Return and switch watch scam
Summary: pc0704 described a scam involving a buyer who purchased a watch, claimed it was faulty, and then returned it with cheaper and more damaged parts. Other participants suggested reporting the incident as fraud to the police, contacting Customer Services, and filing a report with 'Report Fraud' to open a case against the buyer. Emphasis was placed on the importance of using official channels to handle the situation.
Dealt with a guy who goes under watchtime-uk on here. He bought a watch I was selling and immediately had an issue with it and wanted money off. I didn’t do it as the watch was already being sold under value and so he opened a return. I immediately sent a returns label and waited. Four days later the guy messaged saying he was sending the watch back broken, he had broken the bracelet on it as it obviously had a weakness he said. Nearly two weeks pass before I finally got my watch back, or so I thought. Not initially obvious what he had done, but the guy has swapped out the watch bracelet on my watch for a cheaper and broken one. He has also changed the bezel on the watch for a far more damaged one. Pics I had taken beforehand compared to after clearly show the differences. This is a return and switch scam for the guy committing blatant fraud, theft and mail-fraud but eBay don’t seem interested at all. I’m now out of pocket and this guy who is based in Bristol is free to trade with no action taken…what is going on!
sml192
·1 month agoThe correct procedure here is to file a report with Report Fraud, to obtain a crime reference number, then use the 'Report a problem' option in the return which closes the original return and opens a case against the buyer instead.
cobwebcottage
·1 month agoYour only hope is to speak to Customer Services. This is quite hard so keep typing 'speak to an agent' when you use the chat box until you get the option for CS to call you.
Make sure that they read the messages between you and the buyer. The one which says that they broke the bracelet.
You may be lucky if they have a history of doing this. It is worth a try.
By the way, you cannot name the buyer on the boards.
millcottage
·1 month agoReport it to the police as fraud.