The 2016 Bobcat E42 as advertised
Broyles Farms published a listing for a 2016 Bobcat E42 mini excavator described as having 2,864 hours and listed as UsedCondition with an asking price of $17,175. The seller's description, verbatim, reads: "2016 Bobcat E42 - Mini Excavator - 2,864 hours. View photos, specifications and listing details at Broyles Farms." The listing URL supplied to us is https://broylesfarms.com/equipment/75402/ and the site homepage titles itself Used Farm & Construction Equipment in Rapelje, MT | Broyles Farms.
The published contact details on the site are the trading name Broyles Farms, an address of 185 Hoagland Rd, Rapelje, MT 59067, US, phone number (406) 290-9768 and email sales@broylesfarms.com.
What the buyer reports
According to the buyer's account provided to this publication, they transferred $17,175 by bank wire to complete purchase of the advertised 2016 Bobcat E42. The buyer reports that after the transfer no excavator was delivered. That account is the basis for the payment entry logged with this report.
No shipment notices, tracking numbers, bill of sale or delivery receipts were supplied in the buyer's account for us to review.
Checking a Bobcat E42 before you pay
This model is a compact tracked excavator. Before sending funds for any remote purchase, check these points in person or through an independent representative:
Serial plate and PIN: on compact excavators the PIN or serial plate is usually fixed to the mainframe or the upper structure; ask for clear close-up photos of the plate showing the full number. Match the plate digits to every listing photo and to any bill of sale you receive. If you cannot inspect in person, have an independent inspector or a dealer visit the machine to read the PIN.
Dealer verification: ask an authorized Bobcat dealer to check the machine PIN to see if the number is registered to active warranty or service history records and to confirm the model year and any factory options.
Hours versus wear: compare the claimed 2,864 hours to high-resolution photos of undercarriage, track pads, swing gear, bucket teeth and the operator area. Excessive wear in those components can be inconsistent with low engine hours, and conversely unusually clean wear for a high-hour unit should prompt further questions.
Documentation review: request a bill of sale with buyer and seller names and signatures, a delivery or pickup date, and any title or registration documents applicable in your state. For titled machines, ensure the seller can produce a clear title before payment.
UCC and lien search: search UCC filings in the state the seller lists to confirm there are no financing liens on the machine. If the seller gives a different business name for paperwork, search that name as well.
Stolen equipment databases: check national and regional stolen equipment databases against the machine VIN or serial number before paying.
Physical inspection: whenever possible inspect the machine in person or hire a trusted local inspector to confirm the machine exists, matches the listing photos and that the serial plate matches paperwork.
If any requested verification is refused or delayed, treat that as a warning sign.
How the payment was taken
The buyer reports using a bank wire to send $17,175. Bank wires are typically final once the receiving bank credits the recipient; a settled wire leaves no automatic chargeback route for the sender. Recovery of wired funds therefore depends on the receiving bank identifying and reversing the payment or on locating the recipient and negotiating a return. Prompt contact with the sending bank increases the chance of a recall before funds move out of the recipient account.
What we have and have not verified
We have verified the published listing content, contact details on the site and the domain registration record. The site lists the excavator as a 2016 Bobcat E42 with 2,864 hours and an asking price of $17,175. The domain broylesfarms.com shows a registration date of 2026-10-04 and the registrar ENOM, INC. The site uses HTTPS and returns HTTP 200 on the homepage.
Open checks we have not completed and that would be necessary to establish the machine and the operator's status
- Physical existence and condition of the specific 2016 Bobcat E42 at the published address.
- Confirmation that the serial number or PIN on the machine matches the listing photos and any bill of sale.
- Confirmation of whether the recipient account credited with the wired funds can be identified by the buyer's bank and whether a recall is possible.
- Independent verification of any dealer licence, corporate registration or DOT records for the trading name published on the site.
This entry is published as filed. The operator may respond and additional checks will be added as they are completed.
If you have already paid
Contact your bank's fraud or wire department immediately and request a recall. File a report with IC3 at ic3.gov and notify your state attorney general. Keep all receipts, wire confirmations and any messages or adverts related to the transaction. If you have independent proof of payment and communications, preserve copies for any follow-up with your bank or law enforcement agencies.