Trying to buy a boat on craigslist, wonder if its a scam.

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SpurHunter

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NOT REALLY, I know its a scam, but gonna have some fun with the little scumbag. </p>

So I see a listing for a 2006 loaded pontoon boat with a 60HP 4-stroke Zuci on it. $2900....gee that's doesn't sound the scam alarm doe it? emoLaugh </p>

I figured I would mess with him, see what this scam entails. I will keep the thread updated with new emails. </p>

</p>

Email from me: </p>

"HeyI saw your pontoon on Craigslist, I want it! When can I see it and pay you?"</p>

</p>

Email from him: </p>

"Hello I am Tomas,

Sorry for my delay in response, but currently I work on a drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico and I have been very busy with my work. Anyway, thank you for your interest in buying the PONTOON. The total price for my 2006 LOWE SUNCRUISER BIMINI 210 PONTOON is $2,900. I wanted to keep the PONTOON but I left the city for a better job in Gulf of Mexico, so I decided to sell it. The PONTOON is in showroom condition, no liens; it was never involved in an accident.
So if you are interested please email me back so I can explain you how the transaction will work."
</p>
 
Nah, I figure if somebody is really THAT stupid, they deserve to part with their money. Its so blatently fradulent there can't possibly be people falling for this one can there?
 
Be carefull on these scam deals. They can get info on you pretty easy nowadays. Check out a website called 419eater.com and read about some of the scams they have done against the scammers and some of their advice. There are several other sites to lookup and research before taking on this task. They already have fake information and websites setup before they approach a scammer.

Whatever you decide just be carefull and good luck.
 
joe53 - 9/3/2010 10:15 AM Be carefull on these scam deals. They can get info on you pretty easy nowadays. Check out a website called 419eater.com and read about some of the scams they have done against the scammers and some of their advice. There are several other sites to lookup and research before taking on this task. They already have fake information and websites setup before they approach a scammer. Whatever you decide just be carefull and good luck.
Click to expand...
</p>

Thanks for the info! I signed up so I can get good tips from them. This should be fun. </p>
 
I would flag it anyways just to be safe. It is not always stupidity, but ignorance. I know some people that have no clue about boats or anything outdoors and if they would have seen this it might have appealed to them.

I know a guy that bought a car one time off of ebay and it said the transmission slipped a little, but they had the part that fixed it and it just needed to be put on.
Obviously if you were to have read the whole thing you would have known the seller was lying, but for a person that knows nothing about vehicles would not know the difference between an alternator belt and a "transmission belt".. Yes that is right a transmission belt, he bought the car for 2G's and the transmission did not just slip, it would not even go into gear. Needless to say he was duped.

Just because you know more about something does ot mean other people are stupid, just ignorant on the subject. Pride plays a big role for people asking for help when they do not know something.

I see it all the time in the IT business...
 
ha ha ha thats fun spur,,,i do the same thing to scammers on cars..lol..i told one last week that i had wired him the money and he needed to pick it up quickly...he replied back and said he needed the number and i said "its BR5409" he said thanks and i aint heard a word from him since.lol
 
Gee I am sooooo suprised this came from him. LOL And this supposed boat was listed in Knoxville, TN.





"Before I left the city I had prearranged the deal with eBay Motors so my presence in town isn't necessary. The PONTOON is in their possession in New York, NY ready for delivery. You will have 5 days to test drive and inspect the PONTOON. So if you want to make this deal I need the following information:
Your full name and address
Shipping address (street, city, zip code)
Phone #
Then I will forward them to eBay Motors and I will precede the order. eBay will contact you with all the details that you need to complete this deal and also to see that I am covered by them and that I am legit seller.
Here is how this deal will work:
1. I will forward the details of our transaction to the eBay Buyer Protection.
2. They will process the paperwork and will email you the Payment Invoice and the transaction details.
3. You will have to submit the payment so you can prove that you are a serious buyer, as instructed to one of the eBay agents.
4. The payment will be verified and if everything is OK, eBay will deliver the vehicle to your address on my own cost. The vehicle will be shipped insured to your location with Dependable Auto Shippers.
5. After you receive it, you will have 5 days to inspect and test drive the vehicle (You will receive the PONTOON in 2 days).
6. If you accept the vehicle by confirming to eBay, they will release me the money (if not you will receive the full refund of the amount sent before shipping). They will then FedEx overnight the signed title to you and all the PONTOON documents that you need to register it under your name. If you decide to NOT accept the vehicle for any reason, they will refund your full payment price within 48 hours. They will then make the necessary arrangement to have the vehicle picked back up by the transport company."
 
