SCAM?

[boostr]

Was looking around for a used boat, and came across  a  white 2004 18' Tracker Avalanche, all aluminum with a Mercury 150 XR6(like the one below except it has a single console), a Minnkota 70# wireless trolling motor, looks like it still has the origina electronics at the console and bow. The way the guy expains it its excellent condition, runs great, always garage kept, and he's getting rid of it because of medical reasons. The pictures look great. He was asking 6500.00 for it, which is below NADA value if it is in great shape. So I contact this guy and it took a day to respond. He tells me it's still for sale, and he dropped it to 4,000.00 the lowest he will go. I emailed him back today asking why he dropped the price, and if there is something wrong with the boat. I'm still waiting for a response. This place is about 2 and half hours away, and I don't feel like going down there and find out it's B.S. So what do you guys think?

 

[iabass8]

Making a 2 1/2 hour trip when buying a used boat is part of the game. You can't know for sure unless you personally go down there. You could have backed into a super deal. Make sure he has the title in hand prior to leaving. If he can't get it for some strange reason I would pass. If he has the title and there's no lien against it, I would go check it out. I would find a local Merc mechanic that will check the engine over for you if you aren't familar /w it. The XR6 is a great motor but if it's just say unused a lot, the fuel lines, filters, plugs etc probably haven't been changed/replaced and that will cause you issues. 

 

[Avalonjohn44]

Meet him at the lake, have him run you around for a few hours. Pay for gas. Then say you need a mechanic to look it over. It will take a few days, but if it checks out, good for you... Remember, it's your money, you call the shots. If he balks, walk away, there will be other deals.

[riverbasser]

If it sounds to good to be true it probably is. I would be very skeptical and wouldn't drive that far without a lengthy conversation on the phone to feel the guy out.

[Way2slow]

It would definitely be time for a road trip if I was buying it.

Just make sure it is going to be available for you to actually drive away with it and he has all the paper work in order so when the money goes in his hand, all titles are signed over to you and in your hands and the boat it hooked to your vehicle. 

If he comes up with an excuse that's it's not available to view or there is some reason he can't close the deal when you show up with the money, back away from it, it's probably a scam.  Most scams, when you try nailing the deal down in person, so you can look at and drive away with the boat, they come up with excuses for why that can't happen right then.

[boostr]

Great tips, I'm still waiting on his response. I'm gonna have to ask him if he has the titles and what not.

I'm also looking at a 2012 Tracker Targa V18. The guy is asking $7500. It has a Mercury 150 4S, Minnkota 70# trolling motor on it, some nice electronics and bimini top.... Heres the issue it has som damage on the port side above the water line right below the gunwal. looks like he got Tboned or rubbed a dock real hard. He mentioned he still used it that way for a while.The damage doesn't look horendous, it's right below the gunwal. It looks repairable. He also mentioned it might need an alternator, and some brakes eventually.  You guys think that's too much work for that price, or don't even mess with it.

[boostr]

Oh yeah, definetly a scam. I seen somebody else on here questioning the same thing a while back. Here the response from the Email I sent earlier. 

harry jens	5:58 PM (2 hours ago)
to me

 

 

 

 

 

Hi,
This boat has absolutely no problems and the interior is like new, no accidents.All power and optional equipments are working perfectly.
The boat is with me in Helena,MT at the shipping company warehouse, inspected and ready to be delivered to its buyer with all the documents, this company will help me with the shipping and payment process.
I am letting it go with shipping and handling included. Because I work a lot and I don't have free time, I am not able to close the deal myself and I want to use a professional third party company to handle the sale. This way we are both protected.
Let me know if you're interested and if you have questions.
Thank You

 

[Ski213]

Glad you didn't get taken. Certainly sounds shady. For me to be comfortable with a transaction like that I'd have to hire an attorney and that's not something you should have to do to buy a boat. 

Its crazy to me that these scams exist. Hard to trust anybody anymore. 

[fisherrw]

You gotta be carful these days lots of people will look to rip you off

[Avalonjohn44]

Pretty certain the seller is a nigerian prince.

[J Francho]

This scam has been all over the internet for at least two or three years.

[Fishes in trees]

That is too bad - the Avalanche was an incredible boat - ahead of its time, really.  Guys who have them seldom sell them.  That being said, I would probably road trip to find out in person.

