Possibly scammed by a pledgemember : Jfo122

[Dutchie212]

I fell for the cheaper price scam: he offered an BNIB Rolex GMT Master II Pepsi 126710BLRO

The watch is complete with warranty card dated 01/2021, all boxes, tags and papers.

we agreed on a price, the money was wired, and suddenly he develops a fever, cough, shortness of breath, so he is heading to his local covid-19 center for testing, and that is the last I have heard from him.

What do you think?

[sleddog]

When was the last time you messaged him, and received a reply?
His account has now been suspended under suspicion.
Wiring money to someone you don't know, with no real selling history, is simply crazy IMO.
I hope this hasn't gone the way I think it may have....

[whiteshields1830]

Originally Posted by Dutchie212

I fell for the cheaper price scam: he offered an BNIB Rolex GMT Master II Pepsi 126710BLRO

The watch is complete with warranty card dated 01/2021, all boxes, tags and papers.

we agreed on a price, the money was wired, and suddenly he develops a fever, cough, shortness of breath, so he is heading to his local covid-19 center for testing, and that is the last I have heard from him.

What do you think?

Unfortunately highly likely a scammer. The references he provided was recycled from another scammer that was on here.

[EEpro]

Call your bank and see if there's anything they can do. Report it to FBI. Based on the price you're far into federal crime territory.

[briboxer]

I agree to definitely contact iC3.gov. File your case and you'll get best results.

[swaini3]

Sorry to hear and I hope you recover your money. Thanks for sharing.

[fryder9633]

I was interested in purchasing a watch from him in early March. Didn’t go through it in the end because of the lack of references. I believe he emailed me under the email [email protected]

[Maxy]

Sad to hear but firstly you are not even a member on TRF and not sure how much experience you have on this forum and then you are trying to save $1K from a new seller instead of reputed seller. You are already paying twice the MSRP, you should have gone with more reputed seller! Either ways, I hope you get your money back. Bank wires are tricky!

[chocopeluche]

Originally Posted by Maxy

Sad to hear but firstly you are not even a member on TRF and not sure how much experience you have on this forum and then you are trying to save $1K from a new seller instead of reputed seller. You are already paying twice the MSRP, you should have gone with more reputed seller! Either ways, I hope you get your money back. Bank wires are tricky!

How does membership help here ? I actually just sent a paypal to become a 2021 pledge member so Im curious if it can help, besides from showing to others that Im serious rolex fanatic and appreciative of the forums.


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[BillA]

Any news?

[214270Explorer]

Oh jeez . . . let's hope for a happy ending.

[Dutchie212]

Contacted my bank, but still unsure if wire recall had any luck....the waiting is the worst, especially it’s your own stupidity.

[1665fan]

Originally Posted by Dutchie212

Contacted my bank, but still unsure if wire recall had any luck....the waiting is the worst, especially it’s your own stupidity.

Sorry to hear, probably won’t get that money back

[101031-28]

Originally Posted by Dutchie212

Contacted my bank, but still unsure if wire recall had any luck....the waiting is the worst, especially it’s your own stupidity.

Any updates OP?

[Humble michael]

Sadly, you have been cheated !!! Hope you will take all measures to chase this crook but highly unlikely you will get a dime back . Too bad you didn’t protect yourself by paying w CC - hope others will learn from your mistake- sorry for your loss - here is what I sent to Paul who only a thousand
Ps as a seller of course you would , IMO just as nuts as a seller expecting buyer to send a box of 100 dollar bills ( a wire to them) with NO chance of recourse . I don’t know the facts in what happened w you but had you used AMX to pay they immediately will reverse charges . Anyhow I have purchased many timepieces and sold a few but if seller won’t accept AMX , I will simply say no thanks and look elsewhere.
My best example is I purchased a PP timepiece from a well known reputable seller ( buy the seller ) , paid over $60, 000 . Timepiece was missing extra solid gold back. I called them and told them - they said give us 2 weeks and we will get it to you. I said great I will call AMX and dispute $6000 of the charge til I receive it . A miraculous thing happened, the next day they overnighted the missing gold back ! Maybe it was an unintentional mistake , I don’t know or care , but I can assure you , had I sent a wire, I might never have gotten gold back . As a buyer you Must protect yourself , period ! Paul do what you want but all I can tell you is you are out a thousand bucks ( cheap lesson) , like sooo many others who thought they should trust a seller ( they checked out , ha!) and sent them fund with NO recourse. Could have been avoided simply by using AMX ( if you don’t like pay pal , fine) . Look at virtually every buyer who got taken by a seller on this site, show me one who couldn’t have avoided disaster by following this rule , period . Sorry , for me, I don’t play Russian Roulette with my hard earned funds . Sorry for your loss , thanks for response .james in San Antonio Tx.:-)

[pandrew6l]

The scams are the same except with new victims . A classic example of what you don't know will hurt you.

