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Beware of the sudden influx of sellers from Sri Lanka

  1. dsio Ω 2

    dsio Ash @ ΩF Staff Member Jul 15, 2022

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    Given the current situation there are a lot of desperate people are trying to make money by selling watches they don't have, using stolen photos including from this site. Unfortunately due to the collapse of their government and economy, crime like this is not exactly going to be a priority for the police there and there will be more of it appearing as time goes on. Initially it was just people selling fakes with clearly fake pictures but now they're using real stolen pictures and moving into vintage watches as well.


    https://www.ebay.com/itm/155078072073?hash=item241b5f9709:g:0l4AAOSwzNJi0bdi&LH_Auction=1Purchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/394165883804?hash=item5bc61e139c:g:GVoAAOSwRkpi0GuY&LH_Auction=1Purchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/403777143341?hash=item5e02fe422d:g:hz8AAOSwu89i0Z3n&LH_Auction=1Purchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/1446470862...tem21ada3607b:g:DVYAAOSwUjhi0ZH4&LH_Auction=1Purchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network
     
    blubarb, Omega D, JayBe and 15 others like this.
  2. wsfarrell

    wsfarrell Jul 15, 2022

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    Not questioning your story, but what's the evidence that these listings are fake and the photos were stolen?
     
  3. STANDY Ω 1

    STANDY schizophrenic pizza orderer and watch collector Jul 15, 2022

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    0 listings previously is a good start….and …..Um…..did you miss the pictures are stollen from this site…our members FS listings..
     
    mr_yossarian, Manny1979, Omega D and 8 others like this.
  4. dmtowl

    dmtowl Jul 15, 2022

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    Anecdotally I saw a watch probably too good to be true from Sri Lanka about a week or two ago, but it had return protection so I bought it... and a few hours later ebay canceled the sale and the sellers account was gone. I have also noticed the influx of Sri Lankan suspicious posts. Of course there are perfectly legitimate sellers in Sri Lanka, but definitely be cautious.
     
    blubarb and noelekal like this.
  5. Faz Ω 1

    Faz Jul 15, 2022

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    Ahhh…Sri Lanka, the hotbed of collectors watches!
     
    mr_yossarian, Wryfox, Turpinr and 1 other person like this.
  6. BarbVl

    BarbVl Jul 15, 2022

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    Yes i also noted listings from Sri Lanka, country which i never seen it before on eBay..
     
  7. Walrus Ω 1

    Walrus Jul 15, 2022

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    Well I don’t like to excuse any scammers but at least these people have an “excuse”. I bought a couple vostoks of my old contact in Ukraine he was a seller on esty and eBay, I do kinda hope at least one arrives but I’m not expecting it to. Again I’m not condoning or excusing scams but these people are living in a nightmare which I can’t begin to comprehend I imagine it brings out extreme desperation.
     
    Dug, Mark020, GuiltunderGlass and 5 others like this.
  8. dsio Ω 2

    dsio Ash @ ΩF Staff Member Jul 16, 2022

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    Probably better to support some good NGOs and charities, I tend to look them up on review sites to ensure they’re decent organizations doing a good job and not just endless benefit dinners for socialites using Charitywatch https://www.charitywatch.org/ and others.

    Something like World Central Kitchen which spends around $1 out of every $100 fundraising and is focusing on both Ukraine and Sri Lanka might be a good choice but there are many others. https://wck.org/
     
    tjdwhite, Dug, Flatfoot and 14 others like this.
  9. Walrus Ω 1

    Walrus Jul 16, 2022

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    Ya, wasn’t recommending it just saying in this case I can at least understand.
     
  10. lillatroll Ω 1

    lillatroll Jul 16, 2022

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    $1 out of every $100? Really, is that all? If that's true, then I am going to stick to giving a couple of quid to the beggars, at least it all gets spent on cheap booze and cigs.
     
  11. TexOmega Ω 1

    TexOmega Jul 16, 2022

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    I believe he means US $99 doing good things and only US $1 on "administration" which is excellent.
     
    Dug, joe band, Syzygy and 4 others like this.
  12. STANDY Ω 1

    STANDY schizophrenic pizza orderer and watch collector Jul 16, 2022

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    Fundraising for charities is big business.
    We have had it here in Australia.

    A company won a contract to raise $5million for RedCross.
    $27million raised and the RedCross got only their $5million

    Fundraisers at shopping centres can’t take a $5 donation only a sign up to $15 a month out of your Visa card.

