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Old 30 December 2019, 04:10 AM   #1
saint777
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Need Help Possible Scam

Anyone know peterhansen1? i received a DM from him regarding a watch im looking for (Tudor 79170). He sent me pictures and a video.

His location says Rapid SD, but he said he is in West Virginia. The email address he is using is pete74hansen@gmail.com.

If anyone can help verify i appreciate it.

Thanks
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Old 30 December 2019, 04:17 AM   #2
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His few posts here all resolve to an IP address in Brooklyn, New York.
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Old 30 December 2019, 05:03 AM   #3
Fredrik
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Do a reverse lookup of the pictures he sent you or post them here.
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Old 30 December 2019, 07:58 AM   #4
lear60man
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If you google 'pete74hansen@gmail.com' you will get Zero results. That screams throw away email address used for bad reasons. Most people have a digital footprint from real names, screen names and email addresses.

Big red flag....walk.
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Old 30 December 2019, 10:38 AM   #5
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Originally Posted by lear60man View Post
If you google 'pete74hansen@gmail.com' you will get Zero results. That screams throw away email address used for bad reasons. Most people have a digital footprint from real names, screen names and email addresses.

Big red flag....walk.
I just want to chime in - I've been using the same email address for 20 years but keep a very small digital footprint...you won't find my email on the internet anywhere either, but I wouldn't let that be a deterrent from doing business with me!
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Old 30 December 2019, 02:25 PM   #6
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He just sent me an email with the pic. I should just use PayPal, if anything goes I can always do a charge back.




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Old 30 December 2019, 06:34 PM   #7
lear60man
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I just want to chime in - I've been using the same email address for 20 years but keep a very small digital footprint...you won't find my email on the internet anywhere either, but I wouldn't let that be a deterrent from doing business with me!
True, its just one red flag. My second sentence is the rest of the 'must do' list. Your screen name has a lengthy digital footprint relating back to this forum and some others. That would indicate a that you have a vested interest in this community from a buyers standpoint.
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Old 30 December 2019, 10:43 PM   #8
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He just sent me an email with the pic. I should just use PayPal, if anything goes I can always do a charge back.




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Any you are willing to risk your money on that?

Why are you so desperate to buy this watch?
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Old 31 December 2019, 03:13 AM   #9
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Hi have been looking for this watch for sometime, and the price is good.

But I might just pass on it.




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Old 31 December 2019, 05:26 AM   #10
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He just sent me an email with the pic. I should just use PayPal, if anything goes I can always do a charge back.

That is an obvious photo-shop job.
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Old 31 December 2019, 05:28 AM   #11
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Hi have been looking for this watch for sometime, and the price is good.

But I might just pass on it.
Dude, use your head and run away. "Might" pass on it?
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Old 31 December 2019, 05:35 AM   #12
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@freefly gore can you tell? I checked the pic it looked pretty good. Shadows on the pic looked good.

Unless these &$@&!$& are getting really good.




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Old 31 December 2019, 08:17 AM   #13
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As someone who uses photoshop on a daily basis as it's part of my job, I can tell you 100% that isn't photoshopped
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Old 31 December 2019, 08:46 AM   #14
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Yeah, I won't speak to whether the seller is a scammer or not, but I would bet real decent money that it is not a photoshopped photo. Too much detail on the marker pen (look at the 7s with different fading) and who would remember to put in a shadow for the iPhone on the bottom of the notepad...
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Old 31 December 2019, 09:00 AM   #15
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A word of caution. If using PayPal DO NOT use "Sending to a friend" to save fees, use only "Paying for an item or service" or your transaction will not be covered by PayPal's purchase protection. Also, use a credit card as your funding source.

I (and several others) got burned here buying a watch from a previously good seller who went bad. PP did nothing to help but my CC company finally was able to reverse the transaction.
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Old 31 December 2019, 09:45 AM   #16
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Just facetime the seller and see the watch in real life. Then pay only with Paypal using CC and offer to pay fees if the seller baulks
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Old 31 December 2019, 10:08 AM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mills_ View Post
Yeah, I won't speak to whether the seller is a scammer or not, but I would bet real decent money that it is not a photoshopped photo. Too much detail on the marker pen (look at the 7s with different fading) and who would remember to put in a shadow for the iPhone on the bottom of the notepad...
Quote:
As someone who uses photoshop on a daily basis as it's part of my job, I can tell you 100% that isn't photoshopped
Agreed +1
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Old 31 December 2019, 01:29 PM   #18
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Allan and Corrado that’s what I was planning to do.

