Watch out for the Boat Scams (and  many other big ticket items like tractors, motorcycles, cars, etc...).  These scammers have hijacked people's ebay accounts.  Don't ever answer an email saying you need to respond to verify your ebay info. This is how they hijack your info. Commonly called Phishing.  If you did respond to one of them, go change your password now, or they will change your password and lock you out of your own account. (ebay is not very responsive, so it may be a while, if ever, before you get it back)

Price too good to be true? (nothing is free, stop thinking you'll get something for nothing)
Private bidder ID's?  (yup, they don't want you to correspond with another possible Victim)
Private Auction? (they want to see an email from you for the chance to talk you into the deal, and Steal your Money)
Email address? (they will provide an email address instead of using the ebay mail system, they don't want you to communicate with the person they hi-jacked the account from)
Ebay or Square Trade Warehouse?  (That's just Stupid, There is no such thing)
Seller is overseas (usually UK) but the unit is in the US?  (There is no unit, it's a Scam)
Shipping a boat? (have any idea what it would cost to ship a 2000+ lb boat? Don't fall for the "free shipping" line.

What they are looking for, is for you to send them (usually via western union) a sizable down payment.  If you do, that will be the last you hear of them and You will lose your money.

I've bought several Larger ticket Items on ebay before including a $20,000 motorcycle and a $30,000 car.  I negotiate a very small down payment if any, before bidding. (enough to cover the ebay fees) If they won't accept those terms, I don't buy.  I'll  Fly or drive to view and pickup the Item, and pay for it then, not before.  Seller's who are honest will accept these terms, they have nothing to hide or worry about.

Since I posted this a few months ago, I've had dozens of emails, people telling me their horror stories of being ripped off by these Scams.  Ebay doesn't seem to have the resources to patrol millions of auctions, so we (all of us) need to do it.   Please use Common Sense when buying large ticket items.  If something is to good to be true, it is, 99.9% of the time.

Another email I received from a guy who was looking at an auction. In the picture gallery, he clicked on a picture to enlarge, and it took him to an ebay sign-in screen.  He signed in, not realizing the scam artist had linked that photo to a bogus ebay sign-in website.  Another way a scam artist phished for info to steal an account.  If this happens to you, hit the "back button", but don't re-sign in.

(from another emailed suggestion) Something else you can do, is to report a Scam auction to ebay.  It's easy to do.  At the bottom of every auction is a link to "report this item". Click on it, then choose Fraudulent Listing.  The rest is self evident.

There are thousands of scams going on like this throughout ebay, not just Boats.

If I've missed anything, let me know and I will add it.

Funny how the Scam Artists are the only ones who find this guide un-helpful !  Vote YES to keep this guide near the top so other people don't fall victim to the Artful Dodger.