SavyBoat.com is a premium online marketplace dedicated to providing high-quality nautical models and accessories to maritime enthusiasts, collectors, professionals, and dealers within the maritime community. We are committed to maintaining an environment where every transaction is conducted with confidence, transparency, and security. Fraud undermines the trust that our platform is built upon, and we are committed to protecting our users against fraudulent activity on the SavyBoat.com platform. This is a responsibility we take seriously and pursue with rigor.
The SavyBoat.com FRAUD PREVENTION POLICY sets forth the types of fraudulent activity we monitor, the measures we employ to detect and prevent fraud, and the obligations and rights of all parties who access or use the SavyBoat.com platform. By using our platform, all users agree to comply with the terms and conditions of this Policy. We encourage every member of our community to read this document carefully.
Our Commitment to a Secure Marketplace
SavyBoat.com approaches platform security with a layered, proactive philosophy. Our systems and our integration/partner systems are designed to detect suspicious behavior in an attempt to prevent unauthorized activity in real time and respond when a potential threat is identified. This approach combines automated technology with human interaction to ensure that edge cases and novel threats receive the careful attention they require.
Fraud harms more than its immediate victims. When trust is eroded within a marketplace, every honest buyer and seller suffers through higher costs, reduced confidence, and diminished community value. We believe protecting the integrity of SavyBoat.com is a shared responsibility, and our fraud prevention program reflects that commitment.
This Policy applies equally to all users of the platform, including but not limited to registered account holders, guest users, individual buyers, private sellers, and commercial dealers. Regardless of the nature or volume of your activity on SavyBoat.com, the standards and protections described herein apply to all.
Fraud Monitoring
SavyBoat.com attempts to monitor a broad range of fraudulent and deceptive behaviors. The categories below represent the most prevalent threat types on our various marketplace platforms. This list is not exhaustive or all-inclusive. Our systems are continuously updated in an attempt to address fraud patterns as they emerge.
Payment Fraud
Payment fraud involves the unauthorized use of stolen or compromised credit card numbers, debit card details, or bank account information to complete a purchase. Card-not-present (CNP) transactions are those processed without the physical card, as is the case with online purchases, and carry inherent risk. SavyBoat.com employs methods of payment verification to help mitigate this risk and protect both our customers and reseller community.
The primary method of payment fraud includes Account Takeover (ATO), identity fraud, and chargeback abuse/friendly fraud.
Account takeovers (ATO) occur when an unauthorized individual gains access to a legitimate user's SavyBoat.com account. This may occur through credential theft (where login details are obtained via data breaches on other platforms), phishing attacks, or brute-force attempts to guess passwords. Compromised accounts may be used to make unauthorized purchases, alter shipping details, or extract stored personal information.
Identity fraud involves the use of false, fabricated, or stolen personal information to create accounts or complete transactions on our platform. This includes impersonating another individual, using synthetic identity combinations, or providing counterfeit identity documents during verification processes.
Chargeback abuse, sometimes referred to as "friendly fraud", occurs when a customer initiates a dispute with their bank or card issuer for a legitimate transaction, claiming non-receipt or misrepresentation, while retaining the goods or services received. This practice constitutes fraud, causes direct financial harm to sellers, and is treated as a serious violation of this Policy.
Product Listing & Seller Fraud
SavyBoat.com prohibits the misrepresentation of any SavyBoat.com product, including but not limited to models, décor, accessories, or apparel listed on the platform. Listing fraud includes the creation of phantom listings for items that do not exist or are not available for sale, bait-and-switch tactics where a buyer is directed to a materially different product upon purchase, and the deliberate inflation or falsification of a product's condition and/or specifications.
Unusual purchasing patterns may indicate fraudulent intent or unauthorized use of payment credentials. Such patterns include high-volume orders placed within a short timeframe, multiple orders dispatched to a range of different addresses from a single account, and rapid repeat purchases that suggest organized resale fraud, unauthorized bulk acquisition, or card-testing behavior.
