The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is warning consumers after uncovering a pair of fraudulent schemes targeting buyers of used heavy equipment. Three individuals collectively lost $107,600 after wiring money to a website posing as Digron Machinery Depot, which listed a Sioux Falls address. The BBB flagged the site on March 2 following consumer complaints about equipment that was never delivered.
In a separate incident, scammers created a website using the name and address of Milton Brothers Implement, a legitimate business based in Friend, Nebraska. The real Milton Brothers Implement does not operate a website and is no longer in the machinery business; it focuses on trucking and holds an A+ BBB rating. No financial victims have been identified in the Nebraska case, but the company has fielded calls and walk-ins from people misled by the fraudulent site.
The BBB Midwest Plains chapter noted that the fake Nebraska site featured equipment from well-known brands like Caterpillar and John Deere and even displayed BBB logos until the bureau intervened. Both cases have been reported to authorities in South Dakota and Nebraska, including the Saline County Sheriff’s Office and the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office.
The timing of these scams is significant, as they mimic legitimate dealerships in a market where high-value purchases are often negotiated online and paid via wire transfer. The BBB has assigned an F rating to Digron Machinery Depot, citing an invalid Sioux Falls address with no verified physical location. South Dakota’s Consumer Protection Division has ordered the website taken down, according to Dakota News Now.
Local heavy-equipment dealers in Sioux Falls, such as Vermeer High Plains and Pristine Machinery, hold A+ ratings from the BBB, while Iron Rush Motors has an A-. The stark contrast highlights the importance of verifying sellers before sending money.
The warnings come as the BBB of the Mahoning Valley in Ohio prepares to honor recipients of its 2026 Torch Awards, including Sweet Memories Vintage Tees, Gordon Brothers Water, and Raphael’s School of Beauty Culture. The event, sponsored by Farmers National Bank, PNC Bank, Huntington Bank, and WesBanco, is scheduled for May 21 at The Lake Club in Poland, Ohio.
Machinery scam sites can disappear and reappear quickly. The Milton Brothers impersonator site was still live when the BBB issued its April 23 warning. Authorities urge victims to contact their banks, save all correspondence and payment records, and file reports with law enforcement and the BBB Scam Tracker.
The BBB advises consumers to independently verify a seller’s physical address, check accreditation on the BBB website, and search for the business name alongside terms like “scam” or “fraud” before wiring any funds. With heavy equipment often costing six figures, skipping these steps can lead to devastating losses.
