Selling boat - unusual offers

[Adetheheat]

I've got a boat for sale in southern England for 30k. So big money for most people. I've got offers from a guy in Northern Ireland (so a very long way away) offering to buy without us meeting first or him seeing it.
Sounds like a scam? So how does the scam (if it is one) pan out? What happens next?

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Definitely. Classic opener, tell him to stick it where the sun don’t shine.

 

[ash2020]

I've got a boat for sale in southern England for 30k. So big money for most people. I've got offers from a guy in Northern Ireland (so a very long way away) offering to buy without us meeting first or him seeing it.
Sounds like a scam? So how does the scam (if it is one) pan out? What happens next?

It would be quite interesting to see what happens next. What sometimes happens is that they say they will make an escrow payment, meaning the money is held by a third party company, which sounds legit. Then they get the boat shipped and when you try and release the payment, lo and behold the company has disappeared.

 

[bignick]

Perfect. tell him that you will engage with a broker to handle the sale and ask for his full contact details so that you can get your broker to contact him.

 

[Zing]

I've got a boat for sale in southern England for 30k. So big money for most people. I've got offers from a guy in Northern Ireland (so a very long way away) offering to buy without us meeting first or him seeing it.
Sounds like a scam? So how does the scam (if it is one) pan out? What happens next?

What’s the problem? No money, no boat.

 

[penfold]

Depends, there's buying sight unseen and then there's the jackanory nonsense with for example the buyer sending you a rubber cheque for the asking price plus the 'shipping fees' and you have to pay the 'shipper', who vanishes with your cash before the cheque reaches escape velocity.

 

[Bouba]

If you have offered the boat nationally then don’t be surprised if you get offers nationally....£30 k is a lot of money...but it can be on the cusp of not worth flying down to see it or even getting a survey and just take a punt. You just need to proceed with caution....be alert to phishing....and keep the boat for sale....don’t get to a position where you start to get desperate for the sale to go ahead...that’s when you make mistakes

 

[KevinV]

Good boats sell fast, so it's not entirely implausible, but I would proceed with the utmost caution.

If his mate just happens to be down your way, so he could trailer it off, oh, and the money should clear tomorrow....

 

[William_H]

This kind of scam has been spoken of on this forum before. Buyer transfers money to your bank. Often too much or then finds a reason for you to return by transfer some of the money. Only after doing so you find that the original money transfer has been rescinded. One way to be certain would be to put money in an account with little in it. When it is transfered withdraw it immediately as cash or similar secure transfer. ie talk to the bank. Beware some credit card payments can be rescinded by payer after the deal.
Our yacht club manager was scammed when he took a large credit card payment for a function. He was asked to provide money from that payment to individuals for travel. Which he did. (foolishly) Only to find he had paid other people on a payment that was recalled (rescinded) by the scammer.
Don't release any money to anyone from payment for any reason. ol'will

 

[fisherman]

Question is, how long after payment can it be taken back or voided?

 

[wonkywinch]

What site are you advertising on? Some attract more scammers than others, eg on Gumtree, I get a scammer reply to almost every ad I place.

I wouldn't even enter into dialogue.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

Question is, how long after payment can it be taken back or voided?

Longer than most people think. A payment can appear to have been cleared and then be rescinded; I forget the details, but it's connected with international transfers.

Basically, this smells of a well-known scam, and the OP should proceed with the utmost caution, if at all. I'd ask the bank for their advice as to how to proceed so that the OP is protected at all stages of the transaction. There are forms of transfer that can't be rescinded; they are usually used for house purchase - the bank willl advise.

 

[ChromeDome]

Ignore. Unless you feel like playing along and arm yourself properly (and e.g. feed him a bunch of useless details and see if he even detects your act). Ask how he plan to manage the EU import thing.

If he seems suspicious and his identity cannot be confirmed by any kind of internet search, he must be considered a crook until he provides proof of his existence and financial ability.

 

[garymalmgren]

RE: I've got offers from a guy in Northern Ireland (so a very long way away) offering to buy without us meeting first or him seeing it.

If you have posted good photographs and detailed description of a well known boat, I can see someone wanting it.
So I say proceed with caution.
More information and correspondence from the potential buyer will clarify the matter.

gary

 

[Gsailor]

If all money is transferred to your bank account, it can not be taken bank as far as I know in the uk. I do not know if the same is applicable to international payments.

I sold a vehicle for nearly £9k
Checked the transfer was complete, moved the money to another of my accounts and then handed over the vehicle some time later.

Summary: make sure you have the money, move it to another account, hand boat and docs over - am I missing something?

I've got a boat for sale in southern England for 30k. So big money for most people. I've got offers from a guy in Northern Ireland (so a very long way away) offering to buy without us meeting first or him seeing it.
Sounds like a scam? So how does the scam (if it is one) pan out? What happens next?

If they make a payment in full into your account my understanding is that it can not be reversed.
I would move the money away to another account for double safety.

It is then up to them to take the boat.

If storage fees apply, ensure paperwork transfer is in their name. If they fail to take boat, they accumulate fees.

Am I wrong in any of that?

 

[ChromeDome]

If the buyer is equally cautious, he won't pay upfront.


I've bought boats, in private homes, in other countries by telling them in advance that I would collect money from a bank if we agreed.
The Admiral stayed and was offered tea while I left and came back with cash.

The money had been in the car's safe all along

Two boats from well-known UK brokers were paid by bank-to-bank transfer. One of them in two parts (broker's suggestion), the last part when they sent a photo of the boat leaving their premises.

 

[penfold]

Ignore. Unless you feel like playing along and arm yourself properly (and e.g. feed him a bunch of useless details and see if he even detects your act). Ask how he plan to manage the EU import thing.

If he seems suspicious and his identity cannot be confirmed by any kind of internet search, he must be considered a crook until he provides proof of his existence and financial ability.

Ulster is in the UK, for the moment at least.

 

[ChromeDome]

Ulster is in the UK, for the moment at least.

Yes, but if it's a scammer from the other side of the globe, the answer or lack thereof may reveal something. Even Europeans struggle with the matter.

 

[Refueler]

Ignore. Unless you feel like playing along and arm yourself properly (and e.g. feed him a bunch of useless details and see if he even detects your act). Ask how he plan to manage the EU import thing.

If he seems suspicious and his identity cannot be confirmed by any kind of internet search, he must be considered a crook until he provides proof of his existence and financial ability.

EU Import ? - Its Northern Ireland. Last I read - NI was still part of UK.

Posted before reading next posts !

 

[Refueler]

Yes, but if it's a scammer from the other side of the globe, the answer or lack thereof may reveal something. Even Europeans struggle with the matter.

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