A Cautionary Tale (with a Happy Ending)

[matt.wu]

I'll try to keep this brief as possible, but it's an amazing story (as far as online watch forums go) that comes with a detailed warning.

Synopsis: I was scammed out of a Rolex, but I got it back a month later. Details about the scammer at the end.

What Happened?

Two months ago, I was selling a watch (as I often do), when I was approached by a fellow looking to buy it (an IWC Yacht Club). Everything went smoothly. I received a wire transfer, and I shipped the watch. The receiving address was a hotel, but this was during the week of Thanksgiving, so I didn't think anything of it. The buyer was very well-spoken and familiar with the "forum lingo" as well as specifics of different watches, etc...

A month later, I listed up a Rolex that I had modified, fairly extensively, in a number of different ways. This same buyer emails me to offer a trade (Rolex for Rolex), of watches comparable in value. No "too good to be true" bells went off due to valuation, plus I'd already done a deal with this fellow before, so we agreed to ship on a set day. This time, the recipient address was at a CBI USA location in Niagara Falls, NY. This was closer to Christmas, and he was supposedly with his family for the holidays and to care for his mom, so it was acceptable explanation. You can guess what happened: "oops, I missed the deadline for shipping, I will drop it off tomorrow". The next day, he emailed to say he dropped it off, and that was the last communication I got from him.

Normally, this would be a sad ending to many scam stories on the forum. I'm certainly not the first one to fall to something like this. But not in my case.

Fast forward a month to last week, and out of the blue I get a text from a good buddy from the forums, Matt Herrera, saying, "Hey Wu! Check this out. Someone else did the same mod as you did!". Mind you, he had no idea I had had this watch stolen from me. He sent me a photo, and immediately I knew it was mine. We confirmed via serial number that this was my watch and confirmed the guy selling it was the scammer by inquiring about the history of the watch (he claimed he was the original owner). This was the same guy, trying to "launder" the stolen watch. Matt agreed to help me out, got the scumbag scammer to agree to the trade and to ship first. Unaware that Matt knew everything, the scammer shipped his (my) watch and provided shipping information for the watch in return (lo and behold, a nearby CBI USA location).

So here we are today, and in the world's largest stroke of luck, coincidence, and awesome friendships I've made over the years on the forums, I now have my watch back. The scammer got notified via email that he will not be receiving anything back in return, and that he's had criminal charges filed against him (he's since completely cut off communications). The next step is this post to inform the watch forum communities about this guy's MO so we can be aware of him or others like him.

But first, of course, I'd like to give the hugest of thanks to Matt Herrera for single-handedly helping me to recover my watch. You won't find a better gentleman in the watch world.

...unlike this guy:

Scammer Details

This guy is well-versed in how to speak like a forumer and understands how legitimate transactions usually go down. He's spoken of "can you wait a day, I'd like to try on the watch at an AD", or "I've had this watch modded by Jack @ IWW", or other things that only forumers would mention.

He's been very sly about exposing names or location, but it does seem like he's in the Toronto, Canada area. My watch shipped from there, and the CBI USA locations that he used to receive packages are common locations for Canadians to have US packages shipped.

Names used:
- Jim Beaumont (jimbobeaumont@gmail.com)
- Marc Fong (boltgmbh@gmail.com)
- Janice Kwan (wife name used for package deliver at hotel)

Shipping info:
- CBI USA @ 1711 Cudaback Ave, Niagara Falls, NY, 14303 (Box number 935894)
- CBI USA @ 2416 Military Road, Niagara Falls, NY 14304 (Box number 936448)

Bank account:
- I received a wire from a Central Pacific Bank account under the name of Jim Beaumont
- I do have the account number as well, but won't expose it in case it was a stolen account belonging to a legitimate person

Phone numbers:
- (437) 887-9468
- (425) 250-6828

I've spoken with local police, NY police, and HI police, and will continue to do so. And I know he's scammed others (some whom I'm corresponding with). Things are still ongoing, but in the meantime, I'd like my forum friends to all be aware of his MO and aliases. I doubt he'll use the same names again, as he's changed things up both times so far, but you never know.

Please feel free to contact me for further details. I was a lucky one this time around and only hope this can help others from being scammed by the same guy.

[mrh1797]

It was my pleasure to help in any way I could Matt. I am glad your watch is going back where it belongs.

[dualcarb]

Thanks for the heads up...

[MP5]

Happy ending! What is a cbi address if you don't mind

[JizJizJiz]

Karma. 2 great guys I'm fortunate to call my friends. It's a small watch world out there, love the camaraderie.


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[HL65]

Crazy and glad it worked out...Well done Matt!

[Lgear080]

What a great story. Incredible the this moron couldn't stay off the forums.

Very impressed by your diligence. Please keep us posted on his imminent legal trouble.

[incontrol]

Great story! Nice job in trying to get this creep off the web!

[MonBK]

Great story with a fantastic outcome.

[mjclark32]

Glad that it worked out for you!

[Colina19]

Good job Matt.

[brandrea]

Wow, glad it worked out in the end!

[toph]

Great outcome. Well done Gents!

[function12]

What a wild story. Greed got the best of him.

[Alcan]

Originally Posted by MP5

Happy ending! What is a cbi address if you don't mind

This:

http://www.cbiusa.com/

[matt.wu]

Thanks guys.

Just to confirm, there are plenty of legitimate watch deals, especially between US and Canada, that go down using CBI for delivery. Please don't write it off completely. However, it certainly is a convenient way for a thief to conceal his/her identity, so be aware to carefully vet the identity of the person you are transacting with if that's the case.

[AK797]

Glad you got your watch back. I would never do a trade and send first, not even if the member was well known, just my rule.

[MP5]

Originally Posted by AK797

Glad you got your watch back. I would never do a trade and send first, not even if the member was well known, just my rule.

I have done it many times and no problems with good members. There are many good and trustworthy members here and it would be sad indeed if the trust ever feel to where I would not send first or just for them to check out.

[Tri-Tip]

Are you saying that this guy does a legit trade once of a lower value item to gain your trust, and then on the 2nd one, wham-o, hits you up for a more significant piece?

[bayerische]

Warms my heart!

[Rogdogg]

Well done on getting your watch back. Well done to Matt also for being so vigilant, if even by accident. I'm delighted that you got your watch back. To think if it wasn't for your mod Matt probably would have passed over it without thinking about you.
I hope that guy gets what's coming to him as well. Karma can be a b!tch.

[djemmtee]

terrible situation but with a great outcome! well done guys!

[RazorD]

Great story! Glad everything worked out well and thanks for sharing with us.

[Ascotshoes]

Thanks for this Matt - really appreciate the happy ending.

Trust is everything.

[jcd]

Congrats on a great outcome for you!

It's a shame that there are so many dishonest individuals out there. It makes it harder than it should be to buy/sell/trade. Especially for those of us that only do it a couple times a year.

[Gaijin]

Great story.

[forgedblades]

Pic of stolen item? Would love to see the mods.

[lisalisa]

So happy to hear a happy ending!!


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[nsumner]

Wow Matt! Just saw this. It's quite an amazing story and quite a stroke of luck.
It's great to have a forum full of friends watching our backs!
I'm glad it all worked out in the end.

[m j b]

Glad to read that it all worked out in the end. Hopefully this thief will get his just rewards.