to deposit the check, and as soon as it clears, to wire the excess funds back to the buyer or to another associate identified as a shipping agent. In most instances, the money is to be sent to locations in West Africa such as Nigeria. Because a cashier's check is used, a bank will typically release the funds immediately, or after a one- or two-day hold. Falsely believing the check has cleared, the seller wires the money as instructed. In some cases, the buyer is able to convince the seller that some circumstance has arisen that necessitates the cancellation of the sale, and is successful in conning the victim into returning all the money. Shortly thereafter, the bank notifies the victim that the check was fraudulent, and the bank is holding the victim responsible for the full amount of the check.
The IFCC is cautioning citizens to be wary of any purchasers proposing such transactions and to take the steps necessary to ensure that a check has fully cleared before doing anything with those funds.
People who think they might have fallen victim to this or any other type of Internet scam can notify the IFCC through its Web site at www.ifccfbi.gov
Millcreek Introduces New Mid-Size Manure Spreaders
Millcreek introduces the new Models 6700 and 8700 Heavy Duty Ground Drive Compact Spreaders for horse owners and small farms. The two new models are engineered specifically for convenience and long service life for stables and barns with up to 20 horses. The spreaders feature a low profile design to make loading easier, yet hold 56 cubic feet and 72 cubic feet respectively. An optional manual end-gate provides additional operating capacity and helps eliminate manure spillage during transport.
The Millcreek Model 6700 operates with an 18 hp or larger compact tractor, and the Model 8700 works with a 22 hp or larger compact tractor. The Millcreek Models 6700 and 8700 spreaders feature sealed bearings to reduce routine maintenance requirements, a FeatherTouch™ operating lever for easy operation, and a Lifetime Poly Floor as standard features. Sprayed-on urethane lining is a popular option for reducing corrosion and extending service life. For more information contact Millcreek at 1-800-311-1323, www.Millcreekspreaders.com.
Award Recipient Matches Abused Horses with Troubled Kids
Kim Meeder, one of only five people nationwide to receive the prestigious Jefferson Award for Public Service, stumbled upon an unlikely prescription for miracles when she and her husband Troy founded Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch in Bend, Oregon, nearly 10 years ago. Buy mine-stripped land, stock it with abused, neglected horses and invite children who have suffered the same fate to find a horse that understands. For the 3,000 to 4,000 disadvantaged children who come annually to the ranch to heal, Meeder provides private lessons free of charge and relies solely on donations to fund the nonprofit organization. Meeder has not only written a book about these children’s experiences, Hope Rising, she was honored in Washington this year by the American Institute for Pubic Service, which established a Nobel Prize for public and community service—the Jefferson Awards—more than 30 years ago. Winners include first ladies, secretaries of state and senators.
For information on the ranch, go to www.crystalpeaksyouthranch.org
NASC QUALITY SEAL HELPS ENSURE CONSUMERS RECEIVE QUALITY ANIMAL SUPPLEMENTS
Seal to Begin Appearing on Products by Late 2004
VALLEY CENTER, Calif. -- (Oct. 19, 2004) The National Animal Supplement Council is an industry group dedicated to protecting and enhancing the health of companion animals and horses throughout the United States. NASC was formed in 2001 when the multi-billion dollar animal supplement industry was threatened by a complicated and erratic regulatory environment. As part of its ongoing effort to improve and standardize the animal supplement industry, NASC initiated its Quality Seal Program. The Seal is a way for consumers to know that when they buy a product, they buy from a reputable manufacturer that has successfully completed a facility audit. Different from the NASC logo, the Seal is a privilege for members to use on their product labels and signifies that the company has been audited for the implementation of specific standards. Members must agree to adhere to NASC’s quality standards, part of which includes submitting to an independent audit to ensure conformance with quality system requirements.
