BoatsDepot.org

[Jren1]

This is a scam folks. The website is apparently legitimate according to the Police but some of the boats, outrageous prices and people are not real. They even go as far as to communicate with you trying to put you at ease. They claim that the boats will be picked-up and delivered to you within 4 days if you live in the US and 5-9 Days if you live Internationally. They ask you to send payment via Western Union and confirm everything and then the boat never shows up and you of course never hear back from them.

I did a title search on the boat and even called the manufacturer. The Hull Identification number they used is even legitimate. The manufacturer was able to give me the details of when it was built and who it was sold to originally and even who the warranty has been transfereed to. I went as far as contacting the owner of record and he was deceased. This scam cost me $3000.00 so consumer beware. It is a hard lesson to learn but I jusdt hope it protects someone else.

Cops are on it I let you know how things turn out!!!

People who sell boats is not the website.

Boatsdepot.org is not selling boats, just classifieds.
That's why is ok withe the police.

[FW Admin]

To confirm: boatsdepot.org is a web (business) directory (with a legitimate domain registration since 2005) that supplies space to advertizers for classified advertizing - they do not engage in the buying or selling of boats or associated equipment.

What they do need, however, is a very clear Terms of Use policy and some very clear and strict procedures relating to advertizers using their web space as fronts for fraud. Without such policies (and guidelines) in place or effect, they will very quickly (and probably quite unjustly) be regarded as a scammers' associate.

Originally Posted by Anonimus

People who sell boats is not the website.

Boatsdepot.org is not selling boats, just classifieds.
That's why is ok withe the police.

If they just sell adds, how do they offer to deliver the boats????? That makes sense! You can tell it is a scam in two seconds. You have to be High if you were going to sell your boat at some of the prices that are offered. Plus there is not any contacts via phone: Address of the company, just a cheap way to send an e-mail....STAY AWAY MY FRIENDS...

[james Whola]

i was hoping to buy a boat off of boats depot, but im not sure if i should anymore...

Originally Posted by james Whola

i was hoping to buy a boat off of boats depot, but im not sure if i should anymore...

Hiya,

I certainly would be cautious prior to purchasing a boat from this website. I know of someone who was caught in this scam and is now out a fair bit of money.

WorldLawDirect.com is a website that I came across, and it seems as though the same person seems to be scamming people.

Please do your research, visit you local marine store with the price that is being offered and the make and model of the boat and get them to give you a high range and low rane for prices, based on the conditon of the boat!!

I am trying to pull some of the victims of the scams together to file a complaint with a website found on the FBI website. Something has to be done!!!!

[gatorman44]

As stated Boatsdepot.org is a prime website to be scammed by persons posing as boat sellers. I have experienced a similar occurrence using this website while attempting to purchase a boat. Fortunately, I never made payment to the seller due to suspicions which gave away this as a scam. When I emailed the seller that I was interested in the boat, I was instantly emailed payment instructions from boatsdepot.org. I became suspicious when I was asked to make payment using Money Gram International which is used in many scams. When I attempted to verify the sellers address which came in the email from boatsdepot.org, it turned out to be a bogus address.
I would advise anyone purchasing through this website require the seller to use ESCROW.COM as a payment method to protect both buyer and seller from fraud. I would be very interested in who to contact with information related to the website. www.ic3.gov is another website for reporting verified instances such as these. Hope this helps!

Dang, I made contact (4 Feb 09) and selected several boats I thought were a dream come true with prices 1/10th the current NADA price. I emailed, checked Better Business Bureau and agreed to make a purchase. Red flags; Boatsdepot.org physical address is in Spain (how companies avoid US laws); The response to my 1st email was payment instructions with the method of payment being MoneyGram (no paper trail); I asked to talk with someone, anyone breathing...their method of communication email & fax number; $2100 for a 2006 Bass Tracker 175 TX which including shipping from FL to MI, NADA average cost is $15,000; I offered to pay with a credit card (so the credit cartd company would investigate if I file a claim & proof of payment), I offered to send a wire transter, money order, casher's check, anything except CASH; yet, that is the only method of payment they will accept, CASH (not traceable). Will all the red flags, I still hope to purchase this boat (deal of a life time). I asked for more pics, trying to get a closer look at the plate on the trailer, the boat registration number, even a look at the surroundings where the boat is located. Prior to this posting, I emailed a boatsdepot agent and told him Money Gram would not let me use my credit card to send the money(Thank You Money Gram!!) and that I am waiting for my income tax return. They replied: the sell will wait for you to get the cash. HELLO, how desparate do I have to be, don't answer that. Anyway, put your thumb and index finger together and thats how close I came to giving away $2100. WOW, thank you Fraud Watches!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Seriously, having said all that, has anyone ever received a boat from boatsdepot.org? I would really like to get a nice boat at 10% of its current blue book value, yeah right, who wouldn't. After talking to friends (I think they were friends) and finding out boatsdepot is in spain, I thought the boats were saltwater (saltwater eats metal from lunch) instead of freshwater and/or stollen. I know, shame on me and perhaps legal troubles but I just wanted a nice boat and was willing to go against all rational thoughts because I could not find one single ad, complaint, blog, or feedback listed at the internet complaint site, chamber of commerce, FBI or anywhere. So, how did I get to fraudwatchers.org, I googled boats depot, wow! Well, I could go on and on for sure because I'm disappointed and yet $2100 richer.

[Annm]

[/color][/b][quote=Jren1;54395]This is a scam folks. The website is apparently legitimate according to the Police but some of the boats, outrageous prices and people are not real. They even go as far as to communicate with you trying to put you at ease. They claim that the boats will be picked-up and delivered to you within 4 days if you live in the US and 5-9 Days if you live Internationally. They ask you to send payment via Western Union and confirm everything and then the boat never shows up and you of course never hear back from them.

I did a title search on the boat and even called the manufacturer. The Hull Identification number they used is even legitimate. The manufacturer was able to give me the details of when it was built and who it was sold to originally and even who the warranty has been transfereed to. I went as far as contacting the owner of record and he was deceased. This scam cost me $3000.00 so consumer beware. It is a hard lesson to learn but I jusdt hope it protects someone else.

Cops are on it I let you know how things turn out!!!