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Reginald P. Smithers III Reginald P. Smithers III is offline
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First recorded activity by BoatBanter: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,557
Default Buying a boat on line without even seeing it in person

Wayne.B wrote:
On Sun, 26 Aug 2007 10:34:55 -0400, Harry Krause
wrote:

He came up here, spent an hour looking over the boat, said it was in
even better shape than I had described. He bought it on the spot, wrote
me a check, and we hooked it up to his truck and he took the boat home.


Which brings up another question.

How did you ensure that the check was good?


Wow, even if you went to the bank and cashed the check, if it turned out
to be a fraudulent check, it would have still bounced back to Harry.

The problem doesn't get any easier with cashiers check's. Counterfeit
cashier's checks are becoming a big problem. Most banks will tell you
not to use or assume cashiers checks are good until the check has
cleared the bank issuing the check.

It looks like the only safe way is to ask for cash or wait till the
check clears the bank.

I personally would NEVER except a personal check for $50,000 and let the
personal drive away with my property. This is worse than buying a boat
unseen, without a survey.