asking advise on scam(about a purchaser of my watch)

[Bulldozer]

Originally Posted by Crown & Shield

To make a long story short, it was a scam. Actually, if the OP had read the press in Europe he would have known that this is one of the most common setups, and it usually involves expensive/vintage cars & watches, money-counting machines and shady types with bags full of cash -most of it fake-.

Do you have some links you can share? To these stories covered by the press. Thank you.

[Bulldozer]

Originally Posted by ddandori

I did get scammed. And I think I was reckless too. I wanted to share
what happend to me and if others know similar cases.
I wrote in another thread because wanted people to read this more.
I was reckless and do think I was very lucky...

Thank you for sharing. This was indeed very helpful to read.

[rmagoo57]

Originally Posted by rmwill

You did get scammed and put yourself and your wife into harms way with a criminal gang because you were focused on getting a "good gain" Also, all the time you wasted on this dangerous trip and all the pre trip handwringing trying to rationalize the obvious scam. You are very lucky that your greed didn't end with physical harm.

Thank you for the summary! I checked out early on this story. Meet for a beer soon?

[DoDe]

Want to believe you OP, but you do not make it easy.

[shaunylw]

This is a classic situation where the next post is typically, i got robbed and can’t understand how it happened. The precautions you took were not really precautions. Sell this watch to a dealer in person. They will be happy to wire you so you’re not waking around with a huge stack of cash.

They were swapping bills on you, that’s nearly a 100% guarantee. It’s not enough money to have that many people involved on the buyers side. Super sketchy, best that things didn’t work out.

Sell to a dealer. Take a few thousand dollar loss over what you wanted to sell for and have zero risk.


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[walds11]

I need the cliffs notes version.

[ddandori]

Originally Posted by Crown & Shield

To make a long story short, it was a scam. Actually, if the OP had read the press in Europe he would have known that this is one of the most common setups, and it usually involves expensive/vintage cars & watches, money-counting machines and shady types with bags full of cash -most of it fake-.

yes as times passes I kinda became objective about this
situation. Because I realize I was viewing the deal as I want
in a positive way..

Anyway the 70K cash of 350 bills were real. This is fact
because I went through the detecting machine each bills.
So I think what they wanted to do was cash swapping to fake
while my concentration is distracted...

Would it be common that those scammers will bring real cash
to let the guard down?

[shaunylw]

Originally Posted by Old Geezer

I would be concerned for numerous reasons. Who walks around with 50k euro ? No way I would travel to another country with my watches to meet someone I don't know to hand over the watches and collect $50K euro. It's just not worth the risk.

Unless you’re a watch dealer i agree, this is a very strange amount of cash to travel with for most people. Regardless of wealth.


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[shaunylw]

Originally Posted by ddandori

yes as times passes I kinda became objective about this
situation. Because I realize I was viewing the deal as I want
in a positive way..

Anyway the 70K cash of 350 bills were real. This is fact
because I went through the detecting machine each bills.
So I think what they wanted to do was cash swapping to fake
while my concentration is distracted...

Would it be common that those scammers will bring real cash
to let the guard down?

Absolutely. That’s how a cash swap works. We just had a thread about someone getting scammed in a similar situation. Less money but same idea.

Make a few calls/emails to reputable dealers (takuyah is fantastic) and see what numbers they come up with. They will send you a label fully insured overnight, examine the watches and send you a wire that day. Outside of wanting the cash for some reason, this is the cleanest route to go.


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[ddandori]

Originally Posted by shaunylw

Absolutely. That’s how a cash swap works. We just had a thread about someone getting scammed in a similar situation. Less money but same idea.

Make a few calls/emails to reputable dealers (takuyah is fantastic) and see what numbers they come up with. They will send you a label fully insured overnight, examine the watches and send you a wire that day. Outside of wanting the cash for some reason, this is the cleanest route to go.


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thank you for your comment... as time passes I realize I was very
reckless....cuz I was in a small meeting room with two big guys.
I didn't have watch with me but they could still have hurt me.

Anyway what do you mean by below that u wrote in my previous thread?

. It’s not enough money to have that many people involved on the buyers side. Super sketchy, best that things didn’t work out.

thank you

[GGGMT]

Originally Posted by Bulldozer

Thank you for sharing. This was indeed very helpful to read.

It’s all fictional , so I’m not so sure how “helpful” it is, but it sure is entertaining.


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[Andad]

Originally Posted by ddandori

thank you for your comment... as time passes I realize I was very
reckless....cuz I was in a small meeting room with two big guys.
I didn't have watch with me but they could still have hurt me.

Anyway what do you mean by below that u wrote in my previous thread?

. It’s not enough money to have that many people involved on the buyers side. Super sketchy, best that things didn’t work out.

thank you

If you don't understand this comment you have even bigger problems than I originally thought you had.

[GGGMT]

Originally Posted by Andad

If you don't understand this comment you have even bigger problems than I originally thought you had.

Not to worry. This is all fiction; none of it happened. Not the “big guys,” “cash counters,” hotel rooms, the wife — none of it! But entertaining. I’m working on a sequel, titled “Rolex scam on the international space station.”


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[shaunylw]

Originally Posted by GGGMT

Not to worry. This is all fiction; none of it happened. Not the “big guys,” “cash counters,” hotel rooms, the wife — none of it! But entertaining. I’m working on a sequel, titled “Rolex scam on the international space station.”


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I forgot. We still have losers making up threads lol. How could i be so blind.


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[shaunylw]

Originally Posted by ddandori

thank you for your comment... as time passes I realize I was very
reckless....cuz I was in a small meeting room with two big guys.
I didn't have watch with me but they could still have hurt me.

Anyway what do you mean by below that u wrote in my previous thread?

. It’s not enough money to have that many people involved on the buyers side. Super sketchy, best that things didn’t work out.

thank you

For 70k you bring a team of people? Exactly what i said, its not enough money for a team of people, counting machines, etc. Post a few pics of the watches next to a fork, or move along. Doesn’t seem like the thread believes this horrendously typed out story.


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[Laostuh]

I'm surprised no one asked.. Lets say things went fine.. How did you plan taking 70k euro back to Greece or where ever you're from without raising any red flags?

[ddandori]

Originally Posted by Laostuh

I'm surprised no one asked.. Lets say things went fine.. How did you plan taking 70k euro back to Greece or where ever you're from without raising any red flags?

Between EU countries there are no customs. So if I bring watch value of 1M Euro
from greece to Italy it is still fine

Regarding cash if I declare then the issue would have not been that big

[zineddine.zidane]

Originally Posted by southtexas

What does your intuition tell you? Mine tells me you might end up in a hotel room or barroom floor with no cash and no watch, and maybe fewer kidneys also.


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Lol


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[DaytonaNYC99]

Thanks for sharing your story. I've had similar but lot less serious story. There was one buyer that was interested in my 116519ln, we texted and agreed on the price. But then he said he want me to meet him at his friends house somewhere in Brooklyn (so his friend can help him inspect the watch) AND he can only pay in cash. I originally said I only want bank wire because I don't want to deal with large amounts of cash, and I sensed something weired about the situation. So with concerns of my own safety I decided to not continue with the buyer. I never went to "his friends house" so I don't know what exactly was the deal but it just made me decided to never agree to any in-person pick-up at places that are not public and safe.