Cheap X-Star

wu343 · Outlaw Joined: 03 Jul 2004 Posts: 193

Has anyone seen this? I emailed the guy and he never replied.

http://adcache.boattraderonline.com/6/4/9/78802949.htm

http://www.geocities.com/soti1172/xstar/

Beaver · Posted: Apr 14, 2005 6:38 am Post subject:

Nice boat and price, if its real.

-=LoneStar=- · Addict Joined: 20 Nov 2004 Posts: 751

If it seems too good to be true...

...then again...who knows?

Just be careful since its obvious that the person who made that web page has no idea what he's is talking about. All that info is for the 2003 X-Star. Even if the seller is clueless about the boat though, I'm sure he didn't just pull a price out of his ass. He must have looked at NADA or at least checked other listings. Why so low then? Stolen? Hidden problems? Obvious problems? Bad title? Just try your darnedest to find any problems and don't be disappointed if you do find them.

That said, if I were in the area, I'd definitely check it out right away. Why don't you call him (then let us know the story)?

Bambamski · Posted: Apr 14, 2005 6:52 am Post subject:

To good to be true. Look at the Trailer. I'm saying Bank Repo or some damage

wu343 · Outlaw Joined: 03 Jul 2004 Posts: 193

The phone number goes to a fax machine. The boat is also registered to a Nemo WaterSports in FL. I could not find any record of a Nemo Waterspots. I have done a lot of research on this boat and came up with nothing. The trailer does not match the boat so it may have been repossessed or stolen. I called the trailer company and it does not know anything about it as well. He says that he is from NY but the trees and houses in the pictures are not from NY.

-=LoneStar=- · Addict Joined: 20 Nov 2004 Posts: 751

Bambamski,

Some damage might be OK since that boat, under perfect circumstances, would be worth well over twice that amount. You could probably get a new trailer, a new engine, a new transmission, new dash, and new upholstery and some other stuff and still come out ahead.

So, why so cheap? Perhaps it's part of a scam? Maybe they just took the pictures off the Internet and will try to get a deposit for a boat that they don't actually have? I see there aren't any registration numbers in the pictures. Ad says NY, and trailer license says FL. wu343, let us know what you find out.

-=LoneStar=- · Addict Joined: 20 Nov 2004 Posts: 751

wu343,

Oops, didn't see your post. How do you know who the boat is registered to? I agree about the pictures. With the palm tree across the street and the trailer license plate, those pictures were probably taken in FL. What brought you to that web page anyway?

Oh, I just noticed that the FL registration numbers are edited out of the website photo but not the boattrader photo. I guess that's how you looked up the owner.

89 skier · Addict Joined: 30 Jun 2004 Posts: 729 City: Dallas

His geocities ad doesn't match the ad on boat trader. Like -=LoneStar=-, the specs he gives are not for that model year x-star because that hull isn't 22'-3" long along with all the other obvious incorrect specs. But that is definitely an '02 X-star.

And I've never seen a cover for just the swim platform????

NAW · Posted: Apr 14, 2005 7:34 am Post subject:

gotta be a mistake, stolen boat, scam or something.

Typically, Galvanized trailer=Saltwater use.

89 skier · Addict Joined: 30 Jun 2004 Posts: 729 City: Dallas

Yep, boat trailer has Florida plates as well.
But phone number is for a NY area code.

Something's fishy.

joedirt00 · Posted: Apr 14, 2005 8:22 am Post subject:

Too bad theres not an address in Brooklyn for them. I'd take a drive by look for ya.

crazy-air · Posted: Apr 14, 2005 9:09 am Post subject: boat scam

This guy is a scamer. I saw the same boat for sale last year in boattrader for $22,000 in Houston. Last year, his phone number was bogus too, so I emailed the guy and he said he was in Atlanta... said his name was Alan Parker. He had a fake escrow service set up to take your deposit and the bank was in Hawaii... all too fishy for me so this is definitely a scam!!!! I've reported all this to boattrader and on an FBI website that handles this type of thing.... but who knows if anything will happen. He's obviously up to it again this year.

wu343 · Outlaw Joined: 03 Jul 2004 Posts: 193

crazy-air · Posted: Apr 14, 2005 12:13 pm Post subject: boat scam

yeah... he used the second picture off that geocities website (the interior shot). That was the only one he had on boattrader last year. I kept asking him for the registration number but he would never give it to me. I laughed when he used the picture with that number on it this time. He wouldn't call me either because he said he had just moved to Atlanta and he was using an internet cafe and didn't have a phone yet (he said he had just lost his job). I told him to buy a calling card and he never emailed me back. This guy is a loser and needs to get shut down.

