Acutally there are scams reported with yacht brokers in the United States every year also. I first learned about these because one of my wife's good friends ex-husband was one of those unscrouplous yacht brokers. He inherited the brokerage, and was basically taking deposits on boats which were never delivered, selling used and consignment boats and never forewarding the proceeds to the previous owner, and selling the same boat several times. He served 5 years in the federal pen, but the proceeds of his ill gotten gains were never found. Less than a year after being released from prision, he was arrested again, for the same scam, only with classic cars. He is currently back in the pen. However I hear of similar cases every year. So buyer and seller beware!--It is not only over seas that this happens. Take care, Bob Austin