Common timber and logging scams

1.  Low-ball offers

Low-ball offers are one of the most common scams in the timber industry. They happen when dishonest timber buyers offer to pay significantly less than the actual market value for a quality  stand of timber.

This tactic exploits landowners who may not have market knowledge or aren’t seeking multiple offers, allowing the buyer to profit at the landowner’s expense.

How this scam works

Low-balling often begins with a timber buyer approaching a landowner and making what seems like a reasonable offer to buy it. However, they deliberately undervalue the timber while using deceptive tactics to justify their low offer, such as:

Making misleading claims about timber quality

The timber buyer may downplay the quality of your trees and claim that they’re smaller, poorly formed, defective or otherwise less desirable than they actually are.

Example: The timber market is really soft right now, especially for hardwoods like yours. Mills just aren’t paying as much as they were a few months ago, and it could get worse if you wait. This is the best price you’ll get in today’s market—I’d take it before things drop even further.

Making false statements about market demand

Timber buyers may lie about current market conditions, saying demand is low or prices have dropped, when they know it isn’t true.

Example: “Your stand has mostly pulpwood trees in it, so the value isn’t as high as you might think.”

Using artificial pressure tactics to make you accept accept a bad offer

A timber buyer may claim that his offer is time-sensitive, pressuring you to sign before you can contact a forester or seek additional bids.

Example: “Your stand has mostly pulpwood trees in it, so the value isn’t as high as you might think.”

You should never trust a timber buyer

Low-ball offers succeed because of confusion and misinformation. Timber buyers who use this tactic count on landowners not knowing the real value of their timber. 

By involving a independent forester who can realistically evaluate your timber — and formally solicit competitive bids for it — you not only protect your timber’s value but also ensure a fair and respectful sales process.

Please contact us here for an independent and free timber evaluation before you decide to sell yours.

2.  Point-of-cut scams

The “point of cut” scam is a deceptive and very destructive practice that some loggers use to harvest more trees than landowners intend to sell. By manipulating contract language governing how trees are measured, the loggers grab many immature trees in their harvest, which dramatically reduces the timber stand’s future value and its regenerative potential.

This scam is very common in the timber business, and we’ve seen loggers try this scam all over our service area. Here’s what you need to know to protect yourself them.

How the scam works

At first, the logger seems straightforward and professional, explaining his approach his initial contact with you. However, the terms in the actual contract he presents will reveal a different story.

The timber buyer gives an honest explanation first

• The buyer assures the landowner that only trees with a diameter of at least 18 inches at breast height (DBH) will be cut. Measuring at breast height (about 4.5 feet from the ground) is the industry standard. It’s reliable because it provides an accurate representation of a tree’s maturity.
• He then explains that this method ensures that only mature trees are harvested, leaving younger trees behind to grow and maintain the forest’s health. But this is only true if he abides by his word. 

The scam is hidden in the contract

When the landowner signs the contract, the language has been altered to specify that measurements will be taken at the “point of cut.”

The “point of cut” refers to the base of the tree, just a few inches above the ground. This measurement is much larger than it is a breast height because most hardwood trees flare out at the bottom.

As a result, all trees that wouldn’t meet the agreed-upon 18-inch DBH requirement are included in the harvest. This can devastate your timber stand and it may take 80 years to grow another harvest.

Why this is a scam

This tactic exploits a key feature of hardwood trees: their natural flare at the base. Here’s why it’s a problem for landowners:

Immature Trees are Harvested

A tree measuring 18 inches at the base is often much smaller at breast height, meaning it is likely too young and not yet valuable enough to harvest. Cutting these trees prematurely robs the landowner of future profits.

Forest Value Declines

By targeting younger, smaller trees, the logger reduces the forest’s ability to regenerate into a healthy, high-value stand. This lowers the long-term value of the land.

Trust is Broken

The practice erodes trust between landowners and the logging industry, making it harder for ethical loggers to earn business.

Get help from an independent professional forester

The Point of Cut Scam is the most common dirty trick in the timber and logging business, and we despise it. Timber buyers who use this tactic count on landowners not understanding logging methods.

By involving a professional forester — before you let a timber buyer onto your land — you can not only protect your timber but also ensure that the long-term value of your property isn’t destroyed by one mistake.

We are always here to help you with an independent (and free) evaluation and we can help you get top dollar for your timber while protecting you from tricks like this. Contact an independent forester here. 

