The Internet can be a great tool to buy or sell a boat. However, sometimes its murky waters swirl with fraud, con artists, and scams. To help you avoid these unseen shoals, BoatU.S. Consumer Affairs has these tips to help online buyers and sellers protect themselves.

Buying A Boat
The first rule on protecting yourself online is to never buy a boat unseen. Make a visit to the boat, sea trial it, and have a survey done by a professional marine surveyor.
One potential scam is called “phishing,” in which scammers use some tidbit of personal information to lure you into divulging financial data such as credit card numbers, account usernames and passwords, and social security numbers. This is done by using counterfeit e-mails and fraudulent web sites to fool recipients into believing they are actually providing the sensitive information to a legitimate company.
You can protect yourself by calling the companies whenever a questionable situation arises, and unless you are actually paying for something, never give out any personal information to anyone. Online window shopping is fine but the actual purchase is best made in person, unless you know that the web site is secure and reputable. Also try to obtain a physical address rather than merely a post office box and a phone number. BoatU.S. strongly urges that boat buyers decline a purchase when sellers don’t provide you with this type of information. If the seller is a company like a dealer or broker, you can also check with the Better Business Bureau from the seller’s area.

Selling a Boat
One of the biggest scams is the oldest one: the “Nigerian” scam, which targets individuals that use Internet classified ads to sell merchandise. Some BoatU.S. members have reported several versions of the scam, which entails an overseas buyer in Nigeria, London, Bulgaria, or Canada attempting to buy a boat with a bank draft written for more than the asking price, with the stipulation that the seller sends back a cashier’s check for the overage. Of course, the “buyer’s” check is counterfeit.
To defeat this scam, use an escrow or alternate payment service to buy the boat, and never send any money back to the purchaser without making certain that their check has cleared your bank. Also, be aware that cashier’s checks are not considered cash by your bank; the sender of such a check can always put a stop payment on the check.