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Don’t be a victim of timber transaction crime

Most buyers are honest and will give you a good price for your timber, but you can protect yourself against theft and fraud by taking a few precautions.

Watch out if…

• You are approached by an unsolicited buyer.
• A buyer tries to pressure you into a quick sale.
• A buyer says your trees have pine beetles and you need to cut them quickly.
• After the first buyer, you are approached by others in rapid succession. They may be working together.
• The buyer generalizes about the area and volume to be cut, will not set a specific date for harvest.

During and after harvest, be suspicious if…

• The logger on your land is also hauling wood from adjacent timber tracts.
• Logs and pulpwood are mixed on the truck.
• Log trucks are hauling at odd times of the day, on Sundays, or at night.
• Boundary trees have been cut or boundary lines removed.
• The buyer won’t return your calls.
• The buyer tells you “the check is in the mail” or blames late payment on the mill.

To avoid timber theft and fraud…

• Know your timber’s current value, prices change from year to year, season to season.
• Know how much timber you are selling.
• Get more than one bid.
• Check buyer’s references.
• Make sure you have a comprehensive written contract (samples available from the Forestry Commission). It should specify: how the contractor will pay and when; what products are to be harvested; the price for each product; to which sawmills or wood yards different products will be hauled.
• Establish and permanently mark property lines.
• Get to know neighbors. Form a cooperative watch.
• If you don’t live on the land, visit or ask someone to check regularly.
• Spend some time monitoring logging operations on your property.
• Keep records on your timber sales.

The Forestry Commission can help you. 

To report timber theft or timber fraud, call 803-896-8840 and ask for Law Enforcement.