Promotional offers, discount codes, referral bonuses, and loyalty credits are intended for eligible individuals under clearly defined terms. Abuse may include creating multiple accounts to exploit single-use offers, using Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) or proxy servers to circumvent geographic eligibility restrictions, deploying automated bots to collect promotional codes, or sharing single-use codes with ineligible parties.
Though all of these methods of product and seller fraud are difficult to prevent, SavyBoat.com is committed to mitigating such attacks.
Phishing & Social Engineering
Phishing attacks involve fraudulent attempts to impersonate SavyBoat.com, through fake emails, counterfeit websites, and/or deceptive communications, in order to extract sensitive information such as but not limited to login credentials, payment details, or personal data. Social engineering encompasses any manipulation tactic designed to deceive a user into voluntarily disclosing confidential information or taking any action that compromises their privacy and/or security.
SavyBoat.com will never contact a customer or user by email, phone, or chat to request your password, full payment card number and CCV, or Social Security number. Any communication making such a request that DOES NOT originate from SavyBoat.com should be reported immediately to HELPDESK@SAVYBOAT.COM.
Detection & Prevention Measures
SavyBoat.com employs a fraud detection and prevention infrastructure, combining automated screening tools, behavioral analytics, and human review. The following describes the principal components of our fraud prevention program.
Transaction Screening
Every transaction processed on SavyBoat.com is subjected to automated real-time risk analysis. Our screening systems evaluate a range of risk signals, including discrepancies between billing and shipping addresses, anomalies in the originating IP address or geographic location, device fingerprinting data, and velocity checks that flag accounts placing an unusually high number of orders within a defined period. Orders that exceed our company’s established risk thresholds are automatically escalated for further review by SavyBoat.com staff.
For high-value transactions and seller onboarding, SavyBoat.com may require identity verification (IDV). This process involves the confirmation of government-issued identification documents in accordance with Know Your Customer (KYC) principles that are a standard industry practice for financial services and regulated marketplaces. This is done to help ensure and verify that all parties’ identities are accurate as they claim. KYC procedures protect both the platform and its honest users from the consequences of identity fraud.
SavyBoat.com employs payment authentication measures, including Card Verification Value (CVV/CVC) checks, Address Verification System (AVS) matching, which compares the billing address provided by the customer against the address on file with the card issuer, and 3D Secure (3DS) authentication for applicable card transactions, as applicable. 3DS is an additional industry security protocol that requires cardholder authentication directly with their bank before a transaction is approved, significantly reducing the risk of unauthorized card use.
SavyBoat.com collaborates with its payment processing partners, banking institutions, and specialist fraud intelligence networks to cross-reference known fraud signals and maintain awareness of emerging threats. This collaborative approach ensures that our fraud detection capabilities benefit from the breadth of intelligence shared across the payments industry.
All data transmitted between users and SavyBoat.com is encrypted using industry-standard Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) and Transport Layer Security (TLS) protocols. This helps protect personal information, payment data, and account credentials from being intercepted by unauthorized parties during transmission.
Our platform analyzes some patterns of use across sessions, devices, and purchase history in an attempt to identify anomalies that may indicate account compromise or fraudulent intent. Some signals evaluated include unusual login times, device switching, navigation patterns inconsistent with human browsing, and purchasing behavior that deviates materially from an account's established norms.
Manual Review Queue
Orders and accounts that are flagged as high risk by our systems are placed in a manual review queue and assessed by SavyBoat.com staff before any order proceeds to fulfillment. Our team may contact the customer to request additional verification information during this process. We endeavor to complete manual reviews promptly, with a view to minimizing disruption to legitimate transactions.
Order Holds, Cancellations & Account Suspension
SavyBoat.com reserves the right to take any actions it deems necessary, including but not limited to Order Holds, Order Cancellations, Account Suspension, Permanent Ban, Benefit Reversal and Withholding of Funds where fraud is suspected or confirmed, or where a user fails to cooperate with a verification request.
SavyBoat.com may place an order on hold pending verification or further investigation at any time and without prior notice to the customer. Orders placed on hold will not proceed to fulfillment until the review is complete.
An order may be cancelled where fraud is confirmed, or where the customer fails to respond to a verification request within forty-eight (48) hours of the request being issued. Cancelled orders will be communicated to the customer by email.
