Boat Scam?

[soak 'n fused]

Hi all- About a month ago I ran across a website called American Boat Listings. It gave me the opportunity to list my boat for free. I then filled out a short form describing my boat, etc. A couple of hours ago I got a call from a Mr. Alan Burke who said he was from New York or Jersey and that they list boats etc. He asked me what I was looking to get for my 1979 240 SRV Searay and I told him that I was looking at around $9000. He laughed and said that he has a buyer right now that will pay $15000 right now for my boat. He said that there were people looking specifically for boats like these to restore. Then he said for a onetime listing of $399 was I going to use Visa or Mastercard. I told him to call me back in one hour as I was out in my garage and did not have my credit card. This gave me some time to think about this. He called me promptly back and I asked him if I could kick it around for a day and he said "Thats not OK. You just lost $15000 and wasted an hour of my time." I said OK fine blank you and hung up. Did I do the right thing?

 

[WillyBWright]

Re: Boat Scam?

!!! Yup !!!

 

[deejaycee_2000]

Re: Boat Scam?

Luckily you did ... otherwise you would have been - $399 maybe even more ....

 

[WAVENBYE2]

Re: Boat Scam?

It is better to see Him coming, then for him to see you coming. You did the right thing!!

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Boat Scam?

if they don't take paypal i won't deal with them. be careful with the credit card. he could have entered any amount he wanted.

 

[rndn]

Re: Boat Scam?

It's a scam. Tell him you would gladly allow hime to take the $399 out of the 15K so he can just pay you the balance upon pickup of the boat. I'll bet you'll never hear from hime again. I listed a vehicle for sale on Craigs list and received a similar call. I now list my phone number as words instead of numbe, five five five, etc. I don't get anymore calls as I figured it was computer generated lists if it couldn't get my phone number it would not generate a call.

 

[TwoBallScrewBall]

Re: Boat Scam?

I got a handful of those calls when I listed my 97 wellcraft on craigslist and ebay. Told them all they could take the fee out of the sale, and they all wanted no part of that. I got the same speech, that they had buyers willing to pay more than I was asking, etc. BS-artists.