We are receiving reports of fraudulent ads listed in our result pages. These are mainly coming out of or through the UK and are placed on free-to-list sites. Some are using VOIP telephone numbers or numbers starting with +4470 (eg: +44 704) that are routing through the UK but are originating abroad, seemingly from African countries. Beware of heavy accents! Do NOT send any deposits directly to the seller. We've even had cases reported where lawyers receiving deposits were either fake or involved with the fraud, so ALWAYS use a licensed Escrow company, preferably of your choosing.
For general aviation aircraft there should never be a need to send a deposit before an aircraft inspection. When you are at a point of placing a deposit or completing the purchase we recommend the use of escrow services which protect both buyer and seller. Use a licensed escrow company. These companies are regulated by national or state authorities and are required to have bonds that ensure customers can recoup money lost in the escrow process. Genuine online escrow companies will be listed on a Government register, and it is advised that users should never use an online escrow service without first verifying that it is genuine, by independently viewing a Government online register.
Not all scams are from bogus sellers; some bogus purchaser also have their angle... Example: Prospective buyer says they had a wasted tip & expense to view another aircraft and then asks the seller to share the cost of "Title Insurance" or some other expense. We personally had this happen, but unfortunately for the bogus purchaser, the story they gave was easily discredited and all we lost was time & effort. As a seller you should NEVER need to send any funds to a prospective purchaser.
If you believe that you have seen a fraudulent ad, first report it to the website owner to have the ad investigated. Also, let us know and we'll remove the ad from our results if sufficient evidence is provided, however, unfortunately, we don't have the resources to pursue the matter further on your behalf.
In the unfortunate event that you have been the victim of fraud or you suspect fraud we recommend that you report this to the police of the country of the fraudster. Here are some links that may help you recover your money or maybe stop others losing theirs...
Report fraud in Canada with the...
Report fraud in the UK with the...
Report fraud in the US with the...
We would be pleased to hear from the GlobalPlaneSearch community if they have any advice that may help others...
Buyer Beware!!!
Safe surfing,
GPS Team