Accounts found to be associated with fraudulent activity, whether as a result of confirmed fraud, a pattern of suspicious behavior, or repeated policy violations, may be suspended or permanently banned from SavyBoat.com. The affected user will be notified where legally permissible.
SavyBoat.com may cancel any transaction, void any promotional offer, coupon, or referral credit, and reverse any account balance applied as a result of fraudulent or abusive activity in accordance with this policy.
Payments or funds received that are associated with an account under investigation may be held or forfeited pending the outcome of the review, at the sole discretion of SavyBoat.com and in accordance with applicable law(s).
Payment Security & Verification
SavyBoat.com does not store full payment card numbers on its systems. All payment data is processed exclusively through Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI-DSS) compliant payment processors, ensuring that your card details are handled in accordance with the highest applicable industry security standards.
Customers placing orders with a total value exceeding five thousand US dollars (USD $5,000) may be required to provide additional identity verification before the transaction is processed. This may include submission of a government-issued photo ID, proof of billing address, and/or a callback confirmation at the number associated with the account.
SavyBoat.com reserves the right to request identity and/or payment verification for any transaction, regardless of value, where concerns arise and/or when our systems identify risk signals that warrant further review.
Refunds are issued ONLY to the original payment method used at the time of purchase. No exceptions. Refunds to alternative payment methods, bank accounts, and/or third-party applications will not be processed for any reason.
SavyBoat.com ONLY accepts the payment methods explicitly listed through the website’s checkout. Wire transfers and peer-to-peer payment applications, including, but not limited to, Venmo, Cash App, and Zelle, are not accepted as payment methods on the SavyBoat.com platform. Communications requesting payment through these channels WILL NOT and DO NOT originate from SavyBoat.com and should be treated as a fraud attempt. Please report such communications immediately to HELPDESK@SAVYBOAT.COM.
Requests to pay or send money outside of the SavyBoat.com checkout, including via wire transfer, Zelle, or Cash App, are a strong indicator of fraud. DO NOT SEND ANY PAYMENTS to such a request, regardless of the source, and report the communication immediately.
Promotion& Discount Integrity
Promotional offers, discount codes and other offers issued by SavyBoat.com are only intended for eligible retail/online (non-reseller) customers and in accordance with the specific terms, conditions and restrictions detailed by the offer, communicated at the time of the offer and all applicable SavyBoat.com policies. Unless otherwise specified, promotional offers and discount codes are intended as a one-time use offer that is not combinable with any other offer/promotion, including referral bonuses and loyalty credits.
Activities that constitute promotional abuse and are prohibited under SavyBoat.com policies include, but are not limited to, creating multiple accounts to access single-use offers; using VPNs, proxy servers, or other technical means to circumvent geographic eligibility restrictions; employing automated bots or scripts to collect, generate, or exploit promotional codes; and sharing single-use codes with ineligible third parties.
Where promotional abuse is detected, SavyBoat.com reserves the right to void any and all relevant promotion, revoke any credits or discounts applied, cancel associated orders, and suspend the account(s) involved.
Any attempt to manipulate and SavyBoat.com affiliate program, referral scheme, and/or loyalty program, including, but not limited to, through coordinated account creation, artificial transaction cycling, or collusion with other users, will result in the forfeiture of all accrued benefits, cancellation of pending rewards, forfeiture of any balance on account and potential permanent account suspension.
Chargeback & Dispute Abuse
We strongly encourage customers with concerns about a transaction to contact SavyBoat.com at HELPDESK@SAVYBOAT.COM before initiating any chargeback with their bank or card issuer. In many cases, our team can resolve disputes efficiently and to the customer's satisfaction without the need for a formal chargeback process.
Chargeback abuse, also referred to as "friendly fraud". It occurs when a customer disputes a legitimate, fulfilled transaction with their financial institution to obtain a refund while illicitly retaining the goods and/or services purchased and provided. This practice constitutes fraud and is in direct violation of SavyBoat.com policies and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent allowed by law.