Thanks
V


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Old 31 December 2019, 01:32 PM   #19
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And don’t forget to let us know what happens:-) tks
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Old 31 December 2019, 01:35 PM   #20
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If you feel the need to post then you already question his validity. I think you already know the answer...
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Old 31 December 2019, 03:01 PM   #21
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Originally Posted by Jayreynolds View Post
As someone who uses photoshop on a daily basis as it's part of my job, I can tell you 100% that isn't photoshopped
Well, as someone who deals with PS for a living, I suppose I would defer to your evaluation.

However, it looks very, very similar to the countless scams using "post-it note" PS jobs that have started to plague the watch forums and eBay. The early ones were very easy to spot, but the scammers have gotten a lot more PS savvy over the last couple years, and have improved their skills, which include shading/shadows, layer integration, configuring tools to render/flatten/equalize images and/or soften "paste" layers to look natural. They have also gotten very good at PS-ing the hands to reflect a specific time that a prospective buyer might request. All of the above has been confirmed by seeing/finding several of the original "host" images that scammers have used for their "work".

On this particular image, the shadow of the crown/pushers appears to have perspective and contrast issues. The "seem" in the alligator pattern between the lower lugs/bracelet and the post-it appears out of place, and doesn't follow the lighting pattern. Also, the shadow at the very bottom of the post-it note appears to have a complete lack of "spill" onto the leather that it is sitting on.
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Old 31 December 2019, 03:15 PM   #22
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Yeah, I won't speak to whether the seller is a scammer or not, but I would bet real decent money that it is not a photoshopped photo. Too much detail on the marker pen (look at the 7s with different fading)
The writing on the post-it is not PS'd. The typical scam involves a real post-it/piece of paper with real handwriting, which is then PS'd in its entirety onto a (stolen) host image of a watch.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mills_ View Post
who would remember to put in a shadow for the iPhone on the bottom of the notepad...
Maybe, but as above, one of my concerns is: Why doesn't that shadow extend beyond the border of the post-it note?

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Old 31 December 2019, 03:41 PM   #23
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Need Help Possible Scam

Quote:
Originally Posted by freefly View Post
The writing on the post-it is not PS'd. The typical scam involves a real post-it/piece of paper with real handwriting, which is then PS'd in its entirety onto a (stolen) host image of a watch.



Maybe, but as above, one of my concerns is: Why doesn't that shadow extend beyond the border of the post-it note?





Your suspicions are well-founded. IMO the photo is a fake.

OP: the fact that you have zero feedback on this guy is your #1 problem in this matter. Remember, buy the seller first.




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Old 31 December 2019, 11:46 PM   #24
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R H side of the post it looks suspect imo.
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Old 1 January 2020, 03:55 AM   #25
saint777
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I asked the guy to send me a PayPal invoice and I will pay through PayPal.

He said he doesn’t have PayPal and he would like to use his friends account and he would like me to send it via friends/family...

I told him to F off....


Thanks all for your inputs...




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Old 1 January 2020, 12:29 PM   #26
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It may be time to alert a Mod about this member. The fake photo should be the red flag, but that last part is super suspicious.

A WatchOut thread in that section could warn other members, too.


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Old 1 January 2020, 09:49 PM   #27
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Quote:
Originally Posted by freefly View Post
Well, as someone who deals with PS for a living, I suppose I would defer to your evaluation.

However, it looks very, very similar to the countless scams using "post-it note" PS jobs that have started to plague the watch forums and eBay. The early ones were very easy to spot, but the scammers have gotten a lot more PS savvy over the last couple years, and have improved their skills, which include shading/shadows, layer integration, configuring tools to render/flatten/equalize images and/or soften "paste" layers to look natural. They have also gotten very good at PS-ing the hands to reflect a specific time that a prospective buyer might request. All of the above has been confirmed by seeing/finding several of the original "host" images that scammers have used for their "work".

On this particular image, the shadow of the crown/pushers appears to have perspective and contrast issues. The "seem" in the alligator pattern between the lower lugs/bracelet and the post-it appears out of place, and doesn't follow the lighting pattern. Also, the shadow at the very bottom of the post-it note appears to have a complete lack of "spill" onto the leather that it is sitting on.
Thanks for this great post. I looked at all the details you mentioned, and damn, you're right on every one. I never would have spotted this, but now I've learned that it's all possible with a little focus and determination.

Thanks for teaching us to be sharper observers!

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Old 2 January 2020, 04:38 AM   #28
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Face time to see the watch and ask him to set the watch to a specific time (and date).
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Old 4 January 2020, 07:08 AM   #29
indi
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The same peterhansen also contacted me about the watch im looking for.
Fraud for sure. Beware.
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Old 5 January 2020, 12:42 PM   #30
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Even IP address is not going to be 100%

Quote:
Originally Posted by Welshwatchman View Post
His few posts here all resolve to an IP address in Brooklyn, New York.
dont forget a person can just use a VPN and look like they are anywhere.
(Virtual private network)
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