It appears that you cannot trust BoatTrader.com

[Horton]

If you have been following along with the story about the black ProStar w/ red interior for sale at a killer price you know it is a scam.

 

See https://www.ballofspray.com/forum#/discussion/26457/any-leads-on-a-2014-prostar/p1

 

What really makes me angry is that I have messaged the social media accounts at Boat Trader a number of times telling then that the ad is for a fake boat and yet I see it in my Instagram feed almost every day. Now I understand that they can not check out every boat they advertise but I do not think it is unreasonable to follow up on repeated reports of fraud.

 

 

 

[Minelickskier]

Maybe we should refer to them as boat traitor.com now….

[6balls]

Buyer beware, my brother(not Jim--one of the other 5) damn near got scammed I was screaming "NO!" and thankfully he backed out.

[Mateo_Vargas]

It's back! Lots of other boats on their fake web site.

https://www.dennysboat.com/inventory/

 

[dvskier]

@Horton Its only a 3 hour drive from you. Get the gestapo and take a ride down there.

[ironhorse]

Denny's boats address is a sound studio at someones home.

 

 

[MitchellM]

Out of fairness, there do appear to be boats on that property.

 

[Horton]

all fake

[Stevie Boy]

Ah Ha ! I have so many people interested in it, if you want me to hold it for you, Transfer X Amount of Dollars into my Bank Account and it's yours.

Oh Yeah !

Old Scam they advertise everything under the sun and pull the same stunt time and time again, because it appears a bargain.

Good Folk get sucked in and lose money.

Dislike those scammers a lot, nearly got burnt when looking for a Trailer, but common sense prevailed.

[aupatking]

I want to know who ACTUALLY owns that boat. It’s BEAUTIFUL. As @MitchellM pic showed, there is an Inboard there. Looks like a 196.

[Horton]

Seems like I heard that it is actually in Australia. Not 100% sure. It is a distinctive boat so it would be hard to miss.

[liquid d]

@Stevie Boy hit the nail on the head....COMMON SENSE PREVAILED. Boat trader is run about 10 people...with hundreds of thousands of ads....so are the other for sale websites. Just use your common sense.

 

I think my dad said this first ..haha...When it's too good to be true, it is too good to be true.

[Jody_Seal]

I dont know, maybe in this current deteriorating waterski environment there will be a lot of fire sales on boat's, skis, property and equipment.

You take the current policy's in usaws that have run off a large number of members. over Anal ideology in the sport that have run off a number of members. as well as just the extreme cost to participate in the current social environment. i think there just may be a lot of fire sales on boats..

 

 

just my thought

 

[dbaconaz]

Denny's boat works shows the boat on their website.

[rockdog]

@horton that was me suggesting the boat was here in Aus a while back.

 

I just checked out this Denny's website. There is a Black/White 2020 TXI on there now that was also for sale here only a few months ago. No question this operation is dodgy.

[rockdog]

And the Black/Bronze Wakesetter.

[UWSkier]

Yeah, those are definitely not US-built trailers under those Malibus. Denny's Boats has 0 Google reviews, only 1 yelp review... scam city.

[Lars]

Same 'boat' for sale yet again on boat trader... 

https://www.boattrader.com/boat/2014-mastercraft-prostar-8672758/

[mike_mapple]

On 1/30/2023 at 10:42 PM, Lars said:

Same 'boat' for sale yet again on boat trader... 

https://www.boattrader.com/boat/2014-mastercraft-prostar-8672758/

Great Looking boat tho..wonder who actually owns it.

[Horton]

@mike_mappleI think I was told it is in Australia. 

[T-fromTO]

Sadly one of the members at my lake sent payment in full for this boat about a week ago, about $50,000 Canadian. It was supposed to arrive from Texas to Buffalo today where he was going to drive across the border and pick it up. Weirdly, the scammer is still answering his phone calls, and says he will refund the money on Monday. I’m pretty sure that’s not going to happen. Does anyone have any ideas on what recourse he would have?

Edited August 11, 2023 by T-fromTO

[Andre]

First choice would be lawyers and cops.

Then Louisville Slugger,Smith and Wesson and such...

[Hucklefin]

@T-fromTO What payment method did he choose to use?

Edited August 11, 2023 by Hucklefin

[T-fromTO]

It looks like the scammer created a fake website based on a real business called Eddie’s Boat Works in Texas. Just saw a post on Facebook from the real Eddie’s Boat Works warning people about the scam. 

[T-fromTO]

9 minutes ago, Hucklefin said:

@T-fromTO What payment method did he choose to use?

It may have been a wire transfer, not 100% sure. I’ll try and get some more information from him.

[swc5150]

Hopefully Canada has something like Financial Fraud Kill Chain we have in the US.  I'm assuming he's told his bank, but prob needs to get whatever gov enforcement agency you have up there involved.  That just sucks so bad:(

[JayG80]

There are about a dozen boat listings from Eddie’s, are they all scams?
from the looks of their Facebook, all are scam listings.

Edited August 12, 2023 by JayG80

[T-fromTO]

1 hour ago, JayG80 said:

There are about a dozen boat listings from Eddie’s, are they all scams?
from the looks of their Facebook, all are scam listings.

I think the whole website is filled with fake listings. 

[LeonL]

@T-fromTO certainly it's sad anytime someone gets scammed.  Also makes you angry.  No offense to your acquantance, but I find it hard believe that anyone would send money in a deal like that.  I guess I'm just too jaded and distrustful. 

Is it the responsibility of Boat Trader to vet ads placed with them?  Maybe.

 

Edited August 12, 2023 by LeonL

[JayG80]

I responded to one of the scam BT listings that I wanted their store hours b/c I was coming to buy one of the wake boats.   Crickets.

[T-fromTO]

3 hours ago, LeonL said:

@T-fromTO certainly it's sad anytime someone gets scammed.  Also makes you angry.  No offense to your acquantance, but I find it hard believe that anyone would send money in a deal like that.  I guess I'm just too jaded and distrustful. 

Is it the responsibility of Boat Trader to vet ads placed with them?  Maybe.

 

The guy is smart and successful but really new to the sport. He learned a very hard lesson. I really wish the rest of us at the lake had paid more attention/helped him out. 

[JayG80]

Wow!  Is this the fake website?  https://www.eddiesboat.com  It looks that they put in a lot of effort.  The address is in Texas’ Rio Grande Valley and the actual boat repair shop is a small and decrepit metal building with a couple of center console fishing boats surrounding.

Edited August 14, 2023 by JayG80

[UWSkier]

The site is well done but there are a few giveaways it's a scam.  Most obvious one to me is almost all the Malibus in his inventory are Australian Malibus on Aussie roller trailers.