Scammer Phobia

[Atlanta]

Maybe it's just me...

Everytime I see a thread entitled - "How much is it worth" followed by the explanation - my grandfather gave me a Rolex - my scam-dar goes off. I just wonder if counterfeiters are feeling out the pros here to see if their scam might fly.

Usually the watch is some type of blinged-out Day-Date or Vintage Daytona.

Does anyone else have similar feelings? I don't mean this as rude - I just have a feeling someone is trying to pull one over, especially when they hound on and on about how much it is worth and wanting a dollar value but seeming to have no real interest in the watch itself.

[swatty]

Got to agree with you Jim, I like to give people the benefit of the doubt, but sometimes its hard.

[scottschoe]

Originally Posted by Atlanta

Maybe it's just me...

Everytime I see a thread entitled - "How much is it worth" followed by the explanation - my grandfather gave me a Rolex - my scam-dar goes off. I just wonder if counterfeiters are feeling out the pros here to see if their scam might fly.

Usually the watch is some type of blinged-out Day-Date or Vintage Daytona.

Does anyone else have similar feelings? I don't mean this as rude - I just have a feeling someone is trying to pull one over, especially when they hound on and on about how much it is worth and wanting a dollar value but seeming to have no real interest in the watch itself.

Yup agreed. And it's a bit annoying if it's the first (and normally only) thread he posts in.

[SLS]

Originally Posted by Atlanta

Maybe it's just me...

Everytime I see a thread entitled - "How much is it worth" followed by the explanation - my grandfather gave me a Rolex - my scam-dar goes off. I just wonder if counterfeiters are feeling out the pros here to see if their scam might fly.

Usually the watch is some type of blinged-out Day-Date or Vintage Daytona.

Does anyone else have similar feelings? I don't mean this as rude - I just have a feeling someone is trying to pull one over, especially when they hound on and on about how much it is worth and wanting a dollar value but seeming to have no real interest in the watch itself.

Glad its not just me thinking that....although you have to take the good with the bad, some forums will not let this topic be discussed at all. On the other hand, I have seen a few new members that have started out asking similar questions actually stick around, at least for a while anyway!
~Scott

[k4vks]

i agree totally

[sea-dweller]

I ignore these posts, and read on.

[dcash0615]

Agreed!! And well said....

Originally Posted by swatty

Got to agree with you Jim, I like to give people the benefit of the doubt, but sometimes its hard.

[C. Davidson]

Originally Posted by swatty

Got to agree with you Jim, I like to give people the benefit of the doubt, but sometimes its hard.

You always have to wonder why someone who was given a Rolex by a cherished (and often deceased) family member would so suddenly turn around and sell it for any reason.

They also tend to know things about the watch that they shouldn't know. For example, age of watch, model number and serial number. Usually no papers as well.

[Chris B]

Originally Posted by C. Davidson

You always have to wonder why someone who was given a Rolex by a cherished (and often deceased) family member would so suddenly turn around and sell it for any reason.

They also tend to know things about the watch that they shouldn't know. For example, age of watch, model number and serial number. Usually no papers as well.

[Porsche]

Glad to see I am not alone... I wondered whether I was being too cynical, maybe I was missing something because I am relatively new here... but some of them smelt really fishy for all the reasons above.

I think it's because of the generous nature of most members that you try and "help" someone with genuine queries.

[gmtobsessed]

Agree, hard to resist

[Lamone]

Gotta agree as well.

http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=51550

Innocent till proven guilty, but makes me wonder.

[Atlanta]

Just thought I would bring this 'to the top' - some of your sarcastic folks might understand why.

I'm not saying... I'm just saying.

[Chozn1]

I'm bad about it, especially when it's something really rare or valuable. It seems like there are never those type threads on an N serial SS sub. I've decided to just ignore them and move on to the SS Daytona or Price Increase threads that are probably around it.

[C. Davidson]

Originally Posted by Atlanta

Just thought I would bring this 'to the top' - some of your sarcastic folks might understand why.

