DISCLOSURE/WARNING ABOUT SCAMS Use caution and common sense when dealing with any financial transaction: trust your instincts deal only with local buyers and sellers NEVER wire funds to a distant buyer, via Western Union or any other carrier Be wary if the other party wants to use an escrow service such as BidPay, Squaretrade, or even PayPal NEVER give out personal financial information (eBay or PayPal info, checking account number, SSN, etc.) always remember the most important rule -- BUYER BEWARE If you think you have been scammed, contact the non-emergency number for your local police department -- they may be able to offer advice about your options. TYPES OF SCAMS TO LOOK OUT FOR - 1. Distant seller indicates boatdating.com classifieds will guarantee the transaction through the Classifieds Protection Program This program does not exist!!!! Boatdating.com does not have any role in any transaction. Seller will request a down payment, and will provide detailed documentation of the "protection program". 2. Distant buyer offers a high-value (but fake) cashier's check in exchange for your item you receive an odd email offering to buy your item site unseen. - WHO BUYS ANYTHING UNSEEN ? cashier's check is offered for your sale item, as a deposit for an apartment, or just about anything else. value of cashier's check often far exceeds your item - buyer asks you to wire the balance via money transfer service banks will often cash these fake checks AND THEN HOLD YOU RESPONSIBLE WHEN THE CHECK FAILS TO CLEAR scam often involves a 3rd party (shipping agent, business associate owing buyer money, etc) 3. Distant seller requests payment via Western Union or MoneyGram: seller often claims that an MTCN or confirmation code is needed before he can withdraw your money - this is FALSE, once you've wired money, it is GONE FOR GOOD YOU CAN NEVER GET IT BACK> common items currently: laptops, plasma TVs, cell phones, tickets - but could be almost anything common countries currently include: Nigeria, Romania, Ukraine, Spain, UK, Italy, Netherlands - but could be anywhere deal often seems too good to be true. 4. Distant seller offers to send you a cashier's check and then have you wire money: this is ALWAYS a scam, in our experience - the cashier's check is FAKE sometimes accompanies an offer of merchandise, sometimes not scammer often asks for your name, address, etc for printing on the fake check ANYTHING TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE IS USUALLY FALSE 5. Distant seller suggests use of an online escrow service. most online escrow sites are FRAUDULENT, operated by scammers for more info, do a google search on "fake escrow" or "escrow fraud" if you must do business with a distant seller, insist on a legitimate service, such as www.escrow.com 6. Distant seller asks for a partial payment upfront, after which he will ship goods he says he trusts you with the partial payment he may say he has already shipped the goods deal often sounds too good to be true Other Resources include old faithful - U.S. Postal Service warning scambusters GOOD LUCK AND HAPPY SELLING !!