[Andad]

Originally Posted by james272

Sadly, you have been cheated !!! Hope you will take all measures to chase this crook but highly unlikely you will get a dime back . Too bad you didn’t protect yourself by paying w CC - hope others will learn from your mistake- sorry for your loss - here is what I sent to Paul who only a thousand Ps as a seller of course you would , IMO just as nuts as a seller expecting buyer to send a box of 100 dollar bills ( a wire to them) with NO chance of recourse . I don’t know the facts in what happened w you but had you used AMX to pay they immediately will reverse charges . Anyhow I have purchased many timepieces and sold a few but if seller won’t accept AMX , I will simply say no thanks and look elsewhere.
My best example is I purchased a PP timepiece from a well known reputable seller ( buy the seller ) , paid over $60, 000 . Timepiece was missing extra solid gold back. I called them and told them - they said give us 2 weeks and we will get it to you. I said great I will call AMX and dispute $6000 of the charge til I receive it . A miraculous thing happened, the next day they overnighted the missing gold back ! Maybe it was an unintentional mistake , I don’t know or care , but I can assure you , had I sent a wire, I might never have gotten gold back . As a buyer you Must protect yourself , period ! Paul do what you want but all I can tell you is you are out a thousand bucks ( cheap lesson) , like sooo many others who thought they should trust a seller ( they checked out , ha!) and sent them fund with NO recourse. Could have been avoided simply by using AMX ( if you don’t like pay pal , fine) . Look at virtually every buyer who got taken by a seller on this site, show me one who couldn’t have avoided disaster by following this rule , period . Sorry , for me, I don’t play Russian Roulette with my hard earned funds . Sorry for your loss , thanks for response .james in San Antonio Tx.:-)

Your post does not make sense?

[CognitiveDissonance]

Originally Posted by Andad

Your post does not make sense?

Guy sounds unhinged

[Littletommy]

Originally Posted by CognitiveDissonance

Guy sounds unhinged

This^

[EEpro]

Originally Posted by james272

Sadly, you have been cheated !!! Hope you will take all measures to chase this crook but highly unlikely you will get a dime back . Too bad you didn’t protect yourself by paying w CC - hope others will learn from your mistake- sorry for your loss - here is what I sent to Paul who only a thousand
Ps as a seller of course you would , IMO just as nuts as a seller expecting buyer to send a box of 100 dollar bills ( a wire to them) with NO chance of recourse . I don’t know the facts in what happened w you but had you used AMX to pay they immediately will reverse charges . Anyhow I have purchased many timepieces and sold a few but if seller won’t accept AMX , I will simply say no thanks and look elsewhere.
My best example is I purchased a PP timepiece from a well known reputable seller ( buy the seller ) , paid over $60, 000 . Timepiece was missing extra solid gold back. I called them and told them - they said give us 2 weeks and we will get it to you. I said great I will call AMX and dispute $6000 of the charge til I receive it . A miraculous thing happened, the next day they overnighted the missing gold back ! Maybe it was an unintentional mistake , I don’t know or care , but I can assure you , had I sent a wire, I might never have gotten gold back . As a buyer you Must protect yourself , period ! Paul do what you want but all I can tell you is you are out a thousand bucks ( cheap lesson) , like sooo many others who thought they should trust a seller ( they checked out , ha!) and sent them fund with NO recourse. Could have been avoided simply by using AMX ( if you don’t like pay pal , fine) . Look at virtually every buyer who got taken by a seller on this site, show me one who couldn’t have avoided disaster by following this rule , period . Sorry , for me, I don’t play Russian Roulette with my hard earned funds . Sorry for your loss , thanks for response .james in San Antonio Tx.:-)

Where's the sellers protection for chargebacks? There is zero chance I'd sell you a watch on your Amex. You don't have to reply to me but just think about it from both sides. On a private transaction it cannot be made risk free so references matter.

[Littletommy]

Originally Posted by EEpro

Where's the sellers protection for chargebacks? There is zero chance I'd sell you a watch on your Amex. You don't have to reply to me but just think about it from both sides. On a private transaction it cannot be made risk free so references matter.

And this^

[dannyp]

Originally Posted by EEpro

Where's the sellers protection for chargebacks? There is zero chance I'd sell you a watch on your Amex. You don't have to reply to me but just think about it from both sides. On a private transaction it cannot be made risk free so references matter.

Can't escrow services, like PayPal, help, too?

[EEpro]

Originally Posted by dannyp

Can't escrow services, like PayPal, help, too?

They typically allow for abuse of sellers. 179th day returns for a scratched clasp etc.

[GGGMT]

Wire $$ to a unknown seller for a cheaper priced hot-ass watch? Really? I have a great chance of becoming an astronaut than this deal to close. It takes two for this stuff to happen: a dishonest seller and buyers who whistle past the graveyard. As I just said in another watch out thread: And so the world turns ...


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[77T]

OP has been back to this thread in past 16 hours but no actual update. So must assume his money is unrecoverable. Sad situation - joined for the purpose of buying below market price and then was scammed.

