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Is this a scam?
I live in Southern California.
On Craigslist I saw a offer to sell a boat. (2003 SeaRay 182)
The price is 10-30% of regular "used" price.
Seller stated she wanted to go through eBay to complete transaction "for each of our safety".
She then sent me this text:
"Hello, My 2003 Sea Ray 182 Sport is in excellent condition, no accident, no loans, it has been very well maintained. I am selling it at this price of $2,500 because I just went through a divorce with my ex-husband and when it has finished, I remain the owner of this boat. I have some financial problems right now, so I want to sell it asap and a fast sale can be done only at a low price. The transaction will be made through the eBay protection program for the safety of both of us. You have to know also that all the shipping fee's are paid by me. If you're interested in purchasing just email me with your full name, cell#, email address and shipping address, so I can notify eBay that you are selected as my buyer and they will contact you to explain the entire procedure.
Thank you"
"Hi again, The boat is now located in Augusta, GA (i just moved here with my new job), like i told you the delivery process is paid by me and I want to finish this deal through eBay because they are the biggest company and we can both be protected and insured. You will receive the boat in max 2-3 days and you will get the chance to inspect it 5 days, test it and everything you like. The boat will be delivered directly to your requested address as soon as I will have the payment confirmation from eBay. eBay will hold the money until you will receive, inspect and decide if you want to keep the boat. If you're interested in purchasing just email me with your full name,email address, cell# and shipping address, so I can notify eBay that you are selected as my buyer and they will contact you to explain the entire procedure."
Is this a scam?
Thank you, viragoca
gosimus
Mentor2 years ago@viragoca
< Is this a scam? >
The so-called "advert" that you found looks like the scammer
used every suggestion in the Cliffs Notes How to Run a Scam.
• I just went through a divorce with my ex
• I have some financial problems right now
• made through the eBay protection program
• all the shipping fee's are paid by me
• eBay will hold the money until you will receive, inspect and decide if you want to keep the boat
Each one of those by itself would raise suspicions. All of them together, leaves no doubt.
eburtonlab
Mentor2 years ago@viragoca
Beware scammers who advertise on other sites and tell you that the transaction will be handled through eBay.
That is not how eBay works. eBay does not rely on users finding ads on Facebook or other sites and sending contact information to a seller. Likely the seller will send a phony "invoice" that appears to be from eBay but is not, asking you to pay with gift cards to have the vehicle shipped to you for a free evaluation period.
eBay has no warehouse and does not ship vehicles. eBay does not handle such transactions or provide "vehicle protection orders". Scammers often promise those things, though. Any phone number you may receive on such an "invoice" does not connect to eBay, but to the scammer.
Anyone that asks you to purchase gift cards or to send card codes to them to complete a transaction is trying to take advantage of you. Anyone asking for a gift card is looking for a gift at your expense. Once anyone else knows the code, your money will be gone and you will have no recourse.
See here for some info about avoiding such scams (US links):
https://pages.motors.ebay.com/buy/security/index.html
https://www.fbi.gov/scams-and-safety/common-fraud-schemes/online-vehicle-sale-fraud
The only way to purchase a vehicle on eBay is to sign in to eBay, find the vehicle on eBay and complete the checkout process on eBay, so that the item appears in your Purchase History. Then you typically meet the seller to inspect the vehicle, pay the seller, and collect the keys, title and vehicle.
If you encountered an ad on another site, contact that site to have the ad removed. eBay is not involved with any ads listed on sites other than eBay itself.