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Reply to: Spotting a scammer email to your classified ad.

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[quote=jonathan162]I've dealt with a few of these guys over the years for things other than boats.  The first thing you have to keep in mind is that they're not interested in whatever it is you're selling - that's why they don't ask any questions about it.  You may think that they're trying to scam you out of your boat, but they're not, because they have no use for it and don't need the extra hassle of picking it up, moving it, trying to resell it, etc., and the attendant risk of getting busted while doing so.  They're after one thing, and one thing only:  Your money, and from the greatest distance possible.  So there's always going to be some hook that involves them overpaying you (for some complicated reason) and having you send the excess back (after which, of course, you find that the original payment was bogus and you're out what you sent), or you covering some "expense" that they'll theoretically reimburse you for, or similar.

Also, hallmarks of these communications are the bad grammar, broken English, and odd inconsistencies in their story.  This, interestingly, may be intentional (according to some analyses I've read), the logic being that if you're prepared to ignore those things, it indicates to them that you're an easier mark than otherwise.

If you've got time on your hands you can always entertain yourself by stringing them out as long as possible with your own complicated stories (one I spun involved a severe snowstorm and a dead horse - I dragged that guy out for [i]months[/i]).  But if all you want to do is get rid of them, the word "mugu" is useful.

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If you're interested in a glimpse into the scammers' mentality, I recommend Will Ferguson's 2012 book "419".  It's fiction, but well-researched and realistic.  I have an extra copy, so if we meet up for a sail this summer remind me to bring it along for you.<em>Edited by jonathan162 on May 29, 2020 - 12:58 PM.</em> [/quote]

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