Cynthia Sheppard, William Flamont, LouAnn Schaffer, Nancy Cook FRAUDULENT SELLERS, ALIAS NAMES, MISREPRESENTING HORSES, BAD NEWS, STAY AWAY from these people in the NC area Conover, North Carolina
I saw an ad on Dreamhorse, pictured to be a beautiful, black, registered, TW horse, and being sold by a lady named Cynthia Sheppard in Lake Wylie, NC, (at least thats what she told me her name was. ) Advertised this horse as a beginner-safe, kid friendly, lesson/therapeutic, novice-riders babysitter, registered, family horse. On every description she would have in parenthesis "(finished/proficient)" Saying that this horse was used for a physically challenged rider that had eppilepsy and used for rehabilitation, etc...sounded perfect as I was looking for a beginner, confidence builder for my 12 year old daughter.
Talked to this lady on the phone and she talked 100 miles an hour, talked my ear off, wouldn't let me get a word in edge wise, knew everything in the book, was supposedly the "trainer" of this horse and has been in the horse business for over 30 years... a very smooth talker. She said the eppileptic girl took therapy lessons on this horse and she was the trainer, and that the girls seizures got so bad, the family had to sell the horse. She told me the family that owned the horse paid 7500.00 for this horse and are taking a huge loss at asking 2000.00 (should have been a red flag right there).
She said she had over 70 videos to send me of the horse, which she sent me through Photobucket, (which she removed shortly after she let me view them) after watching the videos (of the horse I thought I was looking to buy) I decided to buy the horse. She also told me she had a shipper that could get the horse to me in a week for only 350.00 (wow another red flag since that is very cheap) Cynthia had me send the money to the gentleman that was suppose to be the owner, named William Flamont. After they got the money I didnt hear from her anymore, thought that was funny since she talked my ear off to sell the horse. When I did hear from her, she was very short and only would text me. She had the shipper lady call me, supposedly with the name LouAnn Schaffer, and she kept giving me excuses why she couldn't deliver the horse...waiting on a quarantine horse in FL...her rig broke down and is waiting to get it fixed...waiting on the coggins because it had to be redone on the horse...weeks went by, one excuse after another. I then started getting real suspicious that I was being scammed, and thinking "my god Im not going to get a horse at all".
Also noticed after I bought this horse named "Magic", I kept looking on Dreamhorse for horses for sale and noticed another horse for sale that looked identical to Magic, but his description was different and used the same wording in their ad...then another horse that looked the same again, but they said it was a mare, blah blah blah. They were advertised only shortly and then removed. Hmmm, ok so then I started getting real nervous.
I then started doing research and found all these fraudulent reports on this ripoff report site, these people who use alias names, use different cities/towns, use different phone numbers, etc...and reading all these reports, which was the exact case of what was happening to me, made me realize I was being scammed too.
Got ahold of Cindy, finally, and said Im sick of these excuses from this so called shipper, I will be coming to pick up the horse myself in a few days, and that I needed an address. She told me she didnt have "an address" but to pick up the horse on the property she was leasing where the horses were being held. She said she was in the midst of moving to Taylorsville, so she didnt have an address, hmmm. She only gave me a road name, called Lee Cline Rd and Eckard Rd. (in Conover NC) In the meantime, they had to get a health certificate done on the horse to ship (which she said she already had, ha!) so I asked Cindy the name of the vet she uses, she hesitated with an answer, ah ah ah, finally got a name...called the vet and explained what was happening, that my horse I bought was coming in for a health cert...so I ordered them to do a pre-purchase exam. The vet clinic said there was no "Cindy' Sheppard, but was in the computer as "Stephanie". The so called lady that brought the horse to the vet said her name was Nancy Cook. I had the vet call me back when he was done with the exam, to let me know what kind of horse I was getting. He said the horse that was told/sold to me to be 8 yrs old was at least 13, had a bad injury to his left eye and was about 150#s underweight/malnourished. Hmmm, yep I was scammed alright. Who knows if the horse I have is even the horse that they did the exam on?? Long story short, We had a shipper pick up "the horse" and we met him in Lexington, KY. I was afraid to see what I had actually bought.