You should tell them you will be in NY and you want to run by and see it, probably buy it and save them the transportation by towing it yourself...
 
finbully - 9/3/2010 6:22 PM You should tell them you will be in NY and you want to run by and see it, probably buy it and save them the transportation by towing it yourself...
Click to expand...
</p>

That is what I would do. There is one thing you guys may not be considering. People do sell stuff way cheaper than what it is worth just to get rid of it. Too much of a hassle to deal with when you move from your location and no way to transport and nowhere to store.</p>

How i know this ... </p>

1) - MyChevydually was selling for an average of 38K with a loan value of $30,700.00 when I bought it Some of you may have seen it. 82K miles. I bought from Ebay for $23,901.00. 15 K less than it's value (Divorce)</p>

2) - Bought aMercedesfor my son and daughter-n-law. NADA Valued at $11,900.00 Perfect, family owned car, one owner. Wife died and wealthy husband sold to me cash $3,500.00. My Daughter-n-law still driving with never a problem. Seller even had it serviced and new brakes before sale'</p>

3) - My Proline boat was selling on ebay and in listings in coastal states for 30k to 32k. I hate to say how low i paid for it because I may want to sell it on CFF some day. The owner only used it on Lake Lanier. His mother was terminal so owner had to leave Atl. To help his Dad with Mom and to run the Family business. I stole my boat</p>

</p>

It could happen!!!</p>

</p>
 
SpurHunter - 9/3/2010 3:21 PM

Gee I am sooooo suprised this came from him. LOL And this supposed boat was listed in Knoxville, TN.





"Before I left the city I had prearranged the deal with eBay Motors so my presence in town isn't necessary. The PONTOON is in their possession in New York, NY ready for delivery. You will have 5 days to test drive and inspect the PONTOON. So if you want to make this deal I need the following information:
Your full name and address
Shipping address (street, city, zip code)
Phone #
Then I will forward them to eBay Motors and I will precede the order. eBay will contact you with all the details that you need to complete this deal and also to see that I am covered by them and that I am legit seller.
Here is how this deal will work:
1. I will forward the details of our transaction to the eBay Buyer Protection.
2. They will process the paperwork and will email you the Payment Invoice and the transaction details.
3. You will have to submit the payment so you can prove that you are a serious buyer, as instructed to one of the eBay agents.
4. The payment will be verified and if everything is OK, eBay will deliver the vehicle to your address on my own cost. The vehicle will be shipped insured to your location with Dependable Auto Shippers.
5. After you receive it, you will have 5 days to inspect and test drive the vehicle (You will receive the PONTOON in 2 days).
6. If you accept the vehicle by confirming to eBay, they will release me the money (if not you will receive the full refund of the amount sent before shipping). They will then FedEx overnight the signed title to you and all the PONTOON documents that you need to register it under your name. If you decide to NOT accept the vehicle for any reason, they will refund your full payment price within 48 hours. They will then make the necessary arrangement to have the vehicle picked back up by the transport company."
Click to expand...

