Summerborn Boats Ltd - Too good to be true?

[CLB]

I know where I stand, but feel free to make up your own mind. Just be very, very careful if you are thinking of sending them money for a boat you can't view.

http://Summerbornboats.co.uk

A friend of mine asked my opinion after an email exchange that had 'scam' written all over it.
It's not the first boat sales website like this that I have seen, and it won't be the last.

Just remember the saying, if it sounds too good to be true...........

 

[jrudge]

The company is dormant and they have a Willams 325 probably worth £10k for £4k.

What makes you think you can see the boats?

They claim they own all the stock, but given the company is dormant this is not that likely!

 

[CLB]

What makes you think you can see the boats?

I assume you meant can't. The email trail I was shown said that the boats are locked up and can't be viewed.

 

[jrudge]

It seems a rip off of Apex Marine

https://apexmarine.net.au/2017/08/stingray-195lr-bowrider-2006/

https://www.summerbornboats.co.uk/listings/2006-stingray-195lr/

 

[Croftie]

Domain name:
summerbornboats.co.uk

Relevant dates:
Registered on: 25-Sep-2018

Site VERY new :ambivalence:

 

[longjohnsilver]

Same format and adverts as used by other scam organisations.

Complete scam.

 

[sarabande]

Companies House consider Summerborn to be a dormant company.


Perhaps a call to Trading Standards, for advice

 

[CLB]

What can be done though? My fiend is fairly new to boat buying and was suckered in, up to a point. Someone just a little less wary could easily be convinced to send cash. It was only the line about not seeing the boat, but don't worry you'll have a couple of days to reject it after we deliver it and we will send you a full refund, that made him refer it to me. I have been known to buy the odd boat or five, but not everyone has a serial boat buyer to call upon for advice

 

[[2068]]

It looks to have only ever been a dormant company.
My guess is that it was started with the intention of being a boat business of some sort, but plans never materialized.
Now most likely the name has been hijacked by the bad people fronted by a dodgy web site.

 

[Croftie]

What can be done though?

Very little, looks like the wesite resolves to a Russian server so good luck getting help there, Nominet "could" make the site none visible by removing he nameservers but unlikely to act without very strong reasons

 

[Anders_P42]

Strange, company 14 years old but no cash or assets reported since at least 2010. They must be paying Companies House something to avoid being struck off? Director Gary Joseph been appointed since it was incorporated.

https://companycheck.co.uk/company/05070464/SUMMERBORN-BOATS-LIMITED/financials#key-financials

 

[Croftie]

Strange, company 14 years old but no cash or assets reported since at least 2010. They must be paying Companies House something to avoid being struck off? Director Gary Joseph been appointed since it was incorporated.

https://companycheck.co.uk/company/05070464/SUMMERBORN-BOATS-LIMITED/financials#key-financials

My guess is they have nothing to do with the new website, just have had their name hijacked to get credability

 

[Croftie]

https://www.summerbornboats.co.uk/
Summerborn Boats Ltd is a well established privately owned company based in Worcestershire and have been trading since 2004.

All of the boats which we sell are owned by ourselves, so you can have peace of mind in the fact that we have thought the boat suitable for us to purchase. This also means that our boats are generally cheaper than from most other boat sellers because there are no comission / brokerage fees included.

https://www.neptuneboatsales.co.uk/
Neptune Boat Sales Ltd is a well established privately owned company based in South East Cornwall and have been trading since 2006.

All of the boats which we sell are owned by ourselves, so you can have peace of mind in the fact that we have thought the boat suitable for us to purchase. This also means that our boats are generally cheaper than from most other boat sellers because there are no comission / brokerage fees included.

Slight similarity there.......

 

[Anders_P42]

He's got a few companies, this one is doing slightly better. Like you scammer probably found a similar company name and set up website.

https://companycheck.co.uk/company/05954065/MALCO-HOLDINGS-LIMITED/financials#key-financials

 

[mlines]

Some of the boat pictures have been stolen directly from a legitimate broker website, I know because I can see my son in the pictures! I will not name the company here as they are an innocent party and I do not want their name to appear when googling "scam" which is what would happen to any company identified in this thread.

 

[RobBradley]

Website html... lol

<meta name="generator" content="Powered by Visual Composer - drag and drop page builder for WordPress.">
<meta name="generator" content="Powered by Slider Revolution 5.4.1 - responsive, Mobile-Friendly Slider Plugin for WordPress with comfortable drag and drop interface.">

That alone puts me off.....! Drag and fecking drop.....

 

[Bigplumbs]

A few years ago Boats and outboards was full of adds like those

 

[LittleSister]

Summerbourne Boats Ltd.

Yesterdayborn customers?

 

[oldgit]

Popping the postcode into Googlemapsand streetview can frequently be helpful if you are considering a purchase of any sort which involves a lot of time or effort to see the goods concerned !.
Can speak volumes about any seller.

DE13 7EL

 

[[2068]]

Popping the postcode into Googlemapsand streetview can frequently be helpful if you are considering a purchase of any sort which involves a lot of time or effort to see the goods concerned !.
Can speak volumes about any seller.

DE13 7EL

Yes, that speaks volumes about who the seller is not.
Reasonably smart Skoda on a residential driveway plus an 0844 number to call = a director of the company whose identity has most likely been hijacked.