Queensland Police have charged a 26-year-old Kallangur man with 14 fraud offences following a string of alleged online livestock scams.

It will be alleged between August and October 2023, the man received money from victims who believed they were purchasing livestock feed and animals including cattle, donkeys and a kitten, after they were falsely advertised for sale on social media.

Police identified 12 buyers who deposited more than $7,500 to the alleged seller, who never delivered the animals or feed.

Following extensive investigations, detectives from the Forest Hill Rural and Stock Crime Squad executed a search warrant at a Kallangur address on Tuesday, October 15.

A 26-year-old man was charged with 14 counts of fraud, as well as three counts of possessing dangerous drugs, and one count each of possess property suspected of having been used in connection with the commission of a drug offence, possess utensils or pipes, and producing dangerous drugs.

He was given a notice to appear at Pine Rivers Magistrates Court on November 14.

The Rural and Stock Crime Squad encourages buyers to conduct background checks in relation to the seller and livestock before paying any deposit.

These checks could include arranging to inspect the livestock, requesting the Property Identification Code, Australian Business Number and having a voice phone conversation with the seller.

Police encourage anyone who is a victim of this type of crime to the Australian Cyber Security Centre at Report | Cyber.gov.au.

The Rural and Stock Crime Squad have also reported that they are investigating multiple reports of fraud where livestock are being advertised on social media and allegedly when deposits are made the livestock are either not delivered by the seller as agreed or the buyer attends an address to realise that the livestock aren’t there.

The reports have included different breeds of cattle, horses, donkeys and chickens.

The Rural and Stock Crime Squad encourages livestock buyers to conduct background checks in relation to the seller and livestock before paying any deposit.

These checks could include arranging to inspect the livestock, requesting the Property Identification Code, National Vendor Declaration and National Livestock Identification System tag numbers.

For livestock and agricultural scams quote this reference number: QP2400611704