What do I do if a seller seems suspicious?

If a seller cannot speak with you over the phone, let you inspect the boat before purchase but the deal seems too good to be true, then it probably is. Unfortunately, there are people who try their best to scam others into buying a boat that might not be what was really advertised, is stolen or might not exist. 

Always try and get in contact with the seller on the phone and plan an inspection to see the boat in person before exchanging any money. 

If you are engaged in ongoing communication with a suspicious seller, we urge you to exercise caution. If you feel that something is not right, you are under no obligation to inspect or purchase the boat. 

 

Reporting a suspicious seller 

There a several ways you can report a suspicious seller. You can report by selecting the Report/Report this ad button on the ad itself. A pop up box will appear on your screen asking you for some further details about the ad you wish to report. You can find out more on this process here. 

You can also contact our customer care team here. Make sure to include screenshots of the messages. Our team will investigate the message and advise you on its validity. 

You can also contact our Customer Service Team on 13 72 53 for further advice. 

 

Australian Government Websites 

  • Contact the Australian Competition and Consumer Affairs Commission (ACCC) on 1300 302 502
  • Report a scam through Scam Watch 
  • You can also report online fraud to the Australian Government via ReportCyber 
  • Sign up for the Stay Smart Online email alerts 

 

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Related articles: 

Safety tips for buyers 
Phishing Scams: How to tell if an Email/SMS is really from boatsales

Any information on this page is provided as a guide only. It is not professional or expert advice and is not a substitute for such advice. The content may not be appropriate, correct or sufficient for your circumstances and should not be relied on as the only reason you do or don’t do anything.
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