The beautiful pictured, 8yr.old, registered TWH, beginner safe, was all a fraud..there is no such horse. I picked up an old, malnourished, partially blind, ragged horse that was probably bought at an auction, that they go to often. Brought him home, had my farrier come out yesterday and he said the horse is no younger than 20!!! So I paid $2000.00, plus shippers expense of 550.00 to get him to Ky., then 500.00 more for gas money on our end to pick him up, so $3000.00 on a horse that I have no idea what it is. I have tried to contact this Cindy person, she wont answer, text her, no answer...I'm sure I wont ever hear from this person again.
I am so disgusted that I have been scammed, along with feeling bad for ALL the others that have dealt with these people. I can only hope by posting this report that I can help someone else from making the mistake that I have. We need to stop these people from doing this, as there are kids/children being hurt. Please BEWARE of these people that put false pics and send false videos...marketing these false horses for $2000-3500 and giving people like us auction horses that they pay, maybe $200-400(IF THAT) for. I highly recommend not buying any horses from these areas in NC...Vale, Lenoir, Conover, Newton, Lake Wylie, Taylorsville, Cherryville...these people are all in it together, taking advantage of innocent people. They also advertise on other horse websites as well, so please pass on the word to watch out for these people, they are bad news!!!! Please contact me if you would like anymore information, maybe we can close these people down for good!!!
13 Updates & Rebuttals
NAHC
Pfafftown,North Carolina,
USA
wow this lady gets around
#14Consumer Comment
Sat, April 14, 2012
This lady is making NC look bad. There are SOME good people out there but seems like more bad than good. Sorry everybody is getting scammed by this one particular lady that has many accomplices. Hope I spelled that right. I thought it would never happen to me but it did. They have to be stopped somehow. They keep moving all over the place though it seems. See my report dated 12/18/11 with cute picture. I did actually get the mare in the picture and this picture was from the ad. I saved it so I could have something to go on and also printed out the ad and the one for the black "Magic" TWH mare which magicly appeared before I even got home with the lame mare that I bought. This lady does talk very fast so I see a bunch of familiar traits in each of the reports on here. These horses do come from horse sales no doubt. I also printed out a lot of ads after that and tried some of the phone numbers. Obviously she remembers my name because I can't get anyone to answer me or call me back or email me back when I try to reply to an ad. That's ok. I know one thing, I will not forget that scruffy deep voice she has. She seems to know it all too. She is definately a lier. I could go on but no need. Just needed to vent and voice my opinion. This lady needs to be locked up with all of her buddies for LIFE!!!!!
twhlover
Brownsville,Wisconsin,
United States of America
beware
#14Author of original report
Thu, March 29, 2012
No I haven't heard of the name you mentioned...but be very cautious, these people go by different names, use various and numerous different phone numbers, credit cards, etc...never have the same address...they obviously make their living off of scamming people, how sad...but together we can keep a watch on all the horse sale sites, for areas in N.C., S.C., VA, etc...When I know I see a horse that is suspicious...I do my homework and make sure its them, (I dont want to disrespect any "honest" horse people selling in the same areas, so I make sure) and I red flag it. If I can stop just 1 more person from going through what we all have, then Im happy...together we can shut them down.
Dksmom
Branchville,New Jersey,
United States of America
Renee L Sigmon
#14Consumer Comment
Mon, March 19, 2012
Yes, my grandkids bought a horse from her and she took us for 1200. I found her and her husband, Steve on Facebook. Left them several messages. I even tracked down her family. It's hard to believe how heartless she is considering her son, Gage is going through some major medical problems with his heart right now. I even spoke to her family and they told me they lost their house in nc and moved to corpus Christi Texas a few months ago. All I can say is "Karma"! I even thought of taking a ride down since I know where the family lives. If it wasn't because this horse was for my grandkids I would probably just chalk it all up to stupidity and naivety on my part. First, Leslie Adams and now Renee L Sigmo. I think I'll stay away from North Carolina from now on!
TWHlover
harrisville,West Virginia,
United States of America
No experience.
#14Consumer Comment
Sun, March 18, 2012
I have not had any dealings w/ her. Does she have a horse listed somewhere?
Dksmom
Branchville,New Jersey,
United States of America
North Carolina scam?
#14General Comment
Sun, March 18, 2012
Just wondering if any of you have had dealings with a Renee Sigmon in North Carolina?
TWHlover
harrisville,West Virginia,
United States of America
Looks like they are at it again!
