Boat Sellers Beware!
By
Field Staffer
Bill
Mathis
Updated 3/22/08
Looks like the scam artists are making another run.
Beware!!
Don't even answer the emails if you get one like the ones below.
Here is info from one of our Field Staffers, Bob Perkins:
Just an FYI...I have received an email much like this from a few
people this week.
The first email subject is "Still for Sale?" the next email is a list of
qualifying questions about the boat and then the offer.
Bob
Dear Bob,
I have accepted your price and i can not afford to miss the boat.However i will
make a deposite of ($8,000) to you for the property.I have made out a certified
cashiers check of($15,000) then the balance of $7,000 is for my broker for his
trip to the states for the inspection of the boat and other neccessary
arrangement which include the shipping
and welfare.So you're required to deduct the deposite of ($8,000) and send the
balance of($7,000) to my broker via money gram money transfer to enable him
offsett other necessary arrangements. once the inspection is over,i will pay the
balance of ($1,600) on the of closing contract.So if this is okay with you
kindly mail me back, am so much in love with your property.
Please Confirm this and provide the name,full contact address and phone/fax
number as required for check payment to be delivered direct to you,this is for
security reason,again that am paying directly to you in person and for easy
comminucation b/w both of you.
So if this is okay with you kindly mail me back am so much in love with your
boat that is why i can't afford to miss it.
Please Confirm this and provide the name,full contact address and phone/fax
number as required for check payment to be delivered direct to you,this is for
security reason,again that am paying directly to you in person and for easy
comminucation b/w both of you.
Regards,
Tip from B. Hildebrand
I just had a response exactly like the first example—deleted it
and added to junk senders or spam list.
Recently a
metro
newspaper had an
article
about a scam that involves large ticket items including boats. I myself have
been contacted by two different names trying to run
this scam on
me.
In short form, here is how it works. A person acting as a
representative for a client will offer you payment
for your boat in the form of a cashiers check. They will claim the cashiers’
check is a refund from another transaction, which will be sent to you. Let’s
say you are selling your boat for $20,000. They will offer you $19,700 and tell
you the cashiers check they will send you will be in the amount of $26,000.
They tell you the check is from another purchase that was refunded and they must
send you this particular cashiers check per company policy. Upon receipt of the
$26,000 check you would then need to send them $6,300 in the form of a cashiers
check to make up the difference.
You’re out no money right? The cashiers’ check you receive will
be no good and of course the cashiers’ check you send them will be good and
you’re out $6,300. Most people presume
all cashier checks are good, so the seller deposits the check and finds out a
few days too late the check isn’t good. The second part of the scam is
that they get the codes and other information off the check you send to continue
to scam.
If you experience this or have experienced this, you should
contact your state attorney general.
In Minnesota, you can go to
http://www.ag.state.mn.us/consumer/complaint.html.
Be careful out there.
Field Staffer
Bill
Mathis
Who should I notify about fraud?
FTC toll free hotline: 877-FTC-HELP (877-382-4357)
FTC online complaint form (www.ftc.gov)
Canadian PhoneBusters hotline: 888-495-8501
Internet Fraud Complaint Center (www.ifccfbi.gov/)
More info from the
craigslist online community.
Here is an example from another boat seller.
Greeting,
I saw your advert and i'm interested in buying your **** Ranger.
Give me the price???
And I'll be paying you through my client that is indebted to me in your country?
Get back to me with your full name, Contact address and Phone number so that I
can instruct my client to send the funds(Money Order) to you.
After deducting the cost, can I trust you to send the rest of the amount (i.e
the Residue fund) via western union money transfer to my shipper whom will take
care of the pick up. Let me know as soon as possible, so that I can get in touch
with my client. Thanks for your co-operation while anticipating your earliest
response.
Regards
Mr Raymond Green.
Another example from another boat seller.
Hello,
Sorry for my late response. Yes we are really interested. I have forwarded
your boat information to my client and after evaluation and due to time
constraint and the fact that we are running short of time, I'm delighted to
tell you that my client has recommended your boat, with full interest and he
has instructed me to carry on with this transaction.
He also instructed me to inform you that payment will get to you in a
Certified Check amount of $19,000 which will cover the cost of the boat and
also the cost of shipping.
So you are required to deduct the cost of your boat $14,900 when payment gets
to you and send balance of $4,100 to the Agent (The shipper ) for him to be
able to offset shipping & tax charges and other cosmetic repair costs.
Now we really need your Honesty with definite assurance that the balance
will be sent to the shipper when payment gets to you as we
have to make alternative arrangement not to stress you in shipping.
After payment has reached you and balance sent to
shipper, the shipper's agent will come for inspection, pick up of boat &
signing of title papers, make some cosmetic touches to the boat for shipping
to my customer.
Furthermore, Please confirm these and provide the following for the payment to
be made out and sent to you.
LEGAL NAME:.........
VALID ADDRESS:..........
TELL/CELLPHONE:..........
THANKS.
Kennon..
And another.
hello
my name is david richard am i reside in UK am very much intrested in buying
your boat,kindly get back to me if available and i will like to know the
condition of the boat and your asking price asap. here is my contact number
+447024073217
i will await your response
If you have any questions, Email us at Classic
Bass.
