CRITICAL SECURITY ALERT

A phishing email from "buyers-support.net" was recently reported falsely claiming association with SailboatListings.com.

Remember These Safety Rules:

NEVER share your password with anyone

SailboatListings.com will NEVER contact you by phone, text, or email requesting:

  • Your password
  • Payment or fees
  • Banking information
  • Personal financial details

Any such request is a scam attempt and should be reported immediately.

Understanding Online Transaction Risks

While the internet connects legitimate buyers and sellers worldwide, online transactions carry inherent risks that face-to-face dealings don't. The distance and anonymity of digital communication create opportunities for fraudsters to exploit honest individuals. Though most online users are trustworthy, scammers—ranging from local criminals to organized operations in regions with limited law enforcement—actively target boat buyers and sellers.

Essential Safety Practices:

Before Any Transaction:

  • Verify the other party's identity through multiple channels (phone, email, physical address)
  • Confirm landline phone numbers match the boat's stated location
  • Research the boat's HIN (Hull Identification Number) online
  • Be suspicious of free email accounts (Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail) for high-value transactions
  • Watch for red flags: poor grammar, geographic errors, generic or auto-generated email addresses

For Buyers:

  • ALWAYS inspect boats in person before transferring any money
  • Arrange professional surveys before purchase
  • Never wire funds through Western Union, MoneyGram, or similar services
  • Reject any "overpayment" schemes where you're asked to return excess funds
  • Be extremely cautious with long-distance purchases—scam risk increases exponentially

For Sellers:

  • Wait for all payments to fully clear before releasing property (this can take 2+ weeks for fraudulent checks)
  • Refuse overpayment requests—these are almost always fraud attempts
  • Verify buyer location matches their IP address (check via email headers)
  • Don't purchase third-party reports at a buyer's request unless you know them personally

Current High-Risk Warning:

Exercise extreme caution with any transactions involving Indonesia/Batam (BTM/INA). Due to exceptionally high fraud rates, we recommend avoiding all boat listings or buyers from this region. If a seller claims the boat has been moved from its listed location, terminate communication immediately and report the listing.

Report Suspicious Activity:

Contact us immediately with the URL of any suspicious listings or forward fraudulent emails (including full headers) so we can protect other users.

Remember: Legitimate transactions can withstand scrutiny. If someone pressures you to act quickly or bypass normal safety procedures, walk away.