What a wonderful place the internet is for us....and for the crooks. Boat US has posted some excellent tips on how to avoid many of the traps -- here's the URL:

BoatUS.com/consumer/classifieds.asp

Here's one more for the list based on my Craigs List experience. As you have read, I am selling Charlie B. One of the places we have listed her is Craig's list. Aslmost as soon as the ad goes up,and at time of ad renewal, we get emails offering to buy the boat sight unseen at the asking price, "for my son (or other relative). But I am at sea andcan't be there for the pickup so I will put the money into your Paypal account. If you don't have a Paypal account, it's easy to get one and I can help show you how".

When you accept, he will send you a "Paypal" link to your account wich seems to show you've got a favorable balance - proof that you got paid.. There's the rub, the link he sends will wil take you to a site thaT looks like Paypal but it isn't legitimate. No funds will have been credited to your account. There will probably be an overpayment for some silly reason and you will be asked to send a check to reimburse the overpayment. That check will be cashed and the money out of your bank account before you can learn that the Paypal account doesn't exist.

The ONLY way to check your Paypal account is for you to navigate on your own to them (no links supplied by third parties, please)