SavyBoat.com reserves the right to formally dispute any chargeback that is determined or assumed to be illegitimate. We will provide the relevant financial institution with all applicable evidence, including, but not limited to, order records, delivery confirmation, electronic and audio correspondence/communications, and fraud signals in support of any dispute.
SavyBoat.com reserves the right to pursue recovery of losses resulting from confirmed chargeback fraud through available civil legal channels, including where the value of losses justifies such action.
Where our systems detect signs consistent with potential account compromise, including but not limited to, login from an unfamiliar location, unusual transaction patterns, or failed authentication attempts, the affected account may be temporarily locked pending identity verification by the legitimate account holder.
SavyBoat.com handles and stores all personal data in compliance with applicable data protection laws and regulations. For further information regarding the collection, use, and storage of personal data, please refer to the SavyBoat.com Privacy Policy.
Customer Responsibilities
By accessing and using the SavyBoat.com platform, all users represent and agree to the following:
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Violations of any SavyBoat.com Policy may result in immediate suspension, cancellation of pending orders, forfeiture of payments and promotional balances, and civil or criminal legal action depending on the severity of the conduct.
Fraud Reporting
Suspected fraud, including but not limited to, suspicious communications, impersonation attempts, requests for payment outside of the SavyBoat.com platform, or unauthorized account activity should be reported directly to SavyBoat.com at HELPDESK@SAVYBOAT.COM. When reporting an issue, please include as much detail as possible, including screenshots, listing URLs, and any relevant correspondence. ALL reported submissions are treated with strict confidentiality. SavyBoat.com does not share the identity of reporters with the subject of any investigation except where required by law.
Where SavyBoat.com determines that a user has engaged in fraudulent activity, the following consequences may apply, individually or in combination, depending on the nature and severity of the conduct:
- Immediate account suspension pending investigation, or permanent ban from SavyBoat.com upon confirmation of fraud.
- Cancellation of all pending and future orders associated with the account.
- Forfeiture of all accrued payment credits, gift certificates, loyalty and referral credits, promotional balances, and any other outstanding platform incentives and payments.
- Reporting to relevant law enforcement agencies and financial institutions, including card issuers, banks, and payment processors, as appropriate to the nature of fraud.
- Civil legal action to recover financial and other losses sustained by SavyBoat.com or its company or users as a result of fraudulent conduct.
- Criminal referral to appropriate authorities where the severity or scale of the fraud warrants such action.
SavyBoat.com cooperates fully and transparently with all law enforcement investigations relating to fraudulent activity on its platform. We retain transaction records, account data, and communications logs in accordance with company policies and applicable legal obligations, and will produce such records in response to all lawful requests.
Limitation of Liability
SavyBoat.com is committed to the use of industry-leading fraud prevention measures. However, no fraud prevention program can guarantee the complete elimination of all fraudulent activity. SavyBoat.com does not warrant that its platform will be entirely free from fraud at all times.
SavyBoat.com is not liable for, or responsible in any way for any losses, inconvenience, or consequential damages resulting from delays to, or loss of any order or other transaction caused by fraud or our fraud review processes.
SavyBoat.com is not liable for, or responsible in any way, for any unauthorized transactions that result from a user's failure to adequately protect their account credentials, including through the use of weak passwords, the reuse of credentials compromised in third-party data breaches, or the disclosure of login details to unauthorized parties.
SavyBoat.com is not liable for, or responsible in any way, for any fraudulent transaction or unauthorized activity on its platform to the extent permitted by law. This policy excludes or limits any statutory rights that users may have under applicable consumer protection legislation.
Policy Updates
SavyBoat.com reserves the right to update, amend, or replace this Fraud Prevention Policy at any time to reflect changes in our practices, applicable law, or the evolving threat landscape without notice. The most current version of this Policy will be available on the SavyBoat.com website.
Continued access to or use of SavyBoat.com following the effective date of any Policy update constitutes acceptance of the revised Policy. Users who do not agree to the updated terms should discontinue use of the platform and close their account by contacting HELPDESK@SAVYBOAT.COM.
SavyBoat.com encourages all users to review this Policy periodically to remain informed of the protections in place and their responsibilities as members of the SavyBoat.com community.