- 7/3/18
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A friend of mine got scammed on a fake Sub but was able to get his money back and keep the watch. This gave me an idea: intentionally replicate this transaction as a way to thwart counterfeiters. The problem with reporting scammers on eBay is that they still have their wares, and will just move on to Craigslist or whatnot, or create a new eBay ID, etc. The key to hitting them where it hurts is to deplete their inventory.
So then, the plan. I'm in the US; depending on your country's customs laws and the quality of its eBay customer service, your mileage may vary.
1. Find a fake watch on eBay being sold from outside the US.
1a. Buy It Now watches are better for this than auctions. With BIN you're guaranteed to get the watch, and you immediately lock any unsuspecting buyer out of bidding on it. If you try this technique on a standard auction, you run the risk of simply running up the price that the scammer's victim ends up paying if someone outbids you. So stick with BIN.
2. Buy the watch and quickly pay using Paypal. You want to pay quickly because there's a possibility eBay will flag the item and cancel the transaction, even after an item sells but before it's paid for.
3. Receive the item, document that it's fake (movement picture, signed document from watchsmith or AD, etc.), and open an eBay return.
4. Wait for seller to respond. The seller will request that you return the item to an address outside the US.
5. Call eBay Customer Service at 866-540-3229. Explain the situation, and the fact that you would be breaking the law if you sent a counterfeit watch through the US Mail to another country.
6. Wait 5 minutes while the Customer Service person puts you on hold to get approval to expedite a decision in your favor.
7. Thank the Customer Service person when s/he informs you that you will be getting a refund the same day and that you do not have to return the watch.
So then, the plan. I'm in the US; depending on your country's customs laws and the quality of its eBay customer service, your mileage may vary.
1. Find a fake watch on eBay being sold from outside the US.
1a. Buy It Now watches are better for this than auctions. With BIN you're guaranteed to get the watch, and you immediately lock any unsuspecting buyer out of bidding on it. If you try this technique on a standard auction, you run the risk of simply running up the price that the scammer's victim ends up paying if someone outbids you. So stick with BIN.
2. Buy the watch and quickly pay using Paypal. You want to pay quickly because there's a possibility eBay will flag the item and cancel the transaction, even after an item sells but before it's paid for.
3. Receive the item, document that it's fake (movement picture, signed document from watchsmith or AD, etc.), and open an eBay return.
4. Wait for seller to respond. The seller will request that you return the item to an address outside the US.
5. Call eBay Customer Service at 866-540-3229. Explain the situation, and the fact that you would be breaking the law if you sent a counterfeit watch through the US Mail to another country.
6. Wait 5 minutes while the Customer Service person puts you on hold to get approval to expedite a decision in your favor.
7. Thank the Customer Service person when s/he informs you that you will be getting a refund the same day and that you do not have to return the watch.
