boat ad a scam???

[WakeVA]

I inquired about this ad: http://www.boattrader.com/listing/2003-Cor...-Craft-95902351

and got this response by email:

Hi,

The boat is in perfect condition - like new, no problems with the engine or any kind of damage and comes with a clear title. If you'll decide to buy it, you'll receive all the papers: the title, owner’s manual and a bill of sale. The final price is $15,000 including shipping&handling. The price is low because I'm looking for a quick cash sale; I am not selling it for profit or due to lack of money. My husband died 3 months ago and I decided along with my daughter to sell the house and move to my sister. The financial part of this transaction will be provided by eBay through their Vehicle Purchase Protection Program. I used the vpp program in the past and all my transaction ended succesfully. I want a fast and safe transaction for both of us, so please let me know if you have the funds available and wish to explain you the payment and shipping process.

Regards

I went ahead and returned an email asking a few more questions and its too late to call the number but my gut says its a scam. I've never bought a boat before but plan to this offseason. What are your opinions on this?

Brad

[jayjoans]

scam. no doubt.

Her husband just died yet she has a history of selling vehicles on eBay and using their VPP program? fishy.

price includes "shipping and handling" fishy, this is not a purchase of a Chia Pet off late night TV.

she is not selling it due to lack of money, yet she's selling the house too and moving in with her sister.

Give me a break, this is a joke. No harm in running it out a little bit though, as long as you protect yourself along the way it can be fun in a kitten and ball of yarn sort of way.

Edited October 9, 2009 by jayjoans

[Olivertuft]

I inquired about this ad: http://www.boattrader.com/listing/2003-Cor...-Craft-95902351

and got this response by email:

Hi,

The boat is in perfect condition - like new, no problems with the engine or any kind of damage and comes with a clear title. If you'll decide to buy it, you'll receive all the papers: the title, owner’s manual and a bill of sale. The final price is $15,000 including shipping&handling. The price is low because I'm looking for a quick cash sale; I am not selling it for profit or due to lack of money. My husband died 3 months ago and I decided along with my daughter to sell the house and move to my sister. The financial part of this transaction will be provided by eBay through their Vehicle Purchase Protection Program. I used the vpp program in the past and all my transaction ended succesfully. I want a fast and safe transaction for both of us, so please let me know if you have the funds available and wish to explain you the payment and shipping process.

Regards

I went ahead and returned an email asking a few more questions and its too late to call the number but my gut says its a scam. I've never bought a boat before but plan to this offseason. What are your opinions on this?

Brad

This is an absloute SCAM!

Ask where the boat is located? Where can you go to test drive and have it looked over.

Also ask for a phone number to discuss.

This person will vanish like magic.

This is a very common practice (scam) usually with mid-high end cars at stupid low prices.

Buyer beware!

[jayjoans]

seller in CO, but boat registered in TX......

scammer is too lame to even read the TX on the side of the boat and know what that even means. He might as well be from TX and at least get that part right.

OH, the POOR THING!

"She" has 2 boats to get rid of! Google the phone number on the ad and you get this one too. Poor gal is probably an emotional wreck and has to get rid of both of these completely cherry boats for WAY under market.

http://www.boattrader.com/listing/2003-Cou...FT-MTR-95924863

oh, and 970 is not the Boulder area code.

IDIOT.

Edited October 9, 2009 by jayjoans

[Wakes]

seller in CO, but boat registered in TX......

scammer it too lame to even read the TX on the side of the boat and know what that even means. He might as well be from TX and at least get that part right.

CO is a no-title state. Apparently a lot of stolen boats end up there for that reason.

[NorCaliBu]

The broken English is usually a good indicator as well.

[WakeVA]

I figured, thanks for input. I'll keep looking for a used V ride since that's what I really want.

[WakingMeHappy]

She'll probably tell you she can ship it via UPS. Uhm, overnight express of course.

If you can't see it and touch it, don't buy it.

[Bill_AirJunky]

Lead them on. Waste their time. Tell them how hot your girlfriend is going to look on that boat. And then ask them to get some more pictures for you..... pics that they can't possibly know anything about or have a prayer of getting. Ask absurd questions. Make absurd demands. And offer them money or naked pictures to encourage them.

In other words...... do unto them before they do unto us.

[SmoothWaterMan]

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[Ndawg12]

I heard the same story a year or so ago and it was also through boattrader.com. Husband died, secure payment through VPP, yada yada. I played with her for a week, it was fun!! I called boattrader and had the add shut down!!

Edited October 9, 2009 by nemire12

[gregtay]

Sadly some guy on WakeWorld fell for one of these... sent $29K for an 08 Wakesetter. He is $29K poorer today. Sad.

Edited October 9, 2009 by gregtay

[Ndawg12]

Sadly some guy on WakeWorld fell for one of these... sent $29K for an 08 Wakesetter. He is $29K poorer today. Sad.

I'm not so sure I feel sorry for that guy, I mean, come on, how stupid do you have to be to send that kind of money unsecurely to a stranger without ever seeing your purchase or meeting the seller. $29K for $60k boat, come on!!

[fastsx321]

I live a halfhour from boulder If you need some one to look at it, if it's even any where near Boulder

[gilby00]

a couple of years ago I came accross the same scam. The boat was in storage, I asked when I could see it and drive it. They said well you can do that after a deposit is down and the boat is shipped to you out west. besides how can you see it here in TN? I said i've got a buddy who lives there and he can be there in 10minutes. the contact ended right after that..............

[areamike]

Sadly some guy on WakeWorld fell for one of these... sent $29K for an 08 Wakesetter. He is $29K poorer today. Sad.

I'm not so sure I feel sorry for that guy, I mean, come on, how stupid do you have to be to send that kind of money unsecurely to a stranger without ever seeing your purchase or meeting the seller. $29K for $60k boat, come on!!

HEY! I was that guy...j/k

Serioiusly, any ad that has this in it screams SCAM!

comes with a clear title

[WakeVA]

I reported the ad by forwarding my email response to their scam address and here is the reply from boat trader:

Dear Mr. ,

Thank you very much for your concerns in this matter. The information you forwarded has been helpful in removing undesirable ads and sellers from our site. Neither Ebay (for items not listed on their site), Yahoo, AutoTrader, TraderOnline or its affiliates offer any kind of vehicle protection or escrow services. This is a known fraud response. We recommend that you discontinue contact with this person. Be wary of buyers and sellers who state they are out of town or out of the country or want to sell or purchase for their client.

We appreciate your help in policing our site; thank you for your continued faith in TraderOnline.com. For more information about protecting yourself online as a buyer or seller, please visit the TraderOnline.com Security Center at http://www.traderonlinesecurity.com/.

We wish you luck in your search. Please feel free to forward any future correspondence that appears to be suspicious for our review.

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