[tcbass]

On 10/20/2016 at 7:27 PM, boostr said:

Oh yeah, definetly a scam. I seen somebody else on here questioning the same thing a while back. Here the response from the Email I sent earlier. 

harry jens	5:58 PM (2 hours ago)
to me

 

 

 

 

 

Hi,
This boat has absolutely no problems and the interior is like new, no accidents.All power and optional equipments are working perfectly.
The boat is with me in Helena,MT at the shipping company warehouse, inspected and ready to be delivered to its buyer with all the documents, this company will help me with the shipping and payment process.
I am letting it go with shipping and handling included. Because I work a lot and I don't have free time, I am not able to close the deal myself and I want to use a professional third party company to handle the sale. This way we are both protected.
Let me know if you're interested and if you have questions.
Thank You

 

Yep, scam. 

 

Got a similar reply on one who was being sold by the widow and she just didn't want to deal with it. 

[WIGuide]

If you guys are finding these on craigslist, you'll probably notice a pattern. Many of these ads only have an email as contact information. Not listing a phone number is red flag #1. That's not saying that all ads without a phone number aren't legit, but if they don't have one e-mail them asking for a phone number. It's a lot easier to read the person to help gauge the condition of the boat just based on what is said. 

[buzzed bait]

helena, mt is a beautiful place...  would be a nice scenic 2.5 hour ride, i mean 2.5 days from NJ  

[boostr]

5 hours ago, WIGuide said:

If you guys are finding these on craigslist, you'll probably notice a pattern. Many of these ads only have an email as contact information. Not listing a phone number is red flag #1. That's not saying that all ads without a phone number aren't legit, but if they don't have one e-mail them asking for a phone number. It's a lot easier to read the person to help gauge the condition of the boat just based on what is said. 

This one did have a phone #, and Email.

3 hours ago, buzzed bait said:

helena, mt is a beautiful place...  would be a nice scenic 2.5 hour ride, i mean 2.5 days from NJ  

It was supposedly in  Philadelphia maybe a 1.5 hr drive dependent on traffic. The registration on the boat showed North Carolina, and that's when I started thinking scam, but thought to myself you never know.

[J Francho]

Actually, most legit CL ads I've successfully been able to make deals with do not have a phone listed.  You email them privately, and they send you a tel.#.

[boostr]

I'm glad I came across this scam thru this forum before, which totally helped me out.  Even if it wasn't a scam, that would of been way to much work for me to even bother getting that boat. It wouldn't of been a deal anymore with all the logistics involved.

I'm still hunting. See if I can find a treasure like @WIGuide did. I see a few out there, but they are asking some crazy money especially the R series from the early 90s.

[WIGuide]

18 minutes ago, J Francho said:

Actually, most legit CL ads I've successfully been able to make deals with do not have a phone listed.  You email them privately, and they send you a tel.#.

I'm not saying it's not possible to find deals without. My dad is basically addicted to craigslist, the majority of scams he finds do not have a number to begin with and when you email them to get one they won't give you a phone #. In your case you did eventually get one. I think it has to do with the fact that the scammers aren't local so if they give you their phone number and you do an area code check and find it's from halfway across the country, you'll know it's not legit. 

 

Hopefully @boostr will find a good deal soon and can avoid any more scams he may run across!

[J Francho]

9 minutes ago, WIGuide said:

I think it has to do with the fact that the scammers aren't local so if they give you their phone number and you do an area code check and find it's from halfway across the country, you'll know it's not legit.

Generally, I just look at the address.  I ask to see the item before considering purchase.  Can't see it any differently whether buying a boat or bow-tie.  Here's how a CL sale goes down: send an email asking if they still have it.  If yes, then when can I look at it, and decide to buy. You get a addy and time frame to meet.  It's never gotten that far and not been legit.

[Crappiebasser]

The TX registration should be a red flag if you're in NJ. I buy older boats that need some work and fix them up over the winter to sell in the spring. If the registration is out of state I don't even contact them. I also ask them to call me first email. If they refuse I move on.

[DelcoSol]

Just saw the ad on Philly Craig's list. Absolutely a scam. 

[Glenn]

This scam again?  Been around for a few years now.  I guess it's still taking in suckers.