Tampa St. Petersburg, FL, October 30, 2026 — The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office has taken action against a fraudulent online operation that targeted individuals seeking to purchase horses. The operation, linked to Sarasota, was shut down following an investigation that revealed a victim had been defrauded of more than $5,000.

The scheme operated under the guise of a business named Horse Adventures Sarasota. Authorities stated that the perpetrators behind the fraudulent website exploited legitimate business registration information to create a facade of legitimacy, thereby deceiving potential buyers. This tactic allowed them to gain the trust of victims before absconding with funds.

The exact timeline of the scam’s operation and the date of the shutdown were not provided. The specific details of how the legitimate business registration information was obtained or utilized to perpetrate the fraud were also not immediately available. The name of the victim was not disclosed, nor were details about the specific horse(s) that were to be purchased.

The investigation was conducted by the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office. While the website has been shut down, information regarding any arrests, charges filed, or ongoing legal proceedings was not disclosed in the available details. The Sheriff’s Office’s action highlights the risks associated with online transactions, particularly in high-value markets like equestrian sales, where fraudulent actors may leverage official registrations to mislead consumers.

Further details regarding the scope of the fraud, including the total number of potential victims or the cumulative amount of money defrauded, were not made public. The Sheriff’s Office has not released additional information on what steps were taken to seize assets or recover the defrauded funds beyond the closure of the website.


Story summarized from the original created by Amanda Boettcher on www.tampabay28.com, see more information here.

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