1. Recommendations for Buyers.

• Know the vessel’s market value. Be very suspicious of any vessel priced significantly below market value. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

• Have a professional mechanic or inspection service inspect the vessel to identify problems. However, an inspection doesn’t guarantee a vessel is free from defects or any existing problems.

• Verify the seller’s physical address and phone number BEFORE SENDING PAYMENT. Zip codes, area codes and addresses should match up.

• Do not send personal or financial information (such as your social security number, credit card number or checking account number) to a seller via email. Email communications are not secure.

• Do not use money transfer services, such as Western Union to pay for online purchases Even Western Union recommends against using their service or similar services to pay for online purchases. Be cautious about any seller who will only accept a money transfer.

• If using an escrow service for payment, make sure it is a reputable, valid escrow service.

• Some buyers, purchasing outside their local area, may consider using an escrow service. If so, make sure it is a legitimate service. Go directly to the website of the escrow service. Do NOT go to an escrow service through a link in the seller’s e-mail or use a service based on a referral from the seller. Check the web address to make sure you are at the valid website.

• Get a detailed receipt. Ask the seller for a receipt that states whether the vessel is being sold with a warranty or as is.

• Get title to the vessel. Make sure you know what’s required in your state to transfer title to the vessel you’re buying.

   

2. Recommendations for Sellers

    

• Confirm contact information. Be wary of buyers willing to purchase your item sight-unseen, especially buyers located overseas. Always verify the buyer’s street address and valid phone number.

• Verify that a certified check is genuine. Verify authenticity with the issuing bank prior to depositing a certified check. Make sure the account contains sufficient funds and the issuing bank guarantees payment on the check. Once deposited in your account, it may take a week or more for the check to clear. Acceptance by your bank does not guarantee the check is valid and funds are available. A cashier’s check can take 30 days or more to clear.

• Secure payment first. Do not transfer the title until you have payment in hand at the agreed upon price (and you have verified that the payment is valid.

• Beware of overpayment or other complicated payment schemes. Do not agree to any plan where the buyer asks to send a check for more than the sale price and requests that the seller refund the difference. Be suspicious of any buyer who proposes making payment through a friend or agent of the buyer.

   

3. Staying Safe Online.

Passwords, PINs, and Usernames,

• Never give out your usernames, passwords, or PINs to anyone.

• Always make sure they are a combination of letters and numbers.

• Change them as frequently as you can, and don’t use the same pins or password for different accounts.

• REMEMBER – DUCK BOAT TRADER (or its affiliated websites) will NEVER ask for your password or PIN.

Email Attachments.

• Be cautious about opening email attachments. Always make sure you scan them with anti-virus software first. Do not click on links within unsolicited email.

• Do not click links inside an email you do not know is legitimate, even if it is sent from someone you know. Viruses are often hidden in seemingly harmless programs that people share for fun. Because many viruses make use of peoples’ address books, you may receive virus emails from people you know.

• Contact the sender to make sure the email is legitimate, and scan it carefully. Avoid having email programs set to preview email, as this can open a virus email before you have a chance to scan it.

Payment Methods.

• Never send credit card numbers via email.

• When purchasing from a website, make sure it is a secure site before submitting credit card information. Look for the tiny padlock icon that symbolizes a secure site or the web address starts with https (This denotes a secure site).

• Credit card purchases can usually be disputed with the credit card company if a problem arises.

• If purchasing outside your local area, consider using a legitimate escrow service . Go to the escrow service’s website directly. Do not go to the website through a link in an email or use a service recommended by the seller.

4. Reporting Fraud.

File a report at www.ic3.gov with the Internet Crime Complaint Center, a partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C), and the Bureau of Justice Administration (BJA). IC3 gives victims of cyber-crime a convenient and easy-to-use reporting mechanism. IC3 in turn alerts authorities by referring reports to the correct law enforcement or regulatory agencies at the federal, state, local and international level. 

If you receive a suspicious email, report it to Duck Boat Trader immediately. Forward the email to alex@corneallaw.com. Do not change the subject line or send it as an attachment. Simply forward the suspicious email message to us. We will contact you if we need additional information.

Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). File a complaint
http://www.ic3.gov

Better Business Bureau (BBB). Be a Smarter Consumer
http://us.bbb.org/WWWRoot/SitePage.aspx?site=113&id=9c2460f1-4c8d-415a-a55d-2da54c5d4f40

Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Consumer Information to Guard Against Fraud
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/consumer.shtm

Western Union. Protect Yourself From Fraud
http://www.westernunion.com/WUCOMWEB/staticMid.do?method=load&countryCode=US&languageCode=en&pagename=fraudIndex&pid=fraud00016

Escrow.com. Important Information About Fraudulent Escrow Sites
https://www.escrow.com/fic/index.asp

Looks Too Good To Be True. Website Developed and Maintained by a Joint Federal Law Enforcement and Industry Task Force
http://www.lookstoogoodtobetrue.com