Take care out there!

Dug · Oct 25, 2023

Been on the forum for a couple of years now and, although starting from a low level, reading innumerable posts led me to believe I knew a little.
Anyway, based on the positive experience of buying all of my small collection on here I recently tried the wider world and immediately got scammed.
My point is, for fellow newbies out there, stick to the forum until you 'really' know what you're doing. It's not 100%, nowhere is, but it's a lot safer.

gbesq · Oct 25, 2023

Sorry to hear that, but very solid advice. It's a minefield for sure.

ATWG · Oct 25, 2023

I'm sorry to hear about your experience. It's important to share these interactions with the wider community as scammers are becoming more sophisticated by the day. I recently had to inspect a fellow enthusiast watch for over 30 minutes before formulating an opinion on authenticity. Not to mention, hours of preparation that had been spent studying prior to handling the watch in person.

The hobby has been evolving quickly around us, most of the time its not for the greater good.

Best.

efauser · Oct 25, 2023

Dug
Been on the forum for a couple of years now and, although starting from a low level, reading innumerable posts led me to believe I knew a little.
Anyway, based on the positive experience of buying all of my small collection on here I recently tried the wider world and immediately got scammed.
My point is, for fellow newbies out there, stick to the forum until you 'really' know what you're doing. It's not 100%, nowhere is, but it's a lot safer.

Make sure you list the scammer here: https://omegaforums.net/threads/known-scammer-list-please-post-any-known-scammers-here.66577/

bardamu · Oct 25, 2023

So sad to read this. Hope you can get your money back.

theluckyluke · Oct 25, 2023

Sorry to hear. Could you share a bit more about the scam?

My first eBay watch auction was also a scam, although luckily enough, there were too many red flags and not enough interest in the watch for me to take the risk.

I always struggle to understand how so many watches can be sold privately, without any references, via direct bank transfer and without any guarantee - via platforms like Facebook or local secondhand websites. Not sure if this is what happened, but this seems really common practice, and it’s a feast for the scammers.

Evitzee · Oct 25, 2023

theluckyluke
Sorry to hear. Could you share a bit more about the scam?

My first eBay watch auction was also a scam, although luckily enough, there were too many red flags and not enough interest in the watch for me to take the risk.

I always struggle to understand how so many watches can be sold privately, without any references, via direct bank transfer and without any guarantee - via platforms like Facebook or local secondhand websites. Not sure if this is what happened, but this seems really common practice, and it’s a feast for the scammers.

Most of the sales aren't by scammers, it's a pretty small number of the total. Fortunately I've not been scammed in buying or selling in over 35 years, but you have to do your due diligence, know all about the watch, and you have to know what's going on at all times. If it all seems too good to be true at any point get clarification, and if you aren't satisfied just walk away. Too many people chase a watch deal that doesn't sound right under even cursory inspection but they keep going. Maybe that's the noob factor.

I've sold more than a few watches privately via direct bank transfer, and with no guarantee to the buyer that I wasn't a scam artist. That was long before C24 and other platforms came around. It comes down to knowing your stuff and generating a level of trust. If you are a flake you will have a hard time convincing anyone to send you money, and there are plenty of flakes. You have to accomodate the buyer's reluctance and make them comfortable.

I'd like to know more, too, about the OP's scam. What happened?

theluckyluke · Oct 26, 2023

Evitzee
Most of the sales aren't by scammers, it's a pretty small number of the total. Fortunately I've not been scammed in buying or selling in over 35 years, but you have to do your due diligence, know all about the watch, and you have to know what's going on at all times. If it all seems too good to be true at any point get clarification, and if you aren't satisfied just walk away. Too many people chase a watch deal that doesn't sound right under even cursory inspection but they keep going. Maybe that's the noob factor.

I've sold more than a few watches privately via direct bank transfer, and with no guarantee to the buyer that I wasn't a scam artist. That was long before C24 and other platforms came around. It comes down to knowing your stuff and generating a level of trust. If you are a flake you will have a hard time convincing anyone to send you money, and there are plenty of flakes. You have to accomodate the buyer's reluctance and make them comfortable.

I'd like to know more, too, about the OP's scam. What happened?

Absolutely, and fortunately!!

My scam was pretty typical. eBay seller with good feedback (but looking closely only a dozen of low cost articles - first flag). I contacted him for more pictures, which he supplied.

I put a bid on a watch (which seemed legit and in nice condition), finally ended second. After a couple of days, he contacted me saying the first bidder hadn’t payed as he was in a country excluded from the shipping list. Gave me the opportunity to have the watch at the bid I made, obviously outside of eBay via bank transfer.

When you’re into it (and disappointed not to have the watch) it’s not quite always as simple to discern. What made it tricky is that the seller had kept additional pictures outside of eBay for people asking for more (I doubt they had the watch ever, but who knows). Reverse image search didn’t give anything. He also waited and didn’t really push me to buy it, so it felt like a cordial exchange. The big red flag was paying outside of eBay for me.

