Fraud Awareness Tips
for Boat Sellers
By myBoat.com Staff Writers
Palm Harbor, FL -- Selling a boat to
a buyer who found your boat advertised on-line is similar to selling anything
else through a classified ad or other source. When selling a boat to someone
who found you on myBoat.com, use your best judgment.
Confirm
Contact Information
Be
particularly wary of buyers willing to purchase your boat sight-unseen. Always
verify the buyer's street address and phone number. Zip codes, area codes, and
addresses should match. Be especially cautious if the buyer is located
overseas.
Secure
payment first
Do
not release to your boat until you have payment in hand at the agreed upon
price.
Verify
Payment is Genuine
Before
you deposit a certified check, cashier's check, money order, or personal check,
verify authenticity with the issuing bank - NOT JUST YOUR BANK. Make sure the
account contains sufficient funds and the issuing bank guarantees payment on
the check. The check has not cleared just because your bank has accepted it and
credited the funds to your account. It may take a week or more for the check to
clear.
Beware
of Overpayment and Other Complicated Payment Schemes
Don't
agree to any plan where the buyer asks to send a check for more than the sale
price and requests that the seller refund the difference. And be suspicious of
any buyer who proposes making payment through a friend or agent of the buyer.