Since the only value left in this thread is a lesson learned - and mostly for new members who don’t know the ropes - here are some thoughts…

All sellers must be a Pledge Member to sell. It is tablestakes for selling. You must perform due diligence and check references to be sure they are bona fide. Pledge Member status doesn’t automatically mean trusted seller.

If the price is too good to be true, the deal is likely fake.

New members who have little to no experience in online watch dealings should either stick to an AD, or only buy from the very trusted boutique sellers on TRF. Don’t click on a link sent to you via PM - it is likely a scam.

Lastly, be aware that scammers will try to imitate a trusted boutique seller. They may use an email addy resembling the seller’s, but that is one character off.

Always call the trusted seller to confirm the details of a listing and be sure to only wire funds to the bank they provide. Not some sketchy wire info texted to you by a scammer.

Hope that helps - best way to beat these vermin are to educate via solid advice in these sad threads that are the aftermath of a scam.


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[OttawaSteve]

Originally Posted by 77T

OP has been back to this thread in past 16 hours but no actual update. So must assume his money is unrecoverable. Sad situation - joined for the purpose of buying below market price and then was scammed.

Since the only value left in this thread is a lesson learned - and mostly for new members who don’t know the ropes - here are some thoughts…

All sellers must be a Pledge Member to sell. It is tablestakes for selling. You must perform due diligence and check references to be sure they are bona fide. Pledge Member status doesn’t automatically mean trusted seller.

If the price is too good to be true, the deal is likely fake.

New members who have little to no experience in online watch dealings should either stick to an AD, or only buy from the very trusted boutique sellers on TRF. Don’t click on a link sent to you via PM - it is likely a scam.

Lastly, be aware that scammers will try to imitate a trusted boutique seller. They may use an email addy resembling the seller’s, but that is one character off.

Always call the trusted seller to confirm the details of a listing and be sure to only wire funds to the bank they provide. Not some sketchy wire info texted to you by a scammer.

Hope that helps - best way to beat these vermin are to educate via solid advice in these sad threads that are the aftermath of a scam.


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All very true, but unfortunately the people that get scammed don’t tend to read and use good advice. How many times have the mods and members warned about phishing, 2FA and the rest?

[Chewbacca]

Sorry to hear about this OP.

[77T]

Originally Posted by OttawaSteve

All very true, but unfortunately the people that get scammed don’t tend to read and use good advice. How many times have the mods and members warned about phishing, 2FA and the rest?

I get that - what’s the other option?
Give up on repeating the advice.

BTW phishing & 2FA are factors on the “sell side”. Sellers who are lax are the ones who open the door to scammers by letting them hijack the genuine TRF seller’s account.

On the “buy side” it’s all about vetting., checking and double-checking.




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[Jim_Bob_Jumpback]

I feel sorry for the original poster. Reading this thread makes me feel better about overpaying a little for my watch from a trusted dealer.

[Humble michael]

Thanks Tom you are right - appreciate you. Should have proofread.
Mr Tommy & Cognitive disconnect - I may be unhinged but after spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on mostly Patek’s , I have never been cheated buying from sellers even overseas . Of course it is important to check the seller out as much as you can . There still can be an innocent mistake like the brick & mortar seller who sold me a 5327 ( 60 thousand dollars) and forgot to include the white gold extra back ( about 3-5 thousand dollars) . When I called him about it ,he said he would contact the person he bought it from and TRY to get it for me and I needed to allow at least 2 or 3 weeks for him to see what he could do ! Fortunately I wasn’t foolish enough to send him a box of 100 dollar bills in advance ( wire transfer ) . I told him fine I will call AMX and have them charge back 5,000 dollars until you find it or I will cancel the sale and send the piece back, whichever he wanted. He said “ let me call you right back” Surprise, surprise!he called me back wi about 30 min and said the case back would go out overnight and I received it the next day. I don’t think he was trying to cheat me but Mr Tommy and Mr disconnect, I can assure you there would have been NO urgency to get me what I paid for if he had all the cash in his possession.
Of course there are sellers who like the one in this string who will refuse to sell on AMX - great you have been vetted and not to fear I won’t buy from you . I will find another seller who can check me out and is confident in his product.
I guess I am sooo amazed that so many people are sooo adamant about checking a seller out ( it’s of course important) that they ignore common sense. This is the one absolute way for a BUYER to protect himself, no matter what . I did say as a buyer!
I could tell you about the well known seller who forgot to send a stylus , or the one who sent a knock off President on and on . Guess I defy anyone who wants to be sure they won’t get skinned to follow this rule as a BUYER and although I may be unhinged I won’t be getting taken . If you are a seller and won’t sell on AMX , great we will have no sale - there are plenty of sellers who will.Finally there has not been one case of a buyer getting taken that had they used a CC - either the phoney sale would have never happened or they could get their funds back with a simple phone call. “What about the poor seller ?” As a BUYER I am going to protect myself - simple ! Btw , how is it that virtually all major retailers accept CC for payment in our society ? My only interest is to try to save someone the agony that the op and so many others have gone through. Do otherwise at your peril - greed kills ! :-)) an unhinged james in San Antonio Tx