Phishing Emails and Texts Aimed at Boat Sellers: What to Look For

The moment your boat is listed online, your email and phone start to attract attention. Most of it is from real buyers. Some of it is not. Phishing messages are fake emails and texts designed to trick you into clicking a link, sharing a password or sending money, and boat sellers are a favorite target.

The good news is that phishing messages share a handful of clues. Once you know them, they get much easier to spot.

What phishing looks like for a boat seller

Phishing aimed at sellers often arrives as a message that seems related to your sale. It might claim to be a payment notice saying funds are waiting for you, a note from a payment service saying your account is limited, or a message from a buyer who asks you to open a link to see a deposit or a shipping receipt.

Other versions pretend to be from your bank, your listing site or an escrow company. Whatever the story, the goal is the same: get you to click, log in or reply with details that give the sender access to your money or accounts.

Clues in the message

Look at the greeting and the wording. Generic phrases like dear seller or dear customer, and references to your item with no mention of your actual boat, suggest a message sent to thousands of people. Awkward grammar and odd spelling are another clue, though some scams are written very well.

Pay attention to the tone. Phishing messages create urgency. They say your account will be closed, your payment will expire or the buyer will walk away unless you act right now. A real buyer rarely needs you to click anything in a hurry.

Clues in the sender and the links

Check the sender's address closely. Scammers use addresses that look almost right, with an extra letter, a string of numbers or an ending that does not match the real company. On a phone, text messages from unknown numbers with a link deserve extra caution.

Before you tap anything, look at where a link goes. On a computer you can hover over it to see the full address. If it does not match the company it claims to be from, do not click. When in doubt, open your browser and type the company's real web address yourself instead.

What never to share

Do not share passwords, one time codes sent to your phone, full bank account logins or personal identification numbers with a buyer or anyone claiming to work for a payment service. A genuine buyer does not need them. Real companies do not ask for a code by text or email.

Be careful about sending copies of your driver's license or boat paperwork before you have a confirmed, serious buyer, and only share what the sale truly requires.

Good habits that keep you safe

Use a strong, unique password for your email and for any account tied to your sale, and turn on two step sign in where it is offered. Keep your phone and computer up to date. Keep conversations about the sale in one place, and keep records of what was said.

If you get a payment notice, do not trust the message itself. Log in to your bank or payment account directly, using your usual app or address, and check whether money has really arrived. And remember that a deposit showing up is not the same as it being cleared.

If you clicked or replied

Do not panic. Change the password for the affected account right away, and for any other account that uses the same password. Contact your bank if you shared financial details, and watch your accounts for activity you do not recognize.

Report the message to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov or to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov. Sell-a-Boat.Com also has a Fraud Tips page at sellaboat.com/fraud-tips with more on the tricks sellers see.

A safer way to reach buyers

Sell-a-Boat.Com has been selling boats online since 1997, with no contracts, no commissions and no hassle. Our packages let you reach more buyers, including having your boat listed on all of our social media platforms for $49.99 or featured on our website for $99.99. Questions about a message you received? Call us toll free at 888-306-2628 (888-306-BOAT).

Ready to list your boat? Get started at https://www.sellaboat.com/.