Boat Scam?

[SeanPC]

Received a call from my dealership today asking me if I recently sold by boat, which I haven’t. Initially thought maybe there was a recall or paperwork that needed to be sorted out. I was wrong.

She told me they received a phone call from a lady (buyer’s agent) who works for the buyer and is helping the buyer locate the Title for a boat he just bought in Florida. The buyer’s agent said she had a bill of sale with a VIN (guessing HIN) that matched the year, manufacturer, model and VIN of my boat and purchase price of $25K but the seller didn’t have the Title when it was purchased. The lady at my dealership said the agent seemed very genuine and thought she was really trying to help the buyer figure out what was going on and get ahold of the title.

My boat is kept in storage offsite so as she’s explaining all of this, I realized I hadn’t checked on my boat in a week or so and that’s more than enough time for someone to pop the lock and tow it from Texas to Florida (or wherever the seller might be). Jumped in my truck and headed to storage facility. Pulled in, the lock was still on the storage unit so started to breathe a little easier. Opened the door and she was in her spot where she should be.

One more important tidbit, the buyer’s agent to my dealership the coast guard was going to inspect the boat and pull the VIN (from a secret location on the boat) to made sure it matched. If that’s true, there must be a physical boat in possession of the buyer. I’ve heard of people being scammed by sending money for a vehicle they’ve never seen in person and the seller promising delivery and it never actually being delivered.

On the way back from storage trying to figure out what might be going on.

1. Honest mistake - VIN could be off by a digit, makes sense from similar make/model but 25K price isn’t right unless it was salvaged or something.
   
   
2. Complete scam where a boat was bought and altered the VIN to match my boat?
   
   
3. Boat isn’t actually in buyer’s possession and was scammed out of $25K
   
   
4. Completely made up story from buyer’s agent/buyer and is some sort of phishing scam. Called the dealer to get my info?
   
   
5. Other?
   

 

[Neutron]

If thats a scam its a new one. I have seen plenty and heard of others getting scam calls also but nothing that detailed

 

[Rod5]

Wow that's a new one to me too... Please keep us posted if any new developments arise.

Could be a pending insurance fraudulent claim in the works or someone's credit fraud in the works. Meaning used boat loan out on your Vin...

 

[WildBillF1]

Weird stuff! I would ask your dealership to provide you with the agent's phone number, then make the call to sort things out.

 

[Drift Away]

I know when i left nc to move here to FL toasted my pontoon boat on Craigslist and a few other places. I got probably 10 or 15 emails and text messages four people pretty much with the same kind of story that they worked in an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico or were in the military and deployed and their "shipping agent" would be handling the transaction and they even said that they would pay a few dollars more than my asking price. After about the 5th phone call I had start having a little fun with them and kept raising the price every time I talk to them. This is a new high end scam

 

[Neutron]

I know when i left nc to move here to FL toasted my pontoon boat on Craigslist and a few other places. I got probably 10 or 15 emails and text messages four people pretty much with the same kind of story that they worked in an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico or were in the military and deployed and their "shipping agent" would be handling the transaction and they even said that they would pay a few dollars more than my asking price. After about the 5th phone call I had start having a little fun with them and kept raising the price every time I talk to them. This is a new high end scam

Any time I sold something on Craigslist i got those emails all the time

 

[Mainah]

That seems elaborate calling the right dealer out of the blue. Glad your boat is still there. The ones that chap my a$$ are the ones saying they are deployed military. I would like to deploy whoever that is to the same spot they are claiming they are deployed too and see how quick they crap themselves.

 

[itsdgm]

Did your dealership get any contact info? Very strange. Doesn't make sense as to why anybody would call your particular dealership looking for title info on your boat.

PS. Is there any chance that your dealership disclosed where you store the boat? Does your dealership even know that info?

