The gleaming John Deere tractors on Dalton Tractor and Equipment’s website looked pristine, their prices low enough to attract a flurry of buyers looking to score a great deal. Their great deals on popped up on google searches when buyers were looking for used tractors and other farming equipment.
But the entire operation – from the pictures of the smiling staff, to the enthusiastic customer testimonials was just an elaborate ruse created by international scammers using cutting edge AI.
Beware Of Dalton Equipment.Com
The site Dalton-Equipment.com is no longer online because it was reported for fraud. But the scammers merely transferred the domain to DaltonEquipment.com where they continue to carry out their scam.
Even if the websites are taken down, there are hundreds of other sites just like it, each part of the growing trend of cloned dealer websites that scam victims for millions.
An Entirely Fake Operation Created With AI
Dalton Tractor was created by scammers. Its part of a new scam called “Dealer Cloning” where they steal the identity of real dealerships, post fake listings and then lure victims into sending large wire transfers for cars and equipments they will never receive.
The site seemingly popped out of nowhere, first appearing in February of 2025 according to Wayback Archive.
What is unusual about Dalton is how flawless their website looks and how easy it would be for a victim to be fooled. The other unusual fact is that the site appears to be entirely created by Generative AI.
The phone number on the site, (413) 200-9849, goes directly to a scammer. How do I know this? Because it was featured by Kitboga in a recent video where he exposed the scammer who tried to sell him a tractor.
You can watch the whole video here – I Shut Down A Scam Dealership.
Dalton Tractor Sells Tractors They Don’t Own With Photos They Stole
While browsing through the site you will come upon Dalton Tractors inventory. You can search for any product you like and get detailed information.
The problem is, the inventory that they list is entirely fake. The photos are stolen and the prices for the equipment are far too low.
The listings from Dalton Tractor are indexed by Google, so when a would be shopper searches for a good deal on equipment they will be drawn to the site. It’s there that the sophisticated scam begins.
You Can’t Visit Dalton Tractor – They Only Ship
Once a victim finds a tractor they like, they learn that the only way to get the tractor is to have it shipped directly to them. You see, Dalton Tractor only exist online.
Victims are instructed to fill out a “reservation form”. Once they fill it out, they will be contacted by a scammer who will manipulate them into sending wire transfers for tens and thousands of dollars.
A Closer Look Reveals The AI Manipulations
It isn’t until you look closer at the site, that you can see just how thoroughly AI was used in the creation of it.
From the logo’s to the people illustrated on the site, the clues are all there. Check out this photo of employees holding up a sign. The crossed eyes and gnarled hands are red flags that nothing on this site is real.
Another photo shows a man in a Dalton Tractor T Shirt shaking hands with a satisfied customer. But once again the clues are there.
An extra finger or two is evident when you take a closer look of the photo below.
Deepfake Testimonials Make It More Real
Nothing is more shocking about the site then the fact that the scammers created Testimonial videos using deepfakes.
In this testimonial, a happy customer named Chris Lawson gives a shoutout to Dalton Tractor for the awesome service he recieved.
And here is another AI generated video testimonial. In this testimonial a man named Brody takes a moment to recognize the great people at Dalton Tractor for their help in getting him what he needed.
A closer inspection of the videos and a reverse image search reveals that these AI Video testimonials were created on a site called AvatarVideos.now.
The ability for scammers to create fake testimonial videos with AI is giving these sites even more power to fool victims.
Scammers Created A Fake Yelp Page Too
To add credibility to their scheme, the scammers even pushed their business to Yelp. Beware of Dalton Tractor reviews on Yelp!
Red Flags – How To Spot An AI Generated Dealer Cloned Site
Identifying a cloned dealer site isn’t hard when you look for the common red flags.
#1 – Site Was Recently Created – Check WayBack Archive
AI Generated dealer cloned sites are often created within the last few months. By checking Wayback Archive, you can get a good idea if the website is new or if it has been in circulation for awhile.
#2 – Photos Reveal Red Flags
Reverse image search key photos on the website, you will often find that they have been stolen from other sites. If the image is not stolen, it is likely created with artificial intelligence. Look closely at the fingers and eyes, those are often dead giveaways of AI.
#3 – Inventory Is Too Good To Be True
Prices are often below market value and may seen to be too good to be true.
Always request the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and run it through independent verification services like CARFAX. Cross-check ownership information and vehicle history rather than relying solely on information provided by the seller. Be especially wary if a seller cannot or will not provide complete vehicle documentation or history reports.
#4 – Don’t Blindy Trust Video Testimonials
Video testimonials are often AI generated on fake dealer websites. Do your homework and look for common deepfake tactics by checking the lip movements. You will often see that the mouth movements and words do not align.
Reach out to me if you ever find a suspicious website and I would be happy to take a look for you.