I had a woman supposedly from indiana tell me the EXACT same thing word for word about a 2003 jeep wrangler x! and you'll never guess the price haha $2900! She said she was selling the jeep for so cheap because it was her sons and he had recently died in iraq and everytime she looked at it she thought of him so she wanted it gone as soon as possible! and of course it was in perfect condition at her house in indiana and she sent me pictures of the jeep and there were palm trees in the background hmm never knew there were palm trees up north?? so i asked to come see it and thats when she sent me this email about how it was in ebays possession now and they would ship it to me! this is funny! i told her i was only 4 hours away from her home and i would be there that afternoon to look at it and never heard another word from her! hmmm......coincidence??? emoScratch go get em spur mess with em good! make him think he's got you in the bag haha! emoScratch emoToast emoApplause
 
If the address is not a P.O. box, I'd consider going up with some folks for a good dose of street justice - but I'll bet it will be a P.O. box - wouldn't you like to stake that out? Maybe that's what I'll do for fun in retirement...
 
c_garren - 9/4/2010 6:22 AM

SpurHunter - 9/3/2010 3:21 PM

Gee I am sooooo suprised this came from him. LOL And this supposed boat was listed in Knoxville, TN.





"Before I left the city I had prearranged the deal with eBay Motors so my presence in town isn't necessary. The PONTOON is in their possession in New York, NY ready for delivery. You will have 5 days to test drive and inspect the PONTOON. So if you want to make this deal I need the following information:
Your full name and address
Shipping address (street, city, zip code)
Phone #
Then I will forward them to eBay Motors and I will precede the order. eBay will contact you with all the details that you need to complete this deal and also to see that I am covered by them and that I am legit seller.
Here is how this deal will work:
1. I will forward the details of our transaction to the eBay Buyer Protection.
2. They will process the paperwork and will email you the Payment Invoice and the transaction details.
3. You will have to submit the payment so you can prove that you are a serious buyer, as instructed to one of the eBay agents.
4. The payment will be verified and if everything is OK, eBay will deliver the vehicle to your address on my own cost. The vehicle will be shipped insured to your location with Dependable Auto Shippers.
5. After you receive it, you will have 5 days to inspect and test drive the vehicle (You will receive the PONTOON in 2 days).
6. If you accept the vehicle by confirming to eBay, they will release me the money (if not you will receive the full refund of the amount sent before shipping). They will then FedEx overnight the signed title to you and all the PONTOON documents that you need to register it under your name. If you decide to NOT accept the vehicle for any reason, they will refund your full payment price within 48 hours. They will then make the necessary arrangement to have the vehicle picked back up by the transport company."
Click to expand...

I had a woman supposedly from indiana tell me the EXACT same thing word for word about a 2003 jeep wrangler x! and you'll never guess the price haha $2900! She said she was selling the jeep for so cheap because it was her sons and he had recently died in iraq and everytime she looked at it she thought of him so she wanted it gone as soon as possible! and of course it was in perfect condition at her house in indiana and she sent me pictures of the jeep and there were palm trees in the background hmm never knew there were palm trees up north?? so i asked to come see it and thats when she sent me this email about how it was in ebays possession now and they would ship it to me! this is funny! i told her i was only 4 hours away from her home and i would be there that afternoon to look at it and never heard another word from her! hmmm......coincidence??? emoScratch go get em spur mess with em good! make him think he's got you in the bag haha! emoScratch emoToast emoApplause
Click to expand...

Word for word on when I was looking for my boat and I found a beautiful and in new condition 2009 Stratus with SI units, and all and more of everything anyone would want.
I got excited and showed it to my wife and we figgered it was a distress sale and it showed a palm tree pic and all the wording above was the same. The whole process and right down to the name of the shipping company.

I didn't give any names and I wasn't able to contact her. It was supposed to be in LA, but in the shipping e-mail, it would ship from Miami, FL.
I told her I could go there as I was planning a fishing trip and see the boat at the same time.
After that no response for 3 weeks and then I got another instructional e-mail from her. I figgered if the 2900 boat was still available then this was a scam!

Play away, but be careful... I wouldn't waste the time.
Report and move on
Good luck with the boat hunt, Spur emoCool
 
These scams originate out of mainly Nigeria. There are dozens of them on craigslist and ebay. They also do secret shopper scams as well as a dozen others.

The website I sent Spur is entertaining. Some of the reverse scams that are done are down right funny.

The old saying goes if it is too good to be true....

But there are some bargains to be had out there. Just use good judgement.
 

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