Dave Singer from Marblehead writes on the Forum:
I’m advertising my 23 on our forum classifieds and nowhere else, but even so it seems to have attracted a serial scammer with a history of trying to dupe people who are selling boats. Calls himself Mathew Cole, and his act is pretty basic— wants to buy your boat as a present for his son, but he’s out of the country and will send you a check (no haggle about your price) that covers the purchase and the transport that he’ll arrange to haul the boat. Of course you’ll pay the hauler when he shows up.
Didn’t take long for me to realize that this guy is scamming, but I wasted a few minutes sending him photos and descriptions before he began his dog and pony show. Just wanted to let everyone know so they can save themselves the inconvenience of dealing with ol’ Mathew if he makes a run at their boat.
About a week after I posted my SS 34 on the SS site for sale the same guy contacted me. I wasted a few minutes then decided I would just tell him send a bank check. He did it is worth less than the paper it is on. He uses the name Mathew Cole and you can find stories about him all over the net.
I had a similar scammer try to nail me when I wanted to sell an expensive used headsail for my J30. Same deal. He had infiltrated the J30 website. The webmaster and I tracked him down. Lived in Washington State. Didn’t own a boat. No money up front. Someone would pick up the sail and deliver a check. Don’t fall for it.
Bob Rude