How to Protect Yourself From Scammers When Buying & Selling Online

In today’s new technological age, everyone needs to protect themselves when conducting business online. Fraudulent activity is the use of online mediums to make fraudulent offers to sell or buy products, items, or services for financial or personal gain.

We do our best to monitor suspicious activity at Boats for Sale, but online scammers are getting increasingly sophisticated in their attempts to steal money or personal details. Scams can happen to both buyers and sellers and they come in various forms, so it’s crucial to know what these scams are and how to recognize them when buying and selling on a Marketplace.

The most important thing you can do to stay safe from fraud is to educate and protect yourself. Be alert and protect yourself from being taken advantage of by being proactive and following our advice. To help you better protect yourself from fraudulent activity, here are some tips to avoid scams for buyers and sellers:

Boat mechanic working on routine boat engine tune up

Don’t let scammers stop you from living the boat life! Follow these guidelines for being a boat shopper.

Educate yourself.

Scams target people globally and of all ages, income levels, and backgrounds. There is no one group of people who is more likely to become victims of a scam. Unfortunately, all of us may be vulnerable to fraud at some point.

One of the first things you can do in arming yourself against scammers is to recognize the different kinds of scams. The most common type of online scams include:

A phishing scam: A form of identity theft that encourages you to volunteer personal information without you realizing what’s happening.
A buyer scam: When someone tries to buy or trade items from someone else without paying.
A seller scam: When someone tries to sell or trade items to someone else without delivering the items as promised.
A listing scam is: When a listing appears dishonest or fake or lures buyers to complete transactions outside of the marketplace.

Scams succeed because they look like the real thing and often catch victims off guard when they are not expecting it. Scammers are getting smarter and taking advantage of new technology, new products or services, and significant events to create believable stories that convince you to give your details or money.

Be alert to the fact that scams exist. When dealing with uninvited contacts from people or businesses, always consider the possibility that the approach may be a scam. Remember, if it looks too good to be true, it probably is.

Do your research and know who you’re dealing with. If you’ve only ever met someone online or are unsure of the legitimacy of a business, take some time to do a bit more research. Do a Google image search on photos or search the internet for others who may have had dealings with them. If a message or email comes from a friend and seems unusual or out of character for them, contact your friend directly to check that it was them that sent it.

Protect yourself.

According to Forbes.com, “Last year, the FTC received 43,000 complaints about online shopping scams. Compare that to 24,000 complaints in that category in 2020 and just 7,000 in 2019.”

This statistic shows us that online scams aren’t going away; scammers are only getting more innovative and sophisticated. In addition, researching and educating yourself it’s crucial to protect yourself. Stay safe with these tips.

Shop or list with only secure sites, like Boats for Sale. When you visit a website, the URL should begin with “HTTPS” instead of ” HTTP.” A secure website is encrypted, allowing you to complete a purchase and enter your personal and credit card information without being hacked.
Do not open suspicious pop-up windows or click on links or attachments in emails. If unsure, verify the contact’s identity through an independent source such as a phone book or online search. Don’t use the contact details provided in the message sent to you.
Keep your details secure. Be very careful about how much personal information you share. Scammers can use your information and pictures to create a fake identity or to target you with a scam.
Keep your mobile devices and computers secure. Always use password protection, don’t share access with others, and update security software and backup content.
Choose your passwords carefully. Choose passwords that would be difficult for others to guess and update regularly. A strong password should include upper and lower-case letters, numbers, and symbols.
Beware of any requests for your details or money. Never send money or give credit card details, online account details, or copies of personal documents to anyone you don’t know or trust.
Always be careful when shopping online. Again, beware of offers that seem too good to be true, and always use an online shopping service you know and trust.
If you recognize potentially suspicious behavior, clicked on spam, or have been scammed online, take steps to secure your account and be sure to report it.

You can feel secure shopping for a boat on Boats for Sale, but always follow your gut and maintain healthy skepticism.

Online scammers can be difficult to spot, but being mindful of these tips can help prevent you from being scammed. At Boats for Sale, we are constantly updating our site and software in an attempt to keep our buyers and sellers protected. If we suspect fraud, we take immediate action and vet the activity.

One of the most important things that we can do when buying and selling online is trust our instincts. If something feels off; it probably is – if something seems too good to be true; it probably is. If you suspect suspicious behavior from a buyer or seller or feel you may have been a victim of fraud, please contact our Boats for Sale team as soon as possible.