- Posts
- 732
- Likes
- 2,970
robinhook
·OFers, I sadly have a $2500 loss to report as the buyer of an Omega Speedy 3570.50 posted by a now banned ID on the Rolex Forums (TRF). The original selling thread is now removed. I learned that the ID was hacked. Apologize here to the real TRFer of this ID, the facts below have nothing to do with this person obviously.
I sent the "seller" $2500 via bank transfer for the watch on Sunday (5/19). He has been communicating to me up till Friday (5/24) and acknowledged receiving the fund. He promised to ship the package on Friday (5/24) then claimed missing the post office hours. I did not notice the ID was banned until Saturday (5/25). No response so far on Saturday and Sunday.
I contacted the Moderators of TRF, who are really helpful, and was informed that the ID was banned because it was hacked. I think the real user realized sales posts and PMs were send without his knowledge, and contacted the Moderators. The Moderators already checked the phone number provided in the PMs by the hacker and it was related to some health insurance scam in the past.
I checked the ID's history before deciding to pay with wire. Seems the account has a long term history and feedbacks over a long period of time both as buyers and sellers. I did not think about the hacked account scenario... pretty difficult to identify even with due diligence.
For now let me share with the forum all info I have about this hacker for warning purpose:
1. The phone number is 385-263-3203, area code is Salt Lake City;
2. Email: [email protected]
3. Bank account info:
- Bank name: Wells Fargo
- Account Owner Name: Bonnie L Locklear (Update: this is most likely a hacked account too so Bonnie may not be the scammer)
- Account Number: 9725241377
- Bank Address: 1120 Military Cutoff Rd., Wilmington, NC 28405
4. Moderator team provided the IP of the account: 64.83.168.1, which is located in Wisconsin
I called San Jose PD in CA (where I'm located) already and they can't do much as they know everything about these people are fake and often located outside of the US.
I used bank wire out of my checking account, not credit card, and the hacker deliberately continued to communicate until the funds were fully settled. So I don't think the bank can do anything now.
I'd say with their ability to hack accounts, the phone number linked to a different type of scam (insurance), and the way they operate... this is most likely a criminal group, and these people are pros, most likely out of the U.S., and I'm basically hopeless.
I have to say that there are still suspicious details that I should have been more alerted about:
1. I click the original sales post once after making the deal and noticed it was removed. But I did not think too much, maybe it's sold so the seller deleted it. I did not go further to check other posts of the ID, otherwise I should have seen the ID being banned;
2. I asked for additional pictures via text but did not ask for a time stamped picture;
3. The ID info clearly disclosed the real name as ****, but the bank account holder's name is Bonnie. Again I did not think too much and thought maybe it's his wife...
4. There were typos in the bank address when they provided me the info. They provided the street number as 1121, I did a google search and noted the address is a UPS store. Asked and they responded it's a typo, should be 1120. Also the city Wilmington was mis-spelled as "Welmington".
Looking back, all these red flags did not bring up my alert, seems I can say I deserved it...
Man, this Memorial Day will be very memorable to me.
Many lessons to be learnt from this... sharing this experience and hope others can be cautioned.
Robin
I sent the "seller" $2500 via bank transfer for the watch on Sunday (5/19). He has been communicating to me up till Friday (5/24) and acknowledged receiving the fund. He promised to ship the package on Friday (5/24) then claimed missing the post office hours. I did not notice the ID was banned until Saturday (5/25). No response so far on Saturday and Sunday.
I contacted the Moderators of TRF, who are really helpful, and was informed that the ID was banned because it was hacked. I think the real user realized sales posts and PMs were send without his knowledge, and contacted the Moderators. The Moderators already checked the phone number provided in the PMs by the hacker and it was related to some health insurance scam in the past.
I checked the ID's history before deciding to pay with wire. Seems the account has a long term history and feedbacks over a long period of time both as buyers and sellers. I did not think about the hacked account scenario... pretty difficult to identify even with due diligence.
For now let me share with the forum all info I have about this hacker for warning purpose:
1. The phone number is 385-263-3203, area code is Salt Lake City;
2. Email: [email protected]
3. Bank account info:
- Bank name: Wells Fargo
- Account Owner Name: Bonnie L Locklear (Update: this is most likely a hacked account too so Bonnie may not be the scammer)
- Account Number: 9725241377
- Bank Address: 1120 Military Cutoff Rd., Wilmington, NC 28405
4. Moderator team provided the IP of the account: 64.83.168.1, which is located in Wisconsin
I called San Jose PD in CA (where I'm located) already and they can't do much as they know everything about these people are fake and often located outside of the US.
I used bank wire out of my checking account, not credit card, and the hacker deliberately continued to communicate until the funds were fully settled. So I don't think the bank can do anything now.
I'd say with their ability to hack accounts, the phone number linked to a different type of scam (insurance), and the way they operate... this is most likely a criminal group, and these people are pros, most likely out of the U.S., and I'm basically hopeless.
I have to say that there are still suspicious details that I should have been more alerted about:
1. I click the original sales post once after making the deal and noticed it was removed. But I did not think too much, maybe it's sold so the seller deleted it. I did not go further to check other posts of the ID, otherwise I should have seen the ID being banned;
2. I asked for additional pictures via text but did not ask for a time stamped picture;
3. The ID info clearly disclosed the real name as ****, but the bank account holder's name is Bonnie. Again I did not think too much and thought maybe it's his wife...
4. There were typos in the bank address when they provided me the info. They provided the street number as 1121, I did a google search and noted the address is a UPS store. Asked and they responded it's a typo, should be 1120. Also the city Wilmington was mis-spelled as "Welmington".
Looking back, all these red flags did not bring up my alert, seems I can say I deserved it...
Man, this Memorial Day will be very memorable to me.
Many lessons to be learnt from this... sharing this experience and hope others can be cautioned.
Robin
Edited:
