Private boat sale.

gary111160

gary111160

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25 May 2006
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244
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Boat in Port Dinorwic, North wales
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Put my Bayline 2855 1997 on websites last week. Had in enquirey from N Cyprus saying very interested and wants to make an offer subject to shipping costs.

Call me suspicious but are there any cons going on that start like this. can't see the sense in shipping a boat like this all that way must be cheaper to buy in own Country. He says no decent boats around! hence looking in UK.

Assuming this comes to something and is genuine how would I handle payment to ensure I have cleared funds before release of boat and likewise buyer would need to be certain his funds were safe before he took delivery. Should I use a broker to handle that side of things? Oh, the chap does'nt want to view the boat. I do have a June 06 survey though and have spent £4k since so she is 100%. All seems a little odd. What are your thoughts? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Gary
 
Friend of mine bought a Contessa 32 in Portugal a few years ago. Didnt view it, but had a survey done.

After buying it, I think he wished he had viewed it!
 
Don't even waste any more time on this. And getting a broker involved in this deal would probably guearentee that you would loose your boat/money.
 
Ha, I had exactly the same thing a year ago when I put my Searay up on B&O. A girl called the next day from Greece 'on behalf of her father, who was ill'. Told them to come & view, bring sterling cash - All they wanted was my bank details 'to deposit funds'. End of story.
 
Gary -

balance of probabilities suggests scam as others have put - rather definitley! Although I am not sure about money laundering through the route of buying cheap used baylinners and transporting them halfway around the world.......... /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

[ QUOTE ]
how would I handle payment to ensure I have cleared funds before release of boat and likewise buyer would need to be certain his funds were safe before he took delivery.

[/ QUOTE ]

here you are confusing your considerations with the third party - your question has only to consider the issue of how do you ensure you have cleared funds with no comeback - everything else is secondary ie not your problem!

Overall the potential hassle in handling the sale this way would make me decline - although an imp in me would ask them to suggest in writing how the purchase might take place (using a new disposable email address for yourself of course).
 
well, not exactly clear what the scam might be at this stage.
Cant hurt to go a bit further, but i d expect him to start asking for detailed pictures of the whole boat if he doesnt want to view it. And Id expect him to ask for the survey. I can only see a risk over the payment; talk to you bank-that is what they do for a business, after all.; there are plenty of risk free ways to do this, and just stipulate thats the only form of funds transfer you will accept. Anyway, he hasnt made an offer yet has he! Still, lets guess at £4k or so for shipping, maybe more. does that make any sense in relation to the value of the boat?
 
I had contact from someone from Cyprus when I was selling my car a few years ago prior to moving to Canada. Frankly the chances of it being a scam were too great to even think about getting involved. I politely declined their offer!
 
Yes he asked for full spec and photo's. which I've sent. He has asked all the right questions up till now, and he has been told in no uncertain way that the boat does'nt move till I have cleared funds. It may be genuine, just thought I would get the collective thoughts of the Forum. Thanks again.

Gary
 
The usual 'scam' with overseas buyers is: Boat/ car is bought sight unseen, to be 'shipped' by the buyers 'agent' in UK. The buyer sends a cheque with the additional 'shipping fee' added, asking the seller to pay the shipping agents' account when he collects the boat. The Bank accepts the cheque and clears the funds. Boat disappears overseas with legitimate paperwork, receipts etc either on a low loader or delivery crew.

The bank then comes back maybe a couple of weeks later, to the seller to inform him that they have now presented the overseas cheque and it has bounced, and returned unpaid, so the seller now has a boat + shipping cost sized hole in his bank account. And no boat. And no comeback.

The 'buyer' on the other hand acquires the boat with all its paperwork in order giving him undisputable legal title to it, and even shipped out to him at sellers cost!

It exploits a loophole in the International banking system for which IMHO the banks ought to be legally liable, but of course are not!

Sadly a number of people have lost out very heavily to this scam.

Cash? That will do nicely, thank you sir.....

Another variation that happened to someone I know was to receive a visit from the Police: "Good afternoon sir, is that your 4x4 parked outside? It is? are you planning to go abroad in it shortly? No? Then we advise you to put it somewhere secure and out of site until next thursday, as it is booked on the 8am ferry to Calais that day.....
 
Watch out for supposed "overpayment" due to "error in raising bank draft", etc. Followed by request to refund the difference. They cash your payment immediately (irrevocably), while your bank eventually returns theirs unpaid.

I'm not saying this will happen, just that it might. If you want to go ahead, get your bank to suggest a bulletproof method of payment that they can't later return. Do your homework first, and do not be afraid to sit on their payment until you are sure!

Best of luck.
 
Advertised my aircraft (to help pay for my boating), received this:-

'Hello ,
Thanks for the mail, I will want you to know that i am okay with the price £6500 and condition of the aircraft.Part payment of the aircraft will proceed as soon as you provide me the following details:(Full name on cheque,Contact address and phone numbers)
I will want you to know that i will be travelling out of the country very soon and my agent will be in charge of the aircraft before i am back, i will send you a cheque for £3500 as part payment and as soon as the cheque clears in your account you will help me to transfer £2500 to my agent that will come for the recommendation and viewing of the aircraft and you will hold £1000 with you,so as for you to know that i am really interested in the aircraft.
The money you will be sending to them is meant for their accomodation and transportation for the time they are going to use in UK for the viewing and all neccesities involved,and as soon as they confirm to me that the aircraft is worthy of the price,then the balance payment will be brought to you and the shipping will commence immediately.
Please e-mail me the neccessary data asked for the payment as soon as possible if this method of payment is okay by you,so that the cheque will be sent to you immediately.I Will be very happy and glad if this transaction moves well.Thanks
Regards
Jim
NB: I will want you to consider the aircraft sold to me and to let you know that even if my agents are not okay with the conditions,the £1000 is not refundable,so keep you mind at about that.I am currently in UK, You can call me on +447031851317. '

Replied - Bankers Draft or cash, nothing heard since.

They are all a variation on a theme.
 
Nah - don't get involved. Remember the old adage - "if it looks too good to be true, then it probably is".

I mean, who the hell is going to buy a boat unseen? If you want to test the water with this buyer (excuse the pun) then reply with "cash or bankers draft" will do nicely. And I would even be suspicious of a banker's draft.
 
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