Logged in a month after and the few watches he had on auctions at the same time were all scams. None of the buyers got any of them.

bardamu · Oct 26, 2023

theluckyluke
Absolutely, and fortunately!!

My scam was pretty typical. eBay seller with good feedback (but looking closely only a dozen of low cost articles - first flag). I contacted him for more pictures, which he supplied.

I put a bid on a watch (which seemed legit and in nice condition), finally ended second. After a couple of days, he contacted me saying the first bidder hadn’t payed as he was in a country excluded from the shipping list. Gave me the opportunity to have the watch at the bid I made, obviously outside of eBay via bank transfer.

When you’re into it (and disappointed not to have the watch) it’s not quite always as simple to discern. What made it tricky is that the seller had kept additional pictures outside of eBay for people asking for more (I doubt they had the watch ever, but who knows). Reverse image search didn’t give anything. He also waited and didn’t really push me to buy it, so it felt like a cordial exchange. The big red flag was paying outside of eBay for me.

Logged in a month after and the few watches he had on auctions at the same time were all scams. None of the buyers got any of them.

The big red flag was the bank wire...sorry to read this anyway.

Zman4eva · Oct 26, 2023

Sorry to hear about the scam. Always a red flag when sellers want to transact outside of the system but I understand the urge to get the watch.

I've bought from reddit watchexchange and FB before and had positive experiences. Every time I sent the money first and received the watch as described.

I like how r/watchexchange has a feedback system and requires a photo of the watch with a written note of the seller's username and date. This should prove that the seller has the watch. Another method would be to ask the seller to set the watch to a specific time and send a picture to prove he's in possession of the watch.

Stay safe out there!

Scarecrow Boat · Oct 26, 2023

Zman4eva
requires a photo of the watch with a written note of the seller's username and date. This should prove that the seller has the watch. Another method would be to ask the seller to set the watch to a specific time and send a picture to prove he's in possession of the watch

This is good practice and it does prove the person is in possession; however, it should be noted that this doesn’t always prevent the scam. For example, there was a long running scam that happened on here not that long ago. You can read about the scam, here
https://omegaforums.net/threads/apolloxvii-scammer-multiple-victims.147628/

Several members that purchased from him, asked for images that you mention above and they received them. They still got scammed. The seller “shipped” the watches but no one received them. How it worked was, the seller started the scam by actually selling the advertised watches to establish positive feedback. Once that was attained, he started the scam, which he ultimately came clean and stated it was purely retaliation to PayPal. Which you can read about that, here
https://omegaforums.net/threads/scammer-apolloxvii-is-back-for-more.154951/

All this to say, risk is out there. Stay say. Do your homework and put rules in place to keep yourself safe.

Dug · Oct 26, 2023

Extremely embarrassing but I'll recant the scenario, for the benefit of others, but hold back precise details for now as I am getting encouraging noises from my bank, so still hopeful of getting some money back.
My woeful errors:-
Responded to a listing on a well known site and received very clear photos via WhatsApp, with a written time and date background matching to the watch.
Persuaded by articulate and very believable seller to pay by bank transfer (yes, I know!!). Ignored all of the bank's warnings whilst making the transfer.
Three weeks later no watch, no replies and mobile number unobtainable.
A weak excuse I know but perhaps lulled into a false sense of security as with every watch and strap I've bought, admittedly on here, I've paid for by transfer with no problems at all. Naivety and lack of due diligence I guess...hey ho!

Fish70 · Oct 26, 2023

Sorry to hear. The seller claiming the winning bidder didn't pay and the offering the "second place" bidder a deal outside of eBay is a common scam. It has been tried on me a couple of times and I always tell them "good luck with your sale."

Dan S · Oct 26, 2023

Dug
Extremely embarrassing but I'll recant the scenario, for the benefit of others, but hold back precise details for now as I am getting encouraging noises from my bank, so still hopeful of getting some money back.
My woeful errors:-
Responded to a listing on a well known site and received very clear photos via WhatsApp, with a written time and date background matching to the watch.
Persuaded by articulate and very believable seller to pay by bank transfer (yes, I know!!). Ignored all of the bank's warnings whilst making the transfer.
Three weeks later no watch, no replies and mobile number unobtainable.
A weak excuse I know but perhaps lulled into a false sense of security as with every watch and strap I've bought, admittedly on here, I've paid for by transfer with no problems at all. Naivety and lack of due diligence I guess...hey ho!

Report to the police, giving the bank transfer info.

Doc Savage · Oct 28, 2023

Oh, no! I'm sorry to hear this has happened to you. It always crushes your faith in humanity when things like this happen.

Pastorbottle · Oct 28, 2023

What is this “ faith in humanity “ thing you speak of?

Take care out there!

Dug

gbesq

ATWG

efauser

bardamu

theluckyluke

Evitzee

theluckyluke

bardamu

Zman4eva

Scarecrow Boat

Dug

Fish70

Dan S

Doc Savage

Pastorbottle

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