New level of scammers, be aware!

[nguyen.hung.levis]

Recently, I saw a Rolex watch selling in Timezone. The seller is a longtime member of the forum but only started selling watches recently. I do not know if the account was hacked or not, I cannot confirm. The fact is the price is not too good to be true but at a fair market price. I contacted the seller via email. The negotiation was smooth and I could easily get a deal. I asked him for refs and contacted refs from Rolexforum. All refs replied that I can deal with the seller with confidence and rated A+++. However, I took an extra step by using google image, which later found that the seller used photos from a trust seller guy on Instagram in Asia. The trick is, the scammer may sell 1 or 2 real watches to get refs and then start selling fake ones or you will never receive anything. Scammers can also follow their ads by saying some watches were sold to make you feel that the deals were real. So, be aware!

[cop414]

So did you send him funds or not? If not then you haven’t been scammed, if you did then you probably were.
Do you know if he’s a member here on TRF? If so what’s his screen name?

[gejay99]

That is scary...there's too many scammers lurking here and it's just a huge turn off to even make a deal from here...I have yet to get a good offer from a reputable person..either all low balls or scam emails.

It's a great community, just such a shame that we're all a constant target from these lowlifes.

I hope you were able to dodge that Devil!

[214270Explorer]

Great job doing your homework!

[neophyte88]

F2F is the best, if you happen to be on the same state.

[nguyen.hung.levis]

Originally Posted by cop414

So did you send him funds or not? If not then you haven’t been scammed, if you did then you probably were.
Do you know if he’s a member here on TRF? If so what’s his screen name?

I did my homework, man! I did not say that I was scammed. I just want to warn everyone about this. This guy provided his refs from this forum but he does not a member here.

The fact is I asked the guy to send me a photo with his ID, the watch with a specific time, and Paypal payment, of course, I will cover the fee. He insisted that he wants bank wire. After I confirmed with the real seller of the watch and sent the guy the link of photos of the real seller. Then, he did not reply anymore.

Bear in mind that asking a photo with a specific time may not be sufficient. The scammer may ask the real seller to send him photos and forward them to you.

[luial]

Which Rolex watch was this? I too was almost purchasing from sellers (2) in TRF and after a few email exchanges decided not to pursue them.
I'll stick to trusted sellers here in TRF.

[cop414]

Originally Posted by nguyen.hung.levis

I did my homework, man! I did not say that I was scammed. I just want to warn everyone about this. This guy provided his refs from this forum but he does not a member here.

The fact is I asked the guy to send me a photo with his ID, the watch with a specific time, and Paypal payment, of course, I will cover the fee. He insisted that he wants bank wire. After I confirmed with the real seller of the watch and sent the guy the link of photos of the real seller. Then, he did not reply anymore.

Bear in mind that asking a photo with a specific time may not be sufficient. The scammer may ask the real seller to send him photos and forward them to you.

[sp006]

Originally Posted by gejay99

That is scary...there's too many scammers lurking here and it's just a huge turn off to even make a deal from here...I have yet to get a good offer from a reputable person..either all low balls or scam emails.

It's a great community, just such a shame that we're all a constant target from these lowlifes.

I hope you were able to dodge that Devil!

You just sold a Panerai and a Daytona in the past week or so.

What do you mean by you have yet to get a good offer from a reputable person?


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[danicasi2002]

Are the references even legit? I had one experience when I received immediate responses from the other members of timezone about how great the seller is. When I dug further and look for the references' earlier post and find a number. Called the person and found out he never sent a reference. The scammers have even hacked the references' accounts.

[jimly]

Thanks for sharing

[nguyen.hung.levis]

Originally Posted by danicasi2002

Are the references even legit? I had one experience when I received immediate responses from the other members of timezone about how great the seller is. When I dug further and look for the references' earlier post and find a number. Called the person and found out he never sent a reference. The scammers have even hacked the references' accounts.

I cannot confirm whether the refs are legit or not? but you may be right, the scammers could have hacked the refs account.

[77T]

Just for what it’s worth, this is an age old from of online selling trickery that started on eBay. And it started long before the internet - https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_C._Parker



• People on eBay posting pictures in a listing from anywhere they could find them,
• Holding sham auctions won by “bidders” using multiple fake accounts
• Posting positive feedback via the fake auctions
•After a few months of this, they lay a trap for unsuspecting buyers using puffed-up fake references.

People have been cross-posting fake listings on watch forums for years.

The legit checks that OP used are great for investigating such scams.

I believe these threads are useful to help educate the newer members - and to reinforce good buying practices.


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[NachoNeal]

Originally Posted by nguyen.hung.levis

Recently, I saw a Rolex watch selling in Timezone. The seller is a longtime member of the forum but only started selling watches recently. I do not know if the account was hacked or not, I cannot confirm. The fact is the price is not too good to be true but at a fair market price. I contacted the seller via email. The negotiation was smooth and I could easily get a deal. I asked him for refs and contacted refs from Rolexforum. All refs replied that I can deal with the seller with confidence and rated A+++. However, I took an extra step by using google image, which later found that the seller used photos from a trust seller guy on Instagram in Asia. The trick is, the scammer may sell 1 or 2 real watches to get refs and then start selling fake ones or you will never receive anything. Scammers can also follow their ads by saying some watches were sold to make you feel that the deals were real. So, be aware!

Good job!!

[chaosiwe]

How do you do Google search of the picture?

[jayrawk]

The same experience I had with a seller I met on Instagram, who tried to sell me a 1803. He sent me pictures and I did a Google search and he took the photo from another sellers eBay auction. I guess he does custom jewelry and is "somewhat" legit, but when I found the photo on an eBay auction I stepped away. I ended up just going to a legit jeweler with a store to get my 1803. Beware!!!

[chinaski]

Reputable seller for me only, DavidSW, Bernard Watch etc. I won't buy from an individual at all. Too many tricks, I work too hard for my money to get scammed.

[nguyen.hung.levis]

Originally Posted by chaosiwe

How do you do Google search of the picture?

You can use Googe Image:

https://www.google.com/imghp?hl=en

You can download the photo you want to check to your computer and upload it into google image. Google will tell you if the photo has been posted somewhere.

As an example, I recently saw an ad for the hulk from the guy ksporty in this forum and with google image, i could say that the ad was posted by a scammer . So the nick was banned i believe.

[nguyen.hung.levis]

Originally Posted by chinaski

Reputable seller for me only, DavidSW, Bernard Watch etc. I won't buy from an individual at all. Too many tricks, I work too hard for my money to get scammed.

Scammers can also be as a buyer. I learned this expensive lesson 5 years ago when I sold a watch to a guy which later turned out that the cash I received was fake when I tried to deposit the money to my account via ATM.

[danicasi2002]

Originally Posted by nguyen.hung.levis

I cannot confirm whether the refs are legit or not? but you may be right, the scammers could have hacked the refs account.

one of the questionable references even reached out to me before I even sent him a message. overzealous scammer.

[twsti321]

I was going to Las Vegas f2f with a seller, but it was ok late for this week.

[gejay99]

Originally Posted by sp006

You just sold a Panerai and a Daytona in the past week or so.

What do you mean by you have yet to get a good offer from a reputable person?


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Those weren't sold through TRF, I also have listings elsewhere such as ebay and Facebook marketplace. And yes, I have done deals buying and selling from outside TRF, but we also are members here.