3.  Flipping the contract

Flipping timber contracts is a deceptive practice that can leave landowners feeling cheated and powerless, when they find out about it — because they don’t find out until it’s too late.

It occurs when a timber buyer or logger signs a contract with you to harvest your timber, which he then sells to another logger for a higher price. The original buyer/logger pockets the difference — money that should have gone to you — and you end up dealing with someone you didn’t know and never agreed to work with.

We’ve seen loggers run this scam all over Ohio. Here’s what you need to know and how to protect yourself.

How this scam works

Step 1:  A buyer gets your timber under contract at a low price

A timber buyer or logger approaches you with an offer to buy and harvest your timber. They convince you to sign a contract under the pretense of being the one who will handle the work.

Step 2:  He sells (flips) the contract to another logger 

Instead of harvesting the timber himself, the buyer sells your contract to another logger at a higher price and earns an easy profit.  That money should been paid to you by an honest timber buyer.

Step 3:  A strange logger shows up to harvest your timber

A logger you don’t know — and haven’t vetted — arrives to harvest your timber. You’ve lost control and this point.

This logger may not have enough experience or equipment to do the work right, or he may not have adequate insurance in place to cover the risks of a logging operation.

He also may not follow the agreed-upon terms, such as respecting boundaries, minimizing damage to your land, and restoring the forest floor after the harvest.

We keep timber buyers and loggers honest

Timber flipping happens all over Ohio, because landowners typically do not understand the work involved, nor the value of a solid timber sale contract.

By involving a professional forester, you can ensure that you receive the full selling price for your logs.  

Please click here to contact an independent forester who will work on your side, and get you maximum value for your timber.

4.  High grading

High grading is a deceptive and very destructive logging practice where a logger harvests ALL the mature trees of the most valuable (high grade) trees from a forest. While it might sound like a profitable approach, this method severely impacts the land’s long-term value and productivity. 

High grading prioritizes immediate profit for the logger, but leaves the landowner with a severely degraded timber stand that takes decades to recover.  It’s another very common way that timber buyers and loggers cheat people who don’t understand forestry. It happens all over Ohio, too. 

How this logging scam works 

The logger confuses you with industry jargon, false claims, and promises of big profits for you.

What loggers claim

The logger will probably say that he’ll “selectively harvest” only the most mature trees, presenting his plan as a common-sense and sustainable forestry practice.

He might emphasize that removing all of the high-value trees will “open up the canopy” and allow smaller trees to grow faster, misleading the landowner into believing that this alone causes adequate regeneration.

What they actually do

The logger cuts all mature trees of the highest value species, such as White Oak and Black Walnut veneer trees and other top-grade hardwoods, removing the “cream of the crop” from the stand.

They leave behind less desirable or lower-value trees, even if most of these remaining trees are mature and marketable and should be harvested before they die off in the forest.

No beneficial “select cutting method” was used to improve the timber stand for regeneration and new growth. He just took the best and left the rest.

Why this is a scam

Short term gains, long term losses

The logger profits by taking only the most valuable species and trees, maximizing their immediate revenue and leaving the land owner with a less productive forest

Future harvest potential is lost

A healthy forest contains a mix of trees in many species and grades, which allows for profitable future harvests. High grading strips the forest of this diversity, leaving behind a timber stand with minimal economic value

No Timber Stand Improvement plan in place after the harvest

When a logger “takes the best and leaves the rest” the forest will take several decades longer to regenerate than if a genuine selective harvest was done within an effective TSI plan prepared by a forester. 

We keep loggers honest

You should never let a timber buyer or logger onto your land without talking to a qualified forester first. You can contact a certified forester here to get an independent evaluation of your timber stand — for free. 

5.  Deceptive scaling

Deceptive log scaling is a dishonest practice used by some timber buyers to under-report the volume of harvested timber, thus paying landowners less than they deserve.

Scaling refers to the process of measuring the volume of timber, which directly determines its market value. When buyers manipulate these measurements, they effectively steal income from landowners who trust them to be accurate. 

Here’s what you need to know about deceptive scaling and how to protect yourself.

How this scam works

Dishonest timber buyers use several methods to manipulate scaling in their favor:

Using outdated or inaccurate formulas

Scaling formulas calculate the volume of a log based on its diameter and length. Dishonest buyers might use outdated or less precise formulas that underestimate the volume of high-value logs.

Manipulating log measurements

Logs may be cut to irregular lengths or measured in ways that deliberately reduce their reported size, such as ignoring tapering or rounding down diameters. 