 

[swatski]

She told me they received a phone call from a lady (buyer’s agent) who works for the buyer and is helping the buyer locate the Title for a boat he just bought in Florida. The buyer’s agent said she had a bill of sale with a VIN (guessing HIN) that matched the year, manufacturer, model and VIN of my boat and purchase price of $25K but the seller didn’t have the Title when it was purchased. The lady at my dealership said the agent seemed very genuine and thought she was really trying to help the buyer figure out what was going on and get ahold of the title.

I would have a serious talk with the dealer. Key words: "Buyers agent", and 25k selling price for a 2016 242LS should had been more than enough to trigger immediate reaction to treat this as a (most likely) scam. I would worry those motherless people calling your dealer are phishing for your personal information, they already have your boat's reg and VIN. I can't figure out exactly what they are doing, but it is pretty obvious that someone is trying to "sell" your boat for you.
In the past, I have run into a million scumbags but they always come up with something new. Last year was my worst case costing me lost opportunities from real buyers and a headache, and we actually talked to the authorities about one particular "buyer" ring, I forgot some of the detail now, will have to talk to my wife in the morning tomorrow as she was handling this. (she is a federal investigator herself)
For reasons I do not recall now the agency that deals with internet and interstate fraud like that is the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. When you contact them, they may be aware of the nature of the scheme, or they may not. But at any rate, I would say it does not hurt to register your complaint:

"From: CISCFCSExternal@uspis.gov
Sent: Tuesday, June 14, 2016 2:52 PM
To: XXXXXX
Subject: In Response To Your Mail Fraud Report C#1791288


Thank you for contacting the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The information you provided has been entered into our national Fraud Complaint System. Your reference number is C#1791288. If we need more information, you will be contacted directly. Please hold on to any original documents related to your complaint.
Please note that Postal Inspectors do not have the authority to ensure that your losses are refunded.
We may share the information you provided with other agencies when there is a possible violation within their jurisdiction.
In the future, if you have complaints about mail fraud or mail theft, you can visit our website, http://postalinspectors.uspis.gov, to file a complaint online.

United States Postal Inspection Service

This is a system-generated email message. Please do not reply to this message."

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[bronze_10]

most often these are called Nigerian scams... but it could be from any country. It's interesting they have your exact vin... but i guess they could have foud that anywhere. It sounds like scammed some poor guy out of all or hopefully part of the money for the boat they thought they were buying. Very rarely do we fine actual product with altered vin or hull numbers anymore... Its easier to convince someone to wire them money and then disappear. Everything happens behind a keyboard. Anytime i post anything on craigslist i directly address the scammers......... If you are a scammer I am not your target... face to face transactions only!.. I never have a problem after that.

 

[swatski]

@SeanPC the federal agency that gets involved is FTC. However, they are unlikely to do anything unless the actual crime occurred. The USPIS maybe more proactive if any mailing is involved.

Alos, boattrader has updated their site:
http://www.boattrader.com/security

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[Ziess21]

The only thing that strikes me as concerning is that she knew where the boat was originally sold. How did she get that info? She did not know your name or personal info so it may have indeed been a scam. Seems like she was trying to get your personal details so she could sign fraudulently on a (more than likely fraudulent) title... Kuddos to your dealer reaching out to you to check.

I'd try and follow up with the "agent" if you can and see what's going on.

 

[bronze_10]

Or you could call your dealer and say.... did u sell me a stolen boat? U better find out what's going on... lol

 

[SeanPC]

Thanks for all the suggestions and helpful info! Certainly made for an interesting day trying to figure out what was going on. @swatski the dealer called me because it was very suspicious and didn't release any of my personal information but I will be changing passwords and closely monitoring my accounts. Luckily work just picked up a credit report monitoring service which I'll be singing up for today.

 

[Zarrella]

I can't imagine that the Coast Guard knows of a "secret location" for a VIN ....and we don't! LOL

 

[PEARCE]

I got either a text or email scammer last year when I was trying to sell our Yamaha on Boattrader. It was one of those wire the money and a shipping company would come get it since the buyer was diployed kind of scams. I responded with I will sell this boat only after a sea trial and then a face to face exchange of money. They disappeared after that.