Staying Safe When Responding to Website Enquiries

Advertising your dinghy online can attract plenty of genuine interest. Unfortunately, it may also attract fraudsters who send convincing-looking messages to several advertisers at once.

Most enquiries will be perfectly legitimate, but always take a moment to consider whether the buyer’s behaviour makes sense. The safest method is to meet in person, accept cash or BACS transfer, then release the boat to the new owner. Keep it simple – keep it safe.

Do you have some Concern

If you have been contact by someone you believe to be a potential scammer – please tell us. We can block their email address from sending anymore emails through our system. Send us an email with the following information:

1. Your name
2. Your email address
3. Name of suspected “scammer”
4. Email of suspected “scammer”
5. The reason why you believe this might be a scam

Warning signs to watch for

Be particularly cautious when someone:

• Sends a text or WhatsApp message containing a link to photographs, a part-exchange item, payment details or a delivery service.
• Says they are sending a c.heque and a courier will collect the boat later
• Asks you to follow a link to confirm your identity, receive payment or view their offer.
• Offers to buy the item without seeing it, inspecting it or asking sensible questions.
• Repeatedly makes excuses about why they cannot view or collect the item in person.
• Claims to be working offshore, serving in the military, travelling abroad or otherwise unable to speak by telephone.
• Avoids normal telephone conversations and insists on communicating only by text, WhatsApp or email.
• Offers the full asking price immediately without discussing the condition, specification, location or collection.
• Wants to use an unusual payment method, payment service, courier or “shipping agent”.
• Says that another person, company or family member will make the payment or collect the item.
• Claims to have accidentally overpaid and asks you to refund the difference.
• Asks you to pay a courier, transporter, insurance fee or handling charge on their behalf.
• Sends an email or screenshot claiming that payment is being held until you provide tracking information or pay a release fee.
• Asks for your bank card details, online banking login, security code, password or one-time passcode.
• Contacts you pretending to be your bank and refers to your recent website activity or advert payment.
• Claims to represent DinghyMart and offers a paid advert upgrade, renewal, promotion or guaranteed position on Google.
• Asks you to log in through a link in a message rather than visiting the website directly.
• Shows interest that is geographically or commercially implausible. Overseas interest may be credible for a rare or valuable item, but is less likely for an inexpensive dinghy, detector or personal watercraft that would be costly to transport.

Never rely on a payment screenshot

Screenshots, emails and app notifications can be faked.

Before releasing your item, check your own bank account independently and make sure the money has arrived and is available. Do not rely on a message from the buyer or an email that appears to come from a bank or payment provider.

A genuine buyer does not need you to pay a fee before you can receive their payment.

Do not click unexpected links

A fraudster may send a link that appears to lead to:

• A bank or payment service.
• A courier or delivery company.
• Another classified advert.
• Photographs of a part-exchange item.
• A DinghyMart login page.

The page may be designed to steal your password, card details or banking information.

Visit websites by typing the address into your browser yourself. Never enter your login or banking details after following a link sent by an unknown buyer.

Keep the transaction simple

The safest arrangements are usually the simplest:

• Speak to the buyer by telephone.
• Arrange an in-person viewing where practical.
• Meet in a safe and appropriate location.
• Allow the buyer to inspect the item.
• Agree the price clearly.
• Confirm cleared payment yourself before releasing the item, documents, keys or equipment.
• Provide a written receipt recording the item, price, date and the names of both parties.

For higher-value sales, consider completing the transaction during banking hours so that any payment concerns can be checked directly with your bank.

Protect your personal information

A genuine buyer may reasonably need your name, general location and telephone number. They should not need:

• Your online banking login.
• Your bank card number or security code.
• A one-time passcode sent by your bank.
• A photograph of your driving licence or passport.
• Access to your website account.
• Remote access to your telephone or computer.

Never approve a banking notification or share a security code because someone on the telephone tells you to do so.

Be cautious with collection and delivery

Do not hand over the item simply because a courier arrives or the buyer shows you proof of payment.

Confirm the money in your own account first. Record the collector’s name and, where appropriate, the vehicle registration and collection details. Do not pay a buyer’s courier or shipping agent from money they claim to have sent you.

Trust your instincts

Fraudsters often create urgency. They may say the courier is waiting, the payment will expire, another buyer is interested or immediate action is required.

Slow the transaction down. A genuine buyer will normally understand reasonable security checks.

If an enquiry feels unusual, overly complicated or too good to be true, stop communicating until you have independently checked it.

Suspicious contact claiming to be from us

DinghyMart will never ask for:

• Your online banking password or security codes.
• Remote access to your computer or telephone.
• Payment through a link sent by an unknown buyer.
• A fee to release money from a buyer.
• Your website password by email, text or telephone.

Do not use contact details supplied in a suspicious message. Visit the relevant website directly and use the official contact page.

If you think you have been targeted

Stop communicating with the person and do not send any money or release the item.

If you have shared banking information, card details, passwords or security codes, contact your bank immediately using the telephone number printed on your card or shown on the bank’s official website.

Change any affected passwords and report the suspicious enquiry to the website. You should also report attempted fraud to the appropriate authorities.

The inconvenience of checking an enquiry is far less serious than losing your item or your money.