Boat Trader Online scam alert?

[EarestTBass]

I bought a boat that I had found listed on the Boat Trader Online site. The site has a section to help buyers & sellers & in this section they've got an article about cashier check scams. In big bright red letters..."Most fraud buyers use counterfeit cashier’s checks and the bank has 30 days to verify the check."

So hence my dilemma....
I paid for this boat with a cashiers check & picked up the boat over two weeks ago & I've yet to get any title..boat or trailer. The seller keeps repeating the Boattraderonline article about scams.... & I've got a boat that just sits in the back yard.

Just wondering if anybody else has every dealt with this kind of thing?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Boat Trader Online scam alert?

if it has current licenses, and stickers i'd go ahead and use it.

 

[bjcsc]

Re: Boat Trader Online scam alert?

Tough situation, but understandable from the sellers viewpoint. They have no way to determine if you're one of the bad guys or not. Call the bank that issued the cashier's check and see if it has cleared. If it has, get documentation from them showing it has and see if that will satisfy the seller.

 

[studlymandingo]

Re: Boat Trader Online scam alert?

I do investments in Real Estate, we give and receive cashiers checks on a regular basis. The receipient of the check can call the issuing bank to verify the validity of the check. Usually the response is instantaneous, but can take 24 hours; not a month however.

 

[rottenray6402]

Re: Boat Trader Online scam alert?

What Studly said, the sellers bank could contact the bank that issued the check and have them "memo post" the funds in the account in the amount of the check if it hasn't cleared yet. Also like tashasdaddy said, if it has current registration I would go ahead and use it! 8)

 

[Rancherlee]

Re: Boat Trader Online scam alert?

does your state require a title? does his state require a title? In minnesota where I live the only thing that requires a title is the trailer. For a boat you just walk in saying you need register and liscense for your boat (NONE needed for the motor) and they give you one, no title needed.

 

[tommays]

Re: Boat Trader Online scam alert?

Any check should clear in 7 working days

Tommays

 

[roscoe]

Re: Boat Trader Online scam alert?

Best way to handle things is with cash. Or if the amount is too big to safely carry, meet the seller at a bank and have the money transferred electronically.

Do you have a receipt, or anything?
Have you seen the title?
Are you sure the seller actually owned the boat?
Are there liens on the boat?

I'd be camping out at the boats location till it was handed over to me.

I have on occasion, taken photos of the seller/buyer, their vehicle plates, and their house.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Boat Trader Online scam alert?

I have gone on with current registration, taking in it's place copies of the transaction showing that it is a new purchase. You can always plead your case; like it's a boat, officer sir; I just wanted to go out and have some fun...kind of thing.....if you get stopped. I have done it several times and no one paid me any nevermind. d

Mark

 

[crunch]

Re: Boat Trader Online scam alert?

I bought a boat that I had found listed on the Boat Trader Online site. The site has a section to help buyers & sellers & in this section they've got an article about cashier check scams. In big bright red letters..."Most fraud buyers use counterfeit cashier’s checks and the bank has 30 days to verify the check."

So hence my dilemma....
I paid for this boat with a cashiers check & picked up the boat over two weeks ago & I've yet to get any title..boat or trailer. The seller keeps repeating the Boattraderonline article about scams.... & I've got a boat that just sits in the back yard.

Just wondering if anybody else has every dealt with this kind of thing?

You don't say where you are from, but here in Orygone we have a thing with DMV where a vehicle that is abandoned can be titled by the owner of the land it is abandoned upon... takes about 30 days.

Boats I don't know about... here they are registered thru the Marine Board, I imagine it is about the same thing... Try abandoned Etc.



Possession is 9/10th of the law, the one that shoots furstist wins.