I'm not saying... I'm just saying.

What are you saying Jim?

By the way, this is off subject a bit. But how can you tell the difference between the different white metals? I have no idea.

[James T]

Originally Posted by Chozn1

I'm bad about it, especially when it's something really rare or valuable. It seems like there are never those type threads on an N serial SS sub. I've decided to just ignore them and move on to the SS Daytona or Price Increase threads that are probably around it.

Just a question... what about the N series sub? I was just wondering why this example.. please elaborate what you mean. tnx

[scottschoe]

Originally Posted by Chozn1

I'm bad about it, especially when it's something really rare or valuable. It seems like there are never those type threads on an N serial SS sub. I've decided to just ignore them and move on to the SS Daytona or Price Increase threads that are probably around it.

Yup agreed. Almost always something rare.

[DSJ]

Trust, but verify?

[mfer]

I just take the high road and either don't leave a serious comment or just ignore it.

I'm by no means an expert on vintage or rare beasts. I'm asking for that high dollar Rolex book (forget the name now, you know, the hardback one ) for Christmas so I can read up on them.

I don't care what it is; a watch, a coin, a uniform.... If it was passed down to me by my grandfather, etc. I wouldn't sell it unless it was an ABSOLUTE emergency. And if it was an ABSOLUTE emergency, I'd still try to take a loan out against the value of it first and us it as collateral.

[Atlanta]

Taking Mik's advice and following the high road - feels refreshing.

[Chozn1]

Originally Posted by jamestpogi

Just a question... what about the N series sub? I was just wondering why this example.. please elaborate what you mean. tnx

Scott said it for me. It's always of some vintage, almost impossible to get your hands on, $50k plus variety. I just brought up a 90's Sub because it was the first thing that came to mind.

[f16570]

Interesting post. Never gave it much serious thought but now you mention it.

[Quicksilver]

Yep - loads of these threads lately. For the most part they stand out as obvious scams. Some are genuine - you can tell that by how the poster responds to questions.

[Atlanta]

Bump - deja vu kicked in after reading about a $300 watch.

[Al1969]

Here's a sample of a potentially "questionable" post.


"Help me Identify

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

I received a watch from my long dead grandfather. He allegedly got it many many years ago (it is filthy). It ticks beautifully for an old watch.

I am almost 100% sure it isn't a fake (been in the family for decades).

I just can't find a number on it.

Inside all it says:
Oyster Perpetual
Officially Certified Chronometer

All it says on the band is:
"Fabrique en Suisse" (I speak french)
It has the Rolex SA in an oval
and then something really small above the word Stellinox.

You can see a picture here:

http://img145.imageshack.us/my.php?i...7081224nj4.jpg

Thanks in advance!

[chicagowatchman]

Some Folex's are really really good!

[bodybump]

I think some of this people just want to get rid of the watch they are selling..like they cant really say that they just bought it and flip it out for a higher price..most of them will try to explain and give a story..as long as the watch is real and good price with good reference good enough..even he tells me its from his great great great great great great great grandfather...

[Singslinger]

Thing is, with some of the high-quality fakes coming out of China, it's very difficult to be absolutely sure without actually opening the watch up and examining the insides. I recently spent 15 minutes examining a friend's fake Turn-o-graph and couldn't find any fault - the gold looked real, the weight was hefty, the date was properly magnified by the cyclops and sweep of the second hand was as smooth as anything. He paid US$30 for it five years ago and it still looks and works perfectly! You can also pay up to $100 for top-quality replicas that come with fake boxes, warranty cards, the whole deal.

[stevemulholland3]

you know what,I am glad these people come here and us "experts",it is a sign of respect,and beside that,I have bought three rolex from people who came here and asked just that-and I got a really good deal on top of it-and yes,I did let them know about what it was worth!!
if you dont like the thread,then dont click on it..

[Z-Sub]

Either some of them were scammers or the watch was stolen.