#14Consumer Comment
Thu, February 16, 2012
Looks like they may be at it again. I saw another "beginner safe" horse listed on dreamhorse.com. The pedigree listed is not legit as per the TWHBEA's system. Seems very much like the other ads from these scammers.
TWHlover
harrisville,West Virginia,
United States of America
Good work! Hope we kept someone else from being scammed!
#14Consumer Comment
Thu, January 12, 2012
I routinely check dreamhorse, horsetopia, equine.com, equinenow, buyhorse.com, and horseclicks, and keep an eye out for suspect ads. Any other possible sites that I am missing? Let's hope we can keep others from being scammed by these people.
twhlover
Brownsville,Wisconsin,
United States of America
successful!!!
#14Author of original report
Thu, January 12, 2012
yes....i did red flag it too...and noticed it has now been removed...yay!!!!! Makes me feel so much better that we can save someone from being scammed like we have. Keep on watching for fraud ads, as I will do the same...all of us together really can helps others if we do our homework!!!! Keep in touch...
TWHlover
harrisville,West Virginia,
United States of America
I saw it too! Notified Dreamhorse.
#14Consumer Comment
Wed, January 11, 2012
I thought I saw an ad for a B&W TWH on dreamhorse that look like it could be from them. I notified dreamhorse, but they didn't think it was. They told me I could flag the ad and if it got two flags they would take it down. You should flag the ad you think is from them. I will flag as well.
twhlover
Brownsville,Wisconsin,
United States of America
STILL SCAMMING...HORSE FOR SALE ON HERE RIGHT NOW...DO NOT BUY...S.C....N.C....
#14Author of original report
Wed, January 11, 2012
These people will stop at nothing to make a buck, while scamming innocent people like us. They have another horse advertised on here right now...black and white TW...please people, do your homework before you buy in the N.C...S.C...areas...these people are bad news...I wonder how many people have bought this horse they have advertised this time?!?!
TWHlover
harrisville,West Virginia,
United States of America
Another person bought "Magic" in Michigan!
#14Consumer Comment
Sun, January 01, 2012
There was another post a few days ago from a person who has run into the same people. They also purchased Magic. I wonder how many there are that just don't know about this site?? I daily look over the ads on dreamhorse, horsetopia, etc. and have seen several suspect ads. One that has come up in the past day or two using a photo of a nice looking black gelding that I'm sure I have seen on another ad. So, i'd say they are still at it!
twhlover
Brownsville,Wisconsin,
United States of America
caution!!!
#14Author of original report
Wed, December 14, 2011
I wonder how many people actually bought "Magic"?? This so called Cindy lady, who uses several different names, said she was sending me papers along with a c.d. of how to ride the horse I got, never got anything. She said she sent me the papers but they came back in the mail as "no such address"...ha!!! I had a call from a private number last week, it was this Cindy lady posing as a Connie Avery this time. She said she was calling me about some papers about a horse I just bought from Cynthia Sheppard...I said "this is Cynthia Sheppard"...she denied it and said "maam Im just trying to help you"...so I asked her for her phone #...it ended up being a false # for Blue Cross Blue Shield Insurance. I gave her a piece of my mind when I had her on the phone before I hung up on her. Just a warning to others that have bought from her...I am now getting malicious, viruses that are trying to get into my computer. I know where they are coming from...so DO NOT OPEN ANY LINKS that you are unaware of who and where they are coming from. This lady has done this to prior people she has scammed, noted in the other fraud ads posted on Dreamhorse as well. She strikes again!! Just want to caution anybody who is dealing with these disturbed people...
TWHlover
harrisville,West Virginia,
United States of America
I had the same expereince w/ these people!
#14Consumer Comment
Tue, December 06, 2011
I bought "Magic" as well. Same story almost exactly - talk about a nightmare! I am still waiting on the reg. papers that I was promised. Suppose those will ever show up?? Plus she said she would refund me $100 b/c the horse was in such poor shape. Think I'll ever see that??
The horse I got is probably in his late teens and very underweight! They had put black paint on him to cover up some of the white marks. Poor thing - atleast he is gaining weight and is being cared for. I have seen some very suspect ads on dreamhorse and horsetopia that go along w/ this sort of scam. I will do what I can to keep others from going though this same thing and to put these liars out of business!