The 2018 KUBOTA KX057-4 as advertised
The first thing to note about this listing is the payment method that a buyer used to complete it: a bank wire. The listing on ess-group-florida.com shows a single unit described as a 2018 KUBOTA KX057-4 with an asking price of $24,500 and the seller's short description reading "2018 KUBOTA KX057-4 Product ID: 50080." Condition is listed as UsedCondition. The site homepage carries the title Heavy Equipment Dealer · Hilliard, FL · ESS - ESS, LLC and the operator publishes sales@ess-group-florida.com, a phone number and a street-style address.
The domain was registered on 2026-08-11, which places the site inside the typical window used by short-lived listings. The product page that the buyer linked to uses a product id 50080 and the advertised price matches the amount the buyer reports paying.
What the buyer reports
According to the buyer's account filed with this publication, they wired $24,500 by bank transfer for the 2018 KUBOTA KX057-4 shown on the ess-group-florida.com product page. The reporting buyer says the machine was never delivered. The payment method the buyer used is a bank wire; the buyer reports the payment as having been sent and settled via that route.
We are publishing the buyer's claim as it was filed. The buyer's message supplied the listing link, the price paid, and that the unit did not arrive after they completed the transfer.
Checking a Kubota KX057-4 before you pay
Excavators like the KX057-4 have clear permanent identification on the machine. Before paying, you should get high-resolution photos of the serial plate and machine identification number, and confirm the PIN numbers against any photos of the machine's body and the bill of sale. Ask for multiple views that show the upperstructure, undercarriage, boom and cab so wear patterns match the claimed hours.
Obtain the seller's name as it will appear on title and, if the seller gives an address in Florida, search UCC filings in that state for liens against that business or against the machine's serial number. Check national stolen-equipment databases and ask an authorized dealer for the brand to confirm whether they can see the machine's PIN in their records or a service history under that PIN.
Confirm the seller's telephone number by calling and asking to speak on a recorded line with a named representative who can provide a notarized bill of sale and references from local banks or fleet customers. If the seller resists providing a verifiable PIN, in-person inspection, or a notarized assignment of title, treat those as red flags. Never transfer ownership documents until the machine is physically inspected and serial numbers are matched to the paperwork.
How the payment was taken
The reporting buyer says they paid by bank wire. A settled wire transfer typically cannot be charged back through the payer's bank. That limits options for automatic recovery once funds leave the sending account. Banks can sometimes attempt recalls, but those require the cooperation of the recipient bank and are not guaranteed. For that reason, wire transfers are high risk when dealing with new or unverified sellers.
A buyer arranging a purchase by wire should confirm the receiving account name matches the seller's legal business name and should obtain a signed sales contract and a clear timeline for delivery before sending funds.
What we have and have not verified
Verified from public scans and the listing: the domain ess-group-florida.com was registered on 2026-08-11 via Name.com, Inc; the site responds over HTTPS and the homepage returns HTTP status 200; the homepage title and the product page exist and contain the advertised 2018 KUBOTA KX057-4, Product ID 50080, and an asking price of $24,500; the operator publishes sales@ess-group-florida.com, the phone number +1 904 274 0341, and a street-format address of 552882 US-1, Hilliard, FL 32046.
Open checks we have not completed: whether the published address corresponds to a verifiable yard or dealership lot; whether the specific machine exists and who currently holds title to it; whether any Florida state dealer licensing or DOT registration applies to the operator; whether the bank can recover the wired funds; and any police or court actions the buyer may have filed. These items remain outstanding and may change the assessment as records are obtained.
The operator may submit a response and we will update the entry as checks finish.
If you have already paid
If you sent a wire for this listing, contact your bank's fraud or wire investigation team immediately and tell them you are requesting a recall of a recently sent transfer. Provide the bank with the destination account details, the beneficiary name shown on the transfer, and any receipts or confirmations you received from the seller. Lodge a complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov and with your state attorney general's consumer protection office. Preserve every message, invoice, bank receipt and the listing URL and screenshots; those documents are essential for any recovery attempt and for law enforcement or regulatory complaints.