how did you find that geocities website anyhow?

wu343 · Outlaw Joined: 03 Jul 2004 Posts: 193

He emailed it to me. That is the only contact I had with him. You can see the registration number in the Boat Trader pic. What about the Nemo Watersports? That is who the boat was registered to in 2003 and 2004.

crazy-air · Posted: Apr 14, 2005 1:46 pm Post subject:

I never saw the registration number last year so I didn't know that the boat was registered in FL. I'm guessing you called the Fl title and registration office and they told you that "Nemo Watersports" registered it?If this guy registered this boat under a fake "Nemo Watersports" name, then somebody should be able to do something about this guy trying to scam people. Who knows if this boat is even his ... he may just have pictures of it. Regardless, someone should be able to track down the owner of the boat (or at least the last person to register it) by the registration #.... right?

wu343 · Outlaw Joined: 03 Jul 2004 Posts: 193

I could not get any more info from the Florida DNR then the name.

crazy-air · Posted: Apr 14, 2005 2:01 pm Post subject:

when the guy emailed you the geocities website did he use the name Alan Parker?
or did he give you his supposed name?

wu343 · Outlaw Joined: 03 Jul 2004 Posts: 193

He signed the name with Alex. He had an AOL account as well.

Soti1172@aol.com

I did try to IM that Account and but got nothing. I also loaded Yahoo IM and IMed the soti1172 account. I got no reply but it did not tell me that account did not exist. I am not sure how yahoo IM works but the AIM tells you if the name is not valid.

Zook · Posted: Apr 14, 2005 2:35 pm Post subject:

yeah, thats a 35k boat.

crazy-air · Posted: Apr 14, 2005 2:41 pm Post subject:

He had an AOL account last year too.
Yu101045@aol.com

I had lots of email contact with him last year and that scamer guy is using my name now (Alex). .... unbelievable!

Bruky · Guest

I know about this boat. PM me if you're still curious about what's going on.

EDIT* DON'T PM ME ANYMORE. I had no clue so many of you were interested. Got like 10 PM's today. Shocked

CaM2816 · Soul Rider Joined: 03 Dec 2004 Posts: 343 City: Seattle

Oh wow did u guys see how frikin far off the trailor the boat is hanging off!! its like 3 feet off the Ass end of the trailor...thats sketchy

WakeBoarder44 · Wakeboarder.Commie Joined: 21 Apr 2004 Posts: 1107

anyone knows the true story?
you made me curious...

Broccoli B · Posted: Apr 16, 2005 9:19 am Post subject:

Bruky, Why don't you just post what you know?

wu343 · Outlaw Joined: 03 Jul 2004 Posts: 193

He wrote to me again:

Hi Joe,

Sorry for the delay but I had a lot on my hands at work for the past few days.

The boat is currently in California because I recently moved here due to my job. I'm an oil engineer and work on an oil rig off the coast of California.
I already took the boat together with the trailer, cover and documents to a shipping company because unfortunately I'm away most of the time and won't be able to take care of this deal the old fashion way. I don't even have a phone here, at work, I have email available and I believe it's the best way to communicate. Also due to my job I can't spend more than 5-8 hours a week with this sale.

So, the boat is ready for enclosed shipping and will be shipped to your location, because this is the only option available. You probably wonder who will pay the shipping expenses and I have an answer for this too, I will take care of this if you are within a 1000 miles of California. If you aren'
t then we'll have to discuss it, maybe we can split the cost.

Delivery can take between 7- 14 days depending on your location. Regarding payment I think it's more than fair to ship you the boat and as soon as it's heading your way, you receive the tracking number and the rest of the info from the shipping company I will need a deposit of $2,000. The remaining balance will be paid in maximum 3 days from delivery. After the boat reaches your location you can have it inspected, you can check the documents and anything else you need; 3 days should be enough. If by any chance the boat is less than you expected but I'm 100% sure it won't be the case, you can send it back on my expense and I will refund your deposit in full. So now all you have to do is to let me know your decision regarding this transaction.

Regards,

Alex

Bruky · Guest

This doesn't seem at all like the correct story.

wu343, I wouldn't hop on this quite yet. It's sounding like someone is feeding off another's property. Do a little more investigating and see what comes up. This should be interesting.

