Scam: ESS, LLC, Hilliard FL, 2018 KUBOTA KX057-4 $24,500 wired, unit never shipped

Verdict

Scam. ESS, LLC of Hilliard FL advertised a 2018 KUBOTA KX057-4 as UsedCondition (Product ID 50080) for $24,500; a buyer reports wiring $24,500 by bank wire and receiving no equipment.

Company details

The site's published contact details follow; they are the operator's stated values.

The listing and the buyer's payment

The listing identified the unit as a 2018 KUBOTA KX057-4 and labeled its condition as UsedCondition with Product ID 50080. The asking number shown on the listing was $24,500. According to a buyer's account logged by the analyst, the buyer paid $24,500 by bank wire for that specific listing and did not receive the excavator.

The buyer's account is the only source for the payment and the non-delivery allegation. The listing itself provides the model year, the listing identifier, and the stated condition but supplies no further logistics details such as a yard address, pickup instructions, carrier name, or tracking numbers.

Payment-rail analysis

Bank wire moves funds irreversibly once received by the beneficiary bank. A buyer's report that the $24,500 was sent by bank wire indicates the purchaser used a rail that typically lacks a consumer-facing reversal mechanism like a card chargeback.

Using a wire forfeits many common buyer protections. A sending bank can attempt a recall, but recalls require cooperation from the beneficiary bank and are not guaranteed. Documentation that helps a recall attempt includes the wire reference, beneficiary account details, and timestamps. The buyer's account to this publication is the only reported transaction detail available here.

Where a listing does not publish verifiable pickup points, invoices, or third-party escrow arrangements, a wire payment increases the risk that funds cannot be recovered if the counterparty does not cooperate.

Domain and infrastructure signals

WHOIS records record a registration date of 2026-08-11 and list Name.com, Inc; the domain age is about 50 days at the time of this report. The site serves over HTTPS and returns a 200 status for its homepage. Nameservers are ns1.vercel-dns.com and ns2.vercel-dns.com.

Detected site signals include a recent registration, absence of a verifiable physical lot address beyond the published mailing line, a registrant privacy layer, and no visible dealer licensing or DOT information on the site. These signals increase the importance of payment-rail scrutiny when large sums are requested before delivery.

Red flags

• Buyer reports a $24,500 bank wire payment for the listed 2018 KUBOTA KX057-4.
• Domain age about 50 days, well within the disposable-site window.
• No physical lot or yard address that confirms where equipment is stored.
• Registrant privacy in WHOIS rather than a public corporate record.
• No dealer licensing or DOT details visible on the website.
• Listing provides Product ID and price but no shipping or pickup documentation.
• Payment by bank wire was the only reported rail for the transaction.

What to verify before paying (payment-rail focused)

• Require a verifiable street address for equipment pickup and confirm it on a map service.
• Insist on an escrow or third-party payment method that offers reversal or dispute handling; document the escrow terms.
• Confirm the seller’s business registration and any dealer license numbers with the issuing agency.
• Request a signed invoice showing seller bank account details and match that account's ownership with corporate records before wiring.
• If a wire is the only accepted method, obtain the bank wire reference and beneficiary account details in writing and be prepared to provide them to your bank immediately if a problem arises.

What the buyer reported to this publication is a $24,500 bank wire for the 2018 KUBOTA KX057-4 on the ess-group-florida.com listing and non-delivery of the machine; those claims remain the buyer's account and are not independently verified here.