Under-reporting 

After the timber is harvested, the buyer measures the logs and reports a lower volume than what was actually cut.

We keep timber buyers honest

Scams like this proliferate because of confusion and misinformation in the general public. Timber buyers cheat a lot of people this way because few landowners know how to protect themselves.

By involving a certified forester to work on your side, you can conduct a profitable timber sale while protecting your land and your future plans for it. 

You can get an independent evaluation of your timber for free, along with guidance for your sale and harvest, through our Contact Us page.

6.  Under-reporting

Under-reporting the harvest is a dishonest practice where loggers take more timber than agreed upon or fail to report the full volume of what was harvested. This cheats landowners out of fair compensation while leaving their forest depleted beyond expectations. 

Here’s how under-reporting works, why it’s harmful, and how to protect yourself.

How this scam works

Under-reporting the harvest is fraud and it involves one or more of these tactics:

Harvesting more trees than agreed upon

Loggers cut additional trees outside the marked boundaries or take trees not included in the original contract and haul them away secretly

Cutting high-value trees without reporting them

Loggers might selectively harvest high-value trees, such as veneer-grade hardwoods, and exclude them from the reported totals in order to not pay for them

Failing to report the full volume harvested

After the harvest, the logger reports fewer board feet or logs than were actually removed, pocketing the extra revenue

Our work keep loggers honest

Under-reporting the harvest is outright fraud, and it happens when landowners are not keeping a close eye on their timber harvest. By involving a consulting forester, using a detailed contract, and keeping him involved in the process, you can prevent this practice and ensure that your timber sale is fair and transparent.

Protecting your forest means protecting your investment and you can get a certified forester to help you here. 

7.  Pressure tactics

Unethical timber buyers often use high-pressure sales tactics to rush landowners into signing contracts that aren’t in their best interest. These tactics prey on the public’s lack of timber market knowledge, creating a false sense of urgency to prevent them from seeking other offers. 

Here’s how these pressure tactics work, why they’re harmful, and how to avoid falling victim to them.

How this scam works

Timber buyers can use several manipulative strategies to pressure landowners into quick, uninformed decisions. These are their most common tricks:

Creating a false sense of urgency

Buyers claim the offer is time-sensitive, using market conditions or false claims as reasons to rush your decision.

Example: “Timber prices are about to drop—if you don’t sell now, you’ll lose out.”

Exclusive opportunity claims

The buyer positions his offer as unique or limited, making the landowner feel they’re getting a rare deal.

Example: “We’re only working with a few landowners in this area, and your timber is perfect for this project.”

Exploiting inexperience in the general public

Just like many car salesmen do, timber buyers use industry jargon or complex explanations to confuse landowners, making it hard to question the terms of the deal.

Example: “This is standard practice.  We always measure at the base because that’s the point of cut. You don’t want stumps four and a half feet high, do you? 

Discouraging competitive bids and disparaging foresters

Buyers discourage landowners from seeking alternative bids or professional advice, claiming these services are unnecessary or costly.

Example: “I’m offering you a great deal, and timber prices could drop any day now. By the time you find a forester and get him out here, you might miss out on this opportunity”

Example:: “A forester will just take a big cut out of what I’m already offering to pay you. You don’t need one for a straightforward deal like this.”

Foresters keep the timber business honest

Unethical timber buyers use these pressure tactics to prioritize their profits at your expense. By taking your time, getting an independent forester on your side to get you multiple offers (and manage the sale) you can ensure that your timber sale is fair, transparent, and beneficial to you.

8.  Delaying the harvest

This is another deceptive practice that some loggers and timber buyers use to avoid paying landowners on time — or in full — for their timber. By stalling payments or raising phony disputes during the harvest, these unethical practices leave landowners in a stressful and financially vulnerable position. 

Here’s how these delays work, why they’re harmful, and how to protect yourself.

How this scam works

Loggers and timber buyers may use several stalling tactics to delay or avoid full payment:

Delaying final payments

After harvesting, the buyer delays full payment, claiming financial difficulties or logistical issues

Example: “The mill hasn’t paid us yet, so we can’t settle your account right now.”

Making only partial payment

The buyer pays a portion of what’s owed upfront but drags out the remaining payment for months — or doesn’t pay it at all

Initiating phony disputes over timber quality

Buyers may claim the harvested timber was of lower quality or value than expected, and try to use this as an excuse to pay you less than they agreed to pay for your logs.