Does this look like a scam??

[stray_cat]

WARNING You may find this post rambling or boring...

Hey all...


So I'm surfing the local craigslist classifieds and run into this post:

ROLEX STAINLESS STEEL SUBMARINER 16610 WITH DATE - $2333 (centre city)

Up for auction is a very nice 2001 stainless steel Rolex Submariner with Date.
Includes the original box, paper work, books,and accessories.
All original with normal wear. Original owner.

Pics:

Whaaaa? too good to be true, but possible...

Seller is RICH and just wants to sell it at half what he paid, for a quick timesaving transaction (time is money)!

If I were a busy rich person, I could see myself doing a quick no-dicker-hassle cash sale
like this to pass on a wondelful watch to another watchfreak and build good karma.

So I bite...I email the remailer link asking: Where is Centre city? I'm interested.

Seller says: Not local, tried to sell there before moving but couldn't ...the watch is now in Louisville, KY (2K miles away).

We did 8 emails within a half hour, good communication, responses to emails were instant... says the watch has been serviced, will take Paypal and can ship as soon as payment is confirmed, I request his phone number and give him mine. He sends his phone number (Wa DC area code), I immediately
call, twice, get voicemail and leave my number. He then emailed me his paypal info with his real email addy, "Rolex Collector" <[email protected]>
urging me to send payment right away....

I have more questions now, he's a rolex collector, I'm thinking surely he knows this watch is worth more than $2333? I Wanna get to know him first (buy the seller).

He asks for my phone again and calls me, but from a different number, and my caller ID does not show an area code, so this must be a local number.
I ask him if he's a dealer or collector and he surely must know this watch is worth quite a bit more than his asking price. Did he wear this watch since '01? He says he has a lot of rolexes and even has some diamond ones and urges me again to send him the funds and he will ship Fedex...

We get cut off and I immediately call back, ask for him, but no-one knows who he is. Strange.

I'm really suspicious now! I look at the pic of the paperwork and the name on it is not him!

He emails me and tells me it was nice talking to me and to inform him as soon as I complete payment!
I email and tell him the pleasure was mine (it was!) but I'm gonna stew on this a little, I'm not sending payment when I am unable to contact him by phone at both numbers I have (the Wash DC and the local number)

Oh ya.. also seems his Paypal payment address is not Paypal verified. Am I still protected?

Thoughts anyone?

 

[T3RM1N4T0R]

RUN AWAY

 

[Mike00GT]

If it sounds to good to be true... it probably isn't. Can you afford to toss $2333 away on a $150 fake or more likely nothing at all? If so, hop on it. If not, forget about it. Literally. Don't drive yourself nuts with "yeah, but what ifs"...

 

[carlton]

If he is rich and only to get a quick deal for off loading the watch, he can just give/sell it to his relative, friends at any price or just walk in to any 2nd hand watch shop and take whatever amount they offer. Why would someone go through the hassle of taking photo, upload online and spend time writing description of the watch when all he wanted is to sell it low and quick?

I seriously have doubt for this deal and my suggestion would be stay away.

 

[Nipples]

Totally fake. When someone on Craigslist says that they've moved once you email them, avoid the deal straight away. It's always a scam. I've seen it more than five times and almost fell into one of the traps. The odd phone numbers are clear signs of a scam. Do not buy.

*EDIT*

Almost forgot to mention... That "official" Rolex warranty looks like it is printed on standard printer paper. Looks as if it was thrown together in MS Word. Border is dull and doesn't even come close to the edge of the paper. Now, perhaps I'm just seeing things as I'm on a mobile device, but it looks off on my phone's tiny screen. Anyone else have thoughts?

*DOUBLE EDIT*

Saw it on my computer screen and it doesn't look as bad as I had initially though. Still wouldn't make the deal, however.

 

[Sam1977]

I buy 4 to 5 Gen Rolex watches per month for resale. A good amount of the watches I buy come from local craigslist deals. I have been running across more and more scam deals just like this one.

Be careful on Craigslist! You can sometimes find great deals, regular people down on thier luck in need of quick cash, but there are also a lot of asshole con artists waiting to take advantage of an honest person.

Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk 2

 

[mikewatch]

Careful Stray!
Your a great guy and I think your gut is right this sounds like a scam to me, run!
You know it is and love the hobby, of anyone I have ever sold a watch to your the one that stands out as a stellar guy who loves the hobby and would haye to see get burned. Don't get caught up in a good deal.. like you said buy the seller bro!!