I have read a similar thread on a boat forum a few years back.
Funny, the thread post was similar like, "SUNKEN BOAT, NEED HELP."
The guy claimed to have accidentally sunk his boat, and for some reason like injured father or cousin/death in family he couldn't locate it. He says he really needs help to recover it.
People who live nearby are offering to help locate it, some offer diving services, people wasted their time and resources trying to help and a few sent him money.
Anyway, the guy strings people along for months with secret locations, no showing for scheduled searches etc.
If I can remember right, the guy got maybe $500 and other donations related to boating.
Then, he disappears. Surprise, surprise.
This may or may not be a similar case here, I dunno.