Colorado Man Loses Thousands to Fake Florida Horse Website, Sheriff Says

A Colorado man lost thousands of dollars trying to buy two horses that did not exist, according to the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office. The case has led to a multi-agency fraud investigation and the seizure of the website used in the scheme.

Investigators said the case began in July, when the victim reported paying money to an online business calling itself "Horse Adventures Sarasota." The man first sent $5,000 and then traveled to Sarasota to pick up the animals. Deputies said he was told the sale could not go forward because the seller had a family emergency, and he returned to Colorado without the horses.

Detectives said the seller then offered to ship the horses if the buyer paid an additional $1,000 for transport. When the animals never arrived, the seller claimed they were stuck in Louisiana and demanded another $3,000 for delivery, the sheriff's office said.

Suspecting fraud, the victim contacted the sheriff's office. Investigators found that the website was using authentic Florida registration numbers and legitimate owner records to collect cash for horses that were never real.

Detectives said they worked with the Florida Attorney General's Office and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to seize the website domain and dismantle the operation. "This investigation highlights our agency's commitment to protecting citizens and holding those who exploit unsuspecting victims accountable," said Sheriff Kurt A. Hoffman.

Many questions remain open. Investigators have not identified any suspects tied directly to the website. Authorities also have not said how many other people sent payments to the fraudulent page, or how much money was taken across all transactions.

Detectives are pursuing leads and trying to identify additional victims of the fraud ring. Anyone who sent money to the scam website is asked to contact Detective Vinopal at 941-861-4900.

The information in this report came from a public release by the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office and from Florida state law enforcement partners.