Across the marine industry, we are seeing a noticeable increase in fraud tied to boat purchase transactions. Online marketplaces, interstate sales, and remote closings have made buying and selling more convenient, but they have also created new opportunities for bad actors. In recent months, more buyers have reported fraudulent listings, deposit theft, title misrepresentation, and … Continue reading Boat Buying Scams: Warning Signs & Prevention
Kicking Off With AVDA: Why Accurate HINs Are Everyone’s Business
We were excited to kick off a great run of events in Norco, California at the American Vessel Documentation Association (AVDA) Annual Conference. Representing both the National Marine Lenders Association and Boat History Report, Caroline Mantel shared updates on key policy initiatives and led a discussion on one of the simplest, most powerful fraud controls … Continue reading Kicking Off With AVDA: Why Accurate HINs Are Everyone’s Business
Spooky Scary Skeletons: What’s Lurking Beneath the Deck?
This Halloween, we’re not just hunting ghosts - we’re helping boat buyers and lenders avoid the skeletons hiding in plain sight. Whether it’s a sunken past, undisclosed accident damage, or a history of shady sales, vessels with a hidden history can create serious problems after purchase. And the worst part? Most of the time, you … Continue reading Spooky Scary Skeletons: What’s Lurking Beneath the Deck?
Caroline Mantel Joins Sea Tow Foundation’s Boating Safety Advisory Council
We are proud to share that our Director of Business Development, and long-time advocate for safer waterways, Caroline Mantel, has been selected to serve on the Sea Tow Foundation’s Boating Safety Advisory Council. This council brings together leaders from across the marine industry who share a single goal, helping more people enjoy boating safely and … Continue reading Caroline Mantel Joins Sea Tow Foundation’s Boating Safety Advisory Council
Fraud in Marine Lending
When AI Makes Fraud Look Real: Takeaways from NMLA During last month’s National Marine Lenders Association conference in Coeur d’Alene, our Director of Business Development and NMLA Board Member, Caroline Mantel, led a session on fraud in marine lending. To make the risks real, she ran a live experiment. Caroline asked ChatGPT to generate a … Continue reading Fraud in Marine Lending