(Cross post) Serial Scammer Alert! Shane Darcy (aka Oakmont Valley Equine, Monarch Equine, et all)

[Mander]

Ok so the guy says he’s going to buy a property and get it set up as a legitimate training establishment (or show venue). He does just enough paperwork to make it look legit, and starts creating a buzz about it and pretty soon everyone is talking about this new amazing facility. And because everyone is talking about it, it makes everything sound legit and so people want to get in on it. They get directed to him and send deposits for this amazing barn facility and then he cuts and runs with the money before the deal ever closes? Did I understand that correctly?

It’s like that story arc in Newsroom (highlight to uncover spoilers) where they get a tip on a sarin gas story and everyone is trying to find out if it’s legitimate. They finally run the story by the anchor in the studio who says he was also tipped off about this story. Now they have two sources and everyone is convinced so they run the story which is immediately proven to be false. After it comes to light that the story was fake (and the damage has been done) they realize that no one ever asked if the two “independent sources” who tipped off the story were in fact, the same person. [end spoilers]

[MHM]

Thanks. It’s always good to know what these people look like, since sometimes they will try a name change for a fresh start.

[SinMiedo]

Yeah, that’s basically the gist. Once the bills start coming due, he bolts and starts the whole process again. The only thing I don’t understand is how he actually makes any money off the deal, or enough to make it worthwhile anyway. So far VA is the only place he’s been able to successfully secure a property, but I can’t imagine he made anything much there because it only lasted a few months. He also had reams of merchandise (with HUGE tacky logos all over) made, and I doubt he was able to sweet talk alibaba into skipping custom riding clothes for free, so I imagine that took a chunk out of whatever ill-gotten profit he might have made

[OverandOnward]

@SinMiedo

because it only lasted a few months.

That’s all he needs.

The money train is running off the initial hype. He clears town before the facts start to surface to the general public. Before the real payments that he is not making start to shut him down.

Actually this does work. Even if it doesn’t work out every time, it may work out enough to make it worth doing again. Respecting the 500 mile rule (which these days might be the 1,000 mile rule).

If he runs out the newness and novelty in the horse world, he will start doing the same thing in some other sport that needs facilities. Ice skating. Dirt bike racing. Whatever.

Ever see the old but wonderful 1962 movie The Music Man starring the amazing Robert Preston? It’s the same con. Make the sales, collect the money, then get out of town before the public wakes up.

Reliable cons never run out, even if they are centuries old. P.T. Barnum was right.

(In the movie that girl was a fool to think he was going to settle down with her and become a respectable citizen. But it made a good ending. )

[LexInVA]

I found a “Jean Darcy” profile linked to that guy, supposedly an older woman in his family, living in Richmond VA, which makes no sense, because he’s from the UK. The Facebook stuff looks conspicuously fake to me and has a bunch of Equestrian page likes in TX and VA, video game likes, weird follows, and pictures that don’t really say anything beyond “This profile is fake!”.

[OverandOnward]

Every con is based on the same human reality: The belief of others that what they want to be true is, in fact, true.

[SinMiedo]

That profile is allegedly one that he’s using, although I don’t have any proof of that. It’s definitely fake, every picture on every “facility” page he’s made have been stolen and reversed Google Images

[MHM]

@OverandOnward

Ever see the old but wonderful 1962 movie The Music Man starring the amazing Robert Preston? It’s the same con. Make the sales, collect the money, then get out of town before the public wakes up.

Reliable cons never run out, even if they are centuries old. P.T. Barnum was right.

(In the movie that girl was a fool to think he was going to settle down with her and become a respectable citizen. But it made a good ending. )

In the revival on Broadway, Hugh Jackman would have convinced me as well. Lol.

[LexInVA]

@SinMiedo

That profile is allegedly one that he’s using, although I don’t have any proof of that. It’s definitely fake, every picture on every “facility” page he’s made have been stolen and reversed Google Images

He is definitely using it, as the woman tagged in the photos - who seems to have been his Mom - would most likely be dead by now, given how old she appears in the old photos and her poor physical health. From the likes (follows), he would use the profile for the purposes of victim scouting and monitoring in the local Equestrian groups, as well as keeping up on the public Facebook discussions about him and his actions, and keeping an eye on his family members, who have the profile as a “friend”.

[SinMiedo]

I’d say you’re correct. I imagine that’s been the MO for the whole time he’s been running this game. None of the “business ventures” have ever had his name publicly attached. He’s a ghost online, or was until this all came out anyway.

[Paint_Party]

Is this kind of similar to the rental house scam?

The grifter scopes out a vacant house, usually one with a “for rent” sign already out front. Grifter composes their own ad, with their contact info, at a below market rental rate to grab attention. When contacted by a potential renter, grifter says they’re out of town and can’t meet prospective renter, but encourages them to go peek through windows and get a feel for the place. Potential renter loves house, texts or verbally agrees to “contract.” Grifter tells renter to Venmo or wire transfer 1st month rent and hefty security deposit; says they’ll mail keys or deliver them in person.

Of course, they never show up with the keys. And renter is out the money. And has no home.

Scam is currently going on here.

[OverandOnward]

A rental house I managed had that happen !!! Using my own listing photos they saw online. I had to get a whole bunch of friends to report the FB ad to get it taken down.

The scammer was claiming that they were suddenly called out of the country and could not show the house. But just send them the deposit and first month’s rent and they would overnight you the keys.

They were offering a low rent for the neighborhood. It’s crazy but many people will get over-excited about a scarce bargain. All common sense goes out the window. They become so focused on getting the thing before someone else does.

I think that one was taken down soon enough because no one ever showed up thinking they had rented it from the scammer.

I don’t know why anyone would think that was a plausible story. Anyone in that situation would use a leasing agent before turning their house over to a complete unvetted stranger.

But people easily believe something they want to be true.

[SinMiedo]

Between the horse world, travel nursing, and working corrections, I’ve come across several scams like that. My BS radar has gotten fairly sensitive, probably past the point of what’s reasonable at times!
When I first heard of this deal, it was back when the facility was supposed to be in Kentucky and sounded really exciting. Once I read the website for the place, though, there were more red flags than a Soviet parade.
The grammar alone was enough to make me skeptical. That site is now defunct, but the VA Insta is still up and you can get an idea of what I mean.
https://instagram.com/omve_u.s.a?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

[OverandOnward]

@SinMiedo

there were more red flags than a Soviet parade.

priceless

[SinMiedo]

The parties involved just released a podcast about the whole experience. It’s worth a listen if you have some time to kill!

004 FULL PRICE CASH OFFER — That Horse Podcast