Boat Scam... and how it works.

[kellmike626]

Re: Boat Scam... and how it works.

Craigslist and Kijiji are full of those boats that are $2,800 that are "Immaculate, well maintained, etc".

Best thing to do is steer clear. Anybody who falls for it has no brains, not trying to insult anyone.
Even when you go to reply, just the writing style. Nobody's going to perfect it that well and sell you a 2006 sea ray 185 for 2,800.
The whole point to craigslist is for it to be locals only, and they even have a separate page of different scams.
What I do is offer to drive to that location to pick it up. Do they reply back? Nope

But, if it's too good to be true, it probably is.
This scam is just as believable as the emails i Get saying I won 50 million dollars from the international Bank of Nigeria .

 

[MacPointMan]

Re: Boat Scam... and how it works.

Has anyone sent this to the DOD. They take scams involving the military pretty seriously.

But hey I am currently Deployed and I want to buy a boat.

MAcPointman

 

[JimKW]

Re: Boat Scam... and how it works.

If it's legitimate and you say you either want to see the boat or hire somebody to inspecit it, they will get back to you. When it's a scam you will not hear from them again. I can't see how people can send them even $2800 site unseen!

 

[seabob4]

Re: Boat Scam... and how it works.

You know, it's funny, when I try to sell something on CL, and someone contacts me, I not only respond back, but if I don't hear from them again, I email them again, just to see if they are still interested...

Damn, honesty...

 

[Isaacm1986]

Re: Boat Scam... and how it works.

these types of scam are on everything! I was shopping for a used BBQ on craigslist, and there were people running the same scam for a freaking BBQ! I could not believe it.

 

[Doug N.]

Re: Boat Scam... and how it works.

A buddy of mine was walking into a jeep scam where a military guy was going to ship it from Italy. I told him what this thread said about how the scam worked and he said it was the same thing. I'm glad I called him or he may have fallen for it.

 

[kellmike626]

Re: Boat Scam... and how it works.

Has anyone sent this to the DOD. They take scams involving the military pretty seriously.

But hey I am currently Deployed and I want to buy a boat.

MAcPointman

You know, I think they should. It's disrespectful.

Infact,

About a year ago before I bought my bayliner, we found a 2004 SeaRay for $9,600 while boat shopping. Seemed pretty legit, but we knew there might have been something up with the boat, as it only had 18 hours..but we replied anyways. Got the email back, got something similar to this:

Apparently, he said he got the boat for his son and shipped it to Afganistan for him, and he died on duty. Then he goes on and on with the sob story. He said he would pay the shipping back to Canada and give it to us.

Now, the disturbing thing is that how people can go to this extent to get the money. It's one thing to scam someone with a classic sob story, but when you get the military involved...you wonder where they get their brains from.

 

[Doug N.]

Re: Boat Scam... and how it works.

OK. Shipped to "Lake of the Turban Luxury Resort"? Who comes up with this stuff? And who falls for it?

 

[MacPointMan]

Re: Boat Scam... and how it works.

lol I bought it and had it shipped to Afghanistan. WOW thats believable. I can see it now.

SGT: Private Snuffy You have a package.
Private Snuffy: Cool Ill stop by to pick it up
SGT: Well you better bring the truck because you are going to tow it.
Private Snuffy: Tow it?
SGT: Yea you are going to have to tow it. You'll see when you get here.
Private Snuffy arrives at mail room: SGT I am here for my package.
SGT: Ok follow me.
Private Snuffy: Why where are we going?
SGT: out back the package is out there.
PVT Snuffy: HMMM Ok
the SGT and Private Snuffy arrive out back:
SGT: Here you go.
PVT Snuffy: Holy snikeys it's a boat. A nice one too. What the Heck and I going to do with a Boat in Afghanistan?
SGT: I dunnow but it is here and it is yours.

Too freakin funny. Who falls for this stuff?

MacPointMan