The largest independent, non-commercial, consumer-oriented resource on the Internet for owners, collectors and enthusiasts of fine wristwatches. Online since 1998.
Informational Websites ChronoMaddox -- the legacy of Chuck Maddox OnTheDash -- vintage Heuer website Zowie -- Omega information
Discussion Forums ChronoMaddox Forum Heuer Forum Omega Forum
Counterfeit Watchers ChronoTools Forum ChronoTrader Forum

A marketplace for chronographs, dive watches and other tool-type wristwatches and timepieces

This forum is for BUYING, SELLING and TRADING only--not for discussing watches. Please limit postings to specific ads for buying, selling or trading watches, parts or accessories that that match at least one of the following categories:

Please see our ChronoTrader Policies and Terms of Use. Learn more about How To Include Photos In Your Postings.

Rules: Postings must be an ad announcing an intent to sell, buy or trade. Full item description and photo(s) must be posted within the message here, not as links to other websites. Links to online auctions and other sites: Links to online auctions, dealer sites or other listings of items are permitted, but you should be careful to ensure that such listings will comply with our other ChronoTrader Policies. In addition, we request that sellers linking to online auctions or listings offer some benefit or accomodation to ChronoTrader readers (for example, some discount or an undertaking to end an auction early, to keep a watch "in the family"). Photos must be of the actual item for sale in its present condition. No counterfeit or replica products. No post for the same item may be repeated within 7 days, except to lower the asking price. Commercial dealers are limited to three unique posts per day. [More...]

SIMPLE WAY...

Well the easiest way is to just google their email address in quotes. For example, "scammer@aol.com"

If the only reference comes back to the Chronocentric ad, I would consider that a red flag. Also, look at the ad itself. Is the seller selling a Rolex for hundreds or thousands under market average? If so, that's a red flag. There's more demand than supply for stainless steel sport Rolex watches. Why would someone undercut themselves by selling it for way cheaper than anyone else? Maybe they're just a naive seller? That's possible but I'd approach that with a red flag already up. Remember, these guys want quick money with few questions. They prey on the fact that the buyer is worried about "loosing the deal". This is how they get you.

Another thing to look out for are fake references. Just because you get a response doesn't mean it's a real reference. ANYONE can go and make up new email accounts on outlook, hotmail, gmail, AOL, yahoo, mail, yandex, etc., etc. Even phone numbers are easy to create. Scammers almost always use VOIP numbers which anyone, anywhere can get for free. Think Google Voice. Anyone with a gmail account and get a free Google Voice number. There are many other services that offer this for free too. So you need to run a history check on the references with just as much scrutiny. If everything comes up light, that's all red flags. I mean who has 5-10 references that don't exist online in any way? People who don't exist in the cities the scammer claims they're in?

Scammers also hack legitimate user accounts. Look at the old ads of that person and see if the style matches the current ad. A lot of sellers won't post their email address and rather have you use the forum's PM system. Scammers will also use email address that look VERY SIMILAR to the actual email address of the person. For example, let's say the REAL user's email is "roberthayworth at whatever dot com", the scammers will signed up at "whatever dot com" and pick a name like "roberthayath at whatever dot com". Looks close, only one letter off.

You can't even believe it if they forward you a picture of their ID. A lot of these scammers are actually working a larger scam (like a 419 scam) and the ID/Bank Account of the person they're pretending to be is a real person who is stupid enough to have fallen for the 419 scam. So the scammers get these UI's (Useful Idiots) to send them a copy of their license (for "verification") and then the UI's job is to forward any money sent to their account to someone else via Western Union or some other method and UI gets to keep a percentage because they're helping out a the National Treasurer of Nigeria "free up" money that's been "locked" due to an account problem. Yes, dumbf's fall for this.

So you really have to buy the seller. In many cases, their English is very bad. Sometimes is just some bad syntax. That should be a red flag too. There are a million and one way to scam people so you need to throw out this notion of "people are generally good" theory. If you look at a high demand Rolex, unless it's a well known seller, you're better served ASSUMING it's a scam and let the seller prove otherwise. Not fair? Tough, life isn't fair. If it's a honest seller, they'll understand. If they don't, you probably don't want to deal with them anyways.

All of this is easily done online if you are willing to put in the effort. What I bring to the table is that I have additional resources that most people don't have access to. Can I be wrong? Sure but look at my track record.

As another user has mentioned, a Escrow service is good idea especially if you're iffy about the seller. Now some legitimate sellers don't want to be bothered with the extra hassle so you have to weigh the risk to reward. Is getting a good deal worth the very good possibility of loosing all of the money? I want to buy a Rolex 116610LV Hulk for $8000 but I'd rather loose out on the "deal" than loose out on all of the $8000.

Current Position
Chronocentric and zOwie site design and contents (c) Copyright 1998-2005, Derek Ziglar; Copyright 2005-2008, Jeffrey M. Stein. All rights reserved. Use of this web site constitutes acceptance of the terms of use. CONTACT | TERMS OF USE | TRANSLATE