Another thing that seems a bit off, but may not even matter is an earlier email I read from the seller was written very chat-like without capitals, good grammar, punctuation, etc.

Question

ttuclint · Addict Joined: 12 Aug 2003 Posts: 984 City: Lubbock, TX

someone in Cali needs to go check it out.

Bruky · Guest

Maybe I will. Depends on where in Cali he is. If it really is that much, and is as described, I'd be picking it up, but something smells like salmon.

crazy-air · Posted: Apr 18, 2005 4:46 am Post subject:

Do you all not believe me?? I've already said this guy is trying to SCAM you!!!!
Here is a series of emails that he sent me last year when he advertised the boat in Houston TX! ( remember MY name is Alex... and he's using my name this year...his name was Alan last year) HE's NOT IN CALI!!!!!!!

Hi, it's still for sale, I'm asking $22,000. Boat has 165hours, engine runs
great, it was recently serviced, no problems found. Interior is spotless and
clean, the boat was garage kept. Thank you

I'm in Atlanta, the boat is in Houston, I can come to TX so you can
inspect it if you're a serious buyer, no offense. I lost my job in TX and
I'm moving here, just finishing the interior of the house. Thanks, Alan

I would prefer to ship the boat to your location, we'll do an escrow for
$3,000. After the inspection period you wire the remaining balance. I don't
want to do a cash transaction for this amount, I prefer the banking system.
Thank you, Alan

Alex, I really don't have a phone line here, I'm using a public computer.
I have to supervise the workers, my wife and kids are in Houston so you can
understand I'm under pressure. We have deal, let's start an escrow through
the company I used to buy my 540i. Alan

jzwake · Addict Joined: 12 Dec 2003 Posts: 801

listen to crazy-air, Its a scam so don;t waste your time lusting over this deal. Too good to be true is never true. You'll never get the guy to give you access to the boat becuase he doesn't have it.

But if you all like to speculate everything check out ebay and bid on all the Highend electronics you can get for 70% under retail then western union your money to bangkok for it.
________
Prison break forums

Schmo · Posted: Apr 18, 2005 8:04 am Post subject:

This is a classic escrow/deposit scam. I had a very similar letter when I was looking for an M3.

Don't bite otherwise you will be out 2000 bucks.

Tmac1 · Posted: Apr 18, 2005 9:46 am Post subject:

What he really means is:

Email is the most convenient way to communicate because it is the hardest way for my sorry ars to get arrested and have to play pick up the soap with Bubba for a long time...

30 seconds of time on google about oil rig workers schedules...

You can expect to be on your boat, rig or platform for periods of time followed by equal (usually) periods of time off. These are known as "hitches". They vary from employer to employer e.g.: 1 week ON and 1 week OFF; 2 weeks ON and 2 weeks OFF......and so on, up to 5 weeks on / off depending on the employer and location of the project.

Generally speaking, rigs in the Gulf of Mexico work 2 week/2 week schedules with those working further out in deeper water working 3 week/3 week hitches. Ocean going tugs, towboats and pipeline barges sometimes stay out until the project is finished which can be an indefinite time. The money you'll be making on these longer assignments will be tremendous, plus the fact that you won't be spending anything out of pocket!

Yet this turd has no time to talk on a ph? I hope somebody busts his sorry ass...

crazy-air · Posted: Apr 18, 2005 2:08 pm Post subject:

He wrote me back too. Here's his response:

Hello and sorry for getting back to you with delay but I've had some
big
changes in my life. Anyway let me get back to my star. It's just like
its
name says a star that shines in and out, with low hours, only 180, only
used
in fresh water; it's practically new. Everything is working perfectly
and I'
m selling it together with the trailer and boat cover. Below you have
the
link to more pictures and exact description:

http://www.geocities.com/soti1172/xstar/

I've had the boat since the summer of 2003 but have to sell due to
other
priorities.

Let me know if you want it because I'm looking for a fast deal.

Regards,

Alex

I'm going to play along with him to see where he wants me to send the money.... If I can get more info on him (maybe his banking info ) we may be able to bust him.

wu343 · Outlaw Joined: 03 Jul 2004 Posts: 193

I got another response from him:

Joe,
I don't have anymore pictures but here you have the HIN:
usmbca2mf6d402

Regards,

Alex