Benin-based scam still targeting trainers

Rodney Masters

ELATION will soon turn sour for the many trainers still receiving a £6,500 cheque in the post from a potential owner, as an advance payment for training fees for a horse yet to arrive at their stable.

Kim Bailey is one of the latest of at least a dozen trainers targeted by a fraudster who goes by the name of Austin Clarke and claims to be a Welshman living in the Republic of Benin in Africa.

As some trainers have already realised, the £6,500 cheque is worthless.

Bailey, who did not fall for the scam, has posted on his website, kimbaileyracing.com two letters he received last week from Clarke.

Written in broken English, it is clear he has little understanding of racing. He begins his second letter: "I would love to have my horse under your training and I would like you to get him fit and then race him from there because the horse has to go through your system of training.

“I would envisage him staying there for 90 days, because it could take you 90 days to get completely unfit horse race fit".
The Racing Post highlighted Clarke's scam in a story published on October 9.

He is reworking a con used for decades from Africa, centred on the difficulty of financial transactions from there, and adds: "The money that my financial institution (based in the UK) will be sending to you is a bit more than your fee for 90 days training but I would really appreciate it if I can be able to trust you with the remaining balance?"

He continues: "To avoid delay and shipping of the horse to your location, I would like you to deduct your total fee to book your services and send the balance over to our insurance shipping agent immediately, so they can make arrangements for shipping the horse to your location in the UK immediately. Thank you and hope to hear from you soon."

The fraud is being investigated by Paul Beeby, the BHA's head of intelligence, who has warned trainers not to fall for the scam via Rupert Arnold, the National Trainers'Federation's chief executive.
- racingpost