Scam reported: ESS, LLC, Hilliard, FL - 2018 KUBOTA KX057-4, $24,500

Verdict

scam. ESS, LLC of Hilliard, FL listed a used 2018 KUBOTA KX057-4 for $24,500 and described it with the seller's own condition claim, yet a buyer reported wiring $24,500 and receiving no equipment.

Company details

The following contact details are the operator's own claims as published on the marketplace listing and homepage.

The listing includes no dealer licensing or DOT identifier in its published contact information.

Unit on record

The table reproduces the seller's listing claims for the unit the buyer paid for.

Buyer report

According to the buyer's account, the buyer paid $24,500 by bank wire for the 2018 KUBOTA KX057-4 shown at Product ID 50080. The buyer reported that no machine was delivered after payment. The payment method reported by the buyer was bank wire.

Registration record

WHOIS and hosting data supplied by passive checks show the domain registered on 2026-08-11 with Name.com, Inc. Nameservers listed are ns1.vercel-dns.com and ns2.vercel-dns.com. HTTPS is active and the homepage returns HTTP 200.

Red flags observed

• The listing advertises the 2018 KUBOTA KX057-4 as UsedCondition at an asking price of $24,500 with Product ID 50080, which is the unit the buyer paid for.
• A buyer reported wiring $24,500 by bank wire and receiving no equipment for that listing.
• Domain registration is recent, dated 2026-08-11, placing it well inside a short-lived site window often used by disposable operations.
• The WHOIS record is privacy protected, concealing the registrant contact.
• The published contact block contains no dealer license or DOT number that would verify a heavy equipment dealership.
• Nameservers resolve to vercel-dns hosting infrastructure while the homepage is active over HTTPS and returns HTTP 200.

What to do if you have paid

• Contact your bank or payment provider immediately and request a recall or trace for the bank wire payment. Provide the bank with the beneficiary details and any transaction receipts.
• Preserve all transaction records, listing screenshots, invoices, and email or text correspondence with the seller.
• Report the loss to local law enforcement and to national fraud reporting bodies relevant to your country.
• File reports with consumer complaint portals that collect marketplace frauds so other potential buyers can be alerted.

How to verify this yourself

• Check WHOIS for the domain registration date and registrar to confirm site age.
• Call the published phone number and request a machine serial number, recent photos showing the serial plate, and a time-stamped video of the machine on the seller's premises.
• Search state dealer licensing databases and DOT records for the trading name and phone number to confirm a licensed physical dealership or transport credentials.
• Insist on an in-person inspection or use a trusted local inspector before wiring funds. If the seller refuses inspection or live video with the machine and serial number, treat the listing as unreliable.