NASC member companies are required to demonstrate compliance with the following criteria before they are granted permission to display the Seal on their product labels. The company must have a Quality Manual in place that provides written Standard Operating Procedures for production process control. The company must have an Adverse Event Reporting/Complaint System in place to continually monitor and evaluate products. They must follow proper label guidelines for all products. The company must include any specific warning and cautionary statements recommended by the Food & Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine and the NASC Scientific Advisory Committee.
Consumers should begin to look for the NASC Quality Seal beginning in late 2004. Purchasing products from NASC members is the best way consumers can support efforts to improve the quality of animal supplements and help ensure the continued availability of these supplements in the United States market.
NASC is committed to the production and distribution of high quality supplements for non-human food chain animals and holding member companies accountable for supplying only those supplements that are in compliance with NASC guidelines. For more information or to review the extensive member list, go to www.nasc.cc or call (760) 751-3360.
"Horse & Pony Height-Weight Tape"- Great Stocking Stuffer!
Regardless if its grain from a sack, feed from a bale or administering medication, directions always state to be "fed" or "administered" by weight. Measuring height up to 20 hands and weight up to 1300 pounds, the "Horse & Pony Height-Weight Tape" is easy to use and handy to have. Unlike a pole or stick, a "Horse & Pony Height-Weight Tape" can be rolled up and put in a pocket, tucked on a trailer shelf or even hung over a nail in the tack room. Use it when buying a horse at an auction, measuring feeds to keep a horse fleshed out and definitely when determining how much medication to give a sick horse.
"Horse & Pony Height-Weight Tapes" are available from Two Horse Enterprises for $4.00 and can be ordered at www.twohorseenterprises.com or send check or money order to P.O. Box 15517, Fremont, Ca. 94539 or call (510) 657-5239, (510) 683-9162.
New Big Buddy™ Could Be The Holiday Season’s Hottest New Product
Cleveland, OH --- Mr. Heater Inc. has the hot holiday gift idea this year: the new BIG BUDDY™ indoor safe portable propane heater. BIG BUDDY, with its high output of 18,000 BTUs, a heat circulating fan and low oxygen sensor shutoff is a perfect holiday gift idea for warming up chilly spaces like workshops, cabins, tents, barns, shelters, RV’s, decks, patios, work sites and storage buildings. It’s also a handy emergency back-up heat source for power outages and other weather related emergencies. Weighing only 15 pounds, Big Buddy can be carried practically anywhere to provide heat and comfort. The BIG BUDDY is approved for temporary indoor and outdoor use and can heat up to 400 square feet, supplying 6 to 12 hours of heat from two, one-pound propane cylinders or 120 to 240 hours of heat from one or two twenty-pound cylinders using optional hose attachments. It’s also the first indoor safe heater of its kind to offer a dual heating system of radiant heat comfort with fan-powered convection heat airflow (using four D-cell batteries). BIG BUDDY also features three adjustable heat settings of 4,000, 9,000 and 18,000 BTU/HR, built-in tip over shutoff switch and hose attachment storage compartment underneath.
The Mr. Heater BIG BUDDY is available through hardware, home center, and farm-related retailers at a suggested retail price of $129.95.
Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Mr. Heater Inc., a subsidiary of Enerco Group, Inc., is a leading manufacturer of gas-fired portable heating products for consumer, commercial and industrial applications. For more information visit http://www.mrheater.com or contact Cindy Hall at Mr. Heater, 216-881-5500 or 800-251-0001; cindy.hall@enerco-mrheater.com.
Seasons Greetings from Breyer® Animal Creations®!
As we near the holiday season, we all seem to be in search of the perfect gift for those who are close to our hearts. This year, Breyer® Animal Creations® has made that search a little easier by selecting some of our finest products and putting them in an easy-to-use guide. Our 2004 Holiday Gift Guide offers an assortment of unique and finely crafted collectibles that are guaranteed to delight this holiday season and beyond. From kids to adults, our products appeal to those who want to cuddle, craft, or just admire beautiful horses. For a catalog or information call 973-694-5006 ext. 127 or ext. 183, email kfallon@reevesintl.com or ajensen@reevesintl.com
