Possible fraud broker from the UK?

[mait]

Hello,

My colleague is looking for a new powerboat and found some "good" deals from this broker

www.geolamaritime.co.uk.
Lukas LAV
Marketing Director
www.geolamaritime.co.uk
+448444877764

Seems too good to be true for me.
The brokers answers are a little bit strange in my mind. They want prepayment for the boat + transport. There is no possibility to inspect the boat in person (Covid is perfect excuse for them). They do not give any previous customers contacts etc...

I'm quite positive now it's a fake brokerage although mr Lukas emphasized many times that they are in business since 2007 and have only happy customers .
If any UK citizen reads this and agrees with me, maybe its worth to start investigation...

[slug]

Originally Posted by mait

Hello,

My colleague is looking for a new powerboat and found some "good" deals from this broker

www.geolamaritime.co.uk.
Lukas LAV
Marketing Director
www.geolamaritime.co.uk
+448444877764

Seems too good to be true for me.
The brokers answers are a little bit strange in my mind. They want prepayment for the boat + transport. There is no possibility to inspect the boat in person (Covid is perfect excuse for them). They do not give any previous customers contacts etc...

I'm quite positive now it's a fake brokerage although mr Lukas emphasized many times that they are in business since 2007 and have only happy customers .
If any UK citizen reads this and agrees with me, maybe its worth to start investigation...

Don’t know anything about that broker

What I do know is that you never buy a boat sight unseen and you never trust any broker

[roryboy]

As with any business dealing. If you do not trust the person you are doing business with, don't do business with them.

[Shrew]

They are asking for a deposit and will not allow you to SEE the boat?

That seems like a huge red flag.

[ausnp84]

Well let's see...


1.) The registered office address is in Croydon - nowhere near the ocean and instead looks to be a flat above a mechanics. Plus Croydon's the last place you'd go to buy a boat.

2.) The testimonials are littered with spelling mistakes

3.) The testimonial page images are predominantly of US registered boats.

4.) Not able to view a boat before purchase?

5.) A quick google brings up no reviews or easy to find web pages.


6.) Their Companies House history is flaky at best




I wouldn't trust these guys at all.


n

[mait]

Sure we are not gonna do any business with this "broker".
I am just wondering if any official steps should be taken to avoid somebody losing their money. Although chances are very low that someone will do business with them.

[MicHughV]

not being able to view a boat before purchase should get the attention of even a dead person....and " pre-payment".... wtf......might as well hold a gun to your head, scammers are everywhere these days...

[tarian]

Life is full of scammers and if you are scammed , then you did not do due diligence , as one poster has already uncovered some doggy facts why would anyone in their right minds give over money without seeing the boat, if you are that stupid then I suggest you tell us were you sail so we can avoid you . Come on seriously are we at the stage were we cannot see the trees because were in a forest, this is bad

[Rapanui]

It is a genuine UK registered company from 2007. I have never heard of them but that is not surprising as they deal in powerboats. There is no reason not to visit boats in UK providing you observe the current UK Covid advice. Looking at pictures of some of the boats for sale, some are definitely located outside the UK and depending where, Covid rules may prevent a visit.
My feeling is that the company is probably genuine but there may well have been a mis-communication. Perhaps asking where the boat you are interested in is located may make things clear.

[Capn Gee]

Hi,
I’m in Scotland and just had a look at the government companies house site for registered companies, it is there but not as a yacht or boat broker, it says it is a Sea and coastal freight water transport company.
Marinas in the UK are coming out of lockdown here and you can visit boats as long as social distancing is observed. I am off to see a yacht on Sunday, so brokers are active.
Hope that helps.
For me always look and try before you buy

[tbodine88]

Its hinky


The doamin is register to Namecheap ($12/year)
The webserver is hosted on offshoreservers.com


The company is register in the UK to Ole Henrik Sorenson


whose address is a real estate office in Croyden
http://https://www.google.com/maps/p...!4d-0.0994452#


Personally, If I can't see it before I buy it. I won't buy it.

[mait]

I've read about people buying sailboats from ebay without seeing them in person and being proud of it... I wouldn't be surprised if some fool buys from this company, too.

For me personally this case was closed after we read first response from Geola Maritime.

[Sailing August]

Don't do it! Its a scam.
The age of the yacht broker is over. They have been replaced by the internet. Only deal directly with the owner. Brokers bring no value to a transaction and they are asking up to 10% of the selling price.
Use the internet, deal directly with the owner and dont even consider a boat that they will not let you look at. DON'T give anyone money unless the title, bill of sale and full paper work are sitting directly in front of you on the table.....hire a lawyer for the transaction if you think something is not right. A few hundred dollars is worth the extra insurance.

[hoolie]

There have been several dodgy dealers in the UK. A favourite trick is post boat pictures picked up off the internet that, with a bit of devilling around, you can reveal. On balance I'd steer well clear of this outfit - there are lots of well-respected bono fide brokers in the UK that don't just operate over the internet

[friz]

At least he concocted a tale about selling boats and not outright pull a gun on you before stealing your money.