In recent years, YACHT has reported several times on fraudulent schemes in connection with yacht sales. Now a new scam has emerged: Criminals are targeting people who want to buy a boat with bait and switch offers.
In its current issue, YACHT documents how potential boat buyers are approached via internet portals and urged to transfer money abroad. The supposedly offered catamaran is listed at a real bargain price on the relevant trade portals. If this arouses the curiosity of interested parties, they are offered a test drive - but are expected to pay an expense allowance in advance.
This is quite common, especially in the commercial trade, and manufacturers' shipyards, for example, want to arm themselves against abusive trial voyages. The trick in the story: the advert is a fake, photos and ship data were simply copied. The "seller" is therefore not in possession of a yacht at all. He is only after an expense allowance and deposit for the alleged test drive.