    I have been giving blood for years…they can’t skim that….
     
    Flatfoot, blubarb, ahsposo and 4 others like this.
  13. dsio Ω 2

    dsio Ash @ ΩF Staff Member Jul 16, 2022

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    That’s correct a $1 to raise and administer every $100 is very good, there are some charities particularly cancer (breast cancer more than any) and veterans charities that spend more than half on fund raising and administration so very little goes to the actual cause.

    I don’t know why breast cancer and veterans causes seem to be the most afflicted by that kind of graft and there are definitely good ones out there but some major ones are terrible.
     
    El Toro, connieseamaster and Waltesefalcon like this.
  14. dsio Ω 2

    dsio Ash @ ΩF Staff Member Jul 17, 2022

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  15. Omegafanman

    Omegafanman Jul 17, 2022

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    Thanks for the heads up. Three of these have been stopped but the third one down is still live with bids…. But is is a Newbie seller from Sri Lanka with zero feedback as you say. Interesting they are offering the watch as it is also for sale (same pictures) from a watch dealer in Belarus…on their online shop
    Glad to see eBay are on the case ….

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/403777143341?hash=item5e02fe422d:g:hz8AAOSwu89i0Z3n&LH_Auction=1Purchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network[​IMG]

    https://dumarko.com/products/vintage-watch-omega-geneve-from-1959-rare-swiss-watch
     
    Edited by a mod Jun 1, 2023
    Mark020 likes this.
  16. dsio Ω 2

    dsio Ash @ ΩF Staff Member Jul 18, 2022

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    Once again more stolen photo listings... please don't fall for these, report them if you can and warn others as they are attracting bids and the authentication program does not exist for Sri Lanka so the buyers are likely going to get sent a 10mm spanner or something for their hard earned coin.

    This one: https://www.ebay.com/itm/374180916119?hash=item571eebab97:g:jHUAAOSws15i1axh&LH_Auction=1Purchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network

    is stolen from this UK seller: https://www.chrono24.com.au/omega/c...on-pie-pan-year-warranty--id22750606.htm#gref

    -------------------------------

    This one: https://www.ebay.com/itm/314077318863?epid=14051626699&hash=item4920778ecf:g:u0oAAOSwhTVi1aLf&LH_Auction=1Purchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network

    is stolen from this Belgian seller: https://www.chrono24.com/omega/omeg...atic-dress-watch---ref-168005--id24396081.htm

    -------------------------------

    This one: https://www.ebay.com/itm/125422143926?hash=item1d33be09b6:g:hLkAAOSw~qli1OPK&LH_Auction=1Purchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network

    is stolen from this UK seller: https://www.chrono24.com/omega/omeg...-cal-1140-champagne-dial--box--id24305184.htm
     
    Omegafanman and Mark020 like this.
  17. JimInOz Ω 2

    JimInOz Melbourne Australia Jul 18, 2022

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    What's the best way to report the item?
    I looked at all of the drop down selections and can't see one for using stolen pics.
     
    Omegafanman likes this.
  18. dsio Ω 2

    dsio Ash @ ΩF Staff Member Jul 18, 2022

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    So this is what I've been going with on all of these so far but I have yet to see one taken down which is really frustrating as sooner or later some people will pay by unsecured means and get ripped off. The problem with this option is that it doesn't let me add the supporting evidence, that is the link to chrono24 which makes it a clear slam-dunk deletion.

    Screen Shot 2022-07-19 at 1.33.17 pm.png
     
  19. JimInOz Ω 2

    JimInOz Melbourne Australia Jul 18, 2022

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    Yep, tried that, I'll see how it goes.
    I thought there was an option for using other peoples photos but I can't find it.
     
  20. Scarecrow Boat Ω 2

    Scarecrow Boat Burt Macklin, FBI Jul 18, 2022

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    Actually, this one that was shared earlier on was taken down:
    I reported the quoted listing above using this method, which allowed me to link the Dumarko listing. It technically can fall under Authenticity Disclaimer, as the act of creating the listing is claiming the authenticity in ownership said piece for sale.

    4E1E2B56-3B4A-4F59-8FFB-D7CD1F515569.png

    Fortunately, the Dumarko link was short enough to fit in the tight character limits of the report box. Unfortunately, the C24 links exceeds that character limit, but can still work if you use a link shortening tool.
     
    Edited by a mod Jun 1, 2023
    Mark020, Twocats, TimeODanaos and 1 other person like this.