There is an internet scammer trying to buy boats. We have warned all our current sellers about the scam. We need to inform all our members who may be potential sellers to be on your guard.
The Initial Contact is made via email and looks like this:
HELLO,
AM INTERESTED IN BUYING THE BOAT YOU PLACED ON NET FORSALE.HOWEVER,I WANT TO KNOW THE BEST PRICE FOR IT AND ALSO TO KNOW IF IT'S AVAILABLE FORSALE. DO SEND THE PICS OF IT TO ME AND PLS DON'T HESITATE TO LET ME KNOW ANYTHING YOU FEEL I'D KNOW ABOUT IT.
WAITING FOR YOUR SWIFT RESPONSE.
REGARDS
If you reply you get a response like this:
Subject: INTERESTED
HELLO ,
THANKS FOR THE MAIL YOU SENT TO ME...I REALLY DO APPRECIATE IT TELLING ALL I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT IT....HOWEVER,I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THE PRICE IS OKAY BY ME AND AS FOR THE SHIPPING THAT WILL NOT BE A PROBLEM ..I WILL CONTACT A SHIPPING COMPANY THAT WILL HANDLE THE SHIPPING...SO THAT WILL NOT BE A PROBLEM...
AS FOR THE PAYMENT I'LL BE PAYING WITH A BANKER'S DRAFT WHICH'LL BE CASHED EASILY...I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT I'LL BE ADDING THE SHIPPING PAYMENT TO THE DRAFT THAT WILL BE SENT TO YOU IN WHICH YOU WILL DEDUCT YOUR £4,750 AND SEND THE REMAINING BALANCE TO THE SHIPPING COMPANY THAT 'LL BE COMING FOR THE PICK UP AT YOUR PLACE...TO SEND IT OUT I WILL NEED YOUR FULL NAME AND ADDRESS WHERE THE DRAFT WILL BE SENT TO AND PROBABLY YOUR PHONE NUMBER...THIS IS MINE 07045727234....DO SEND THE INFO TO ME ASAP...
HOPING TO HEAR FROM U SOONEST..
REGARDS
Do not continue with these negotiations and simply delete the original contact email. It would appear to be from someone prentending to be in Scotland but are really based in Africa.
The same scam seems to be being used tagretting the International Canoe Association too with identical wording! Also the user seems to have a faulty caps lock key!
UPDATE: 4/4/2011 they are at it again! similar emails but their caps lock is now fixed. more infomation is available at: Westerly Owners Association Fraud Page
Martin Searle
Sprint 15 Association
Infomation about the scam provided by Jeremy Ford and Billie Stevens amongst others. | 
