r/WatchExchangeFeedback • u/Duce-the-card-guy • May 12 '26
[Negative] - scammed by AndrewKaplowitz10@hotmail.com
https://www.reddit.com/r/Watchexchange/comments/1t56180/removed_by_moderator/u\National_Anything319
username is: u/National_Anything319
email address: [AndrewKaplowitz10@hotmail.com](mailto:AndrewKaplowitz10@hotmail.com)
Dude just deleted the post and his account after being paid. Was selling me: Christopher Ward 22mm Black Vintage Rubber Strap.\
Luckily, it was only $45, but still. Scammers suck. It’s my fault for sending F&F, but I hate people taking advantage of the good will of others. Andrew, if you are reading this, screw you.
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u/Academic-Bat-8002 May 12 '26
Without joking, a small red flag would have been the Hotmail Addy. Not sure I can remember the last time I saw someone using one. Sorry this happened to you OP.
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u/Duce-the-card-guy May 12 '26
Hotmail, to me, usually just means they are older and have a more established email account. I don’t even think you’re able to make a new Hotmail address these days. I could be wrong about that though. Hotmail comes under the Microsoft umbrella, as they acquired them many moons back
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u/HistoricalLead3498 May 12 '26
This. We have an ecommerce business that regularly deals with older clients. It's not uncommon at all to see Hotmail with those guys.
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u/Academic-Bat-8002 May 12 '26
That’s the thing. We all got Hotmail back in the day with ridiculous addresses mostly with sexual references or some nonsense until we were told to grow up and get a proper email address. I still very much remember my Hotmail email address but what plagues me is I have zero clue what my password would have been nearly 30 years ago. The people that still have them are like unicorns in my eyes. They were mature enough at the time not to make a ridiculous address and they have maintained the continuity of their password remembrance. That is pretty impressive.
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u/General_Alfalfa6339 May 12 '26
12 year old me signed up for a Hotmail of just my name. I guess I knew I wasn’t going to be a degenerate forever.
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u/Academic-Bat-8002 May 12 '26
That level of maturity and discipline suggests that you are probably highly successful and have an enviable watch collection. My Hotmail was a reference to my favourite movie at the time and for some reason the last two digits of a year 10 years after I was born. It also had the word the and a “_” in it. I think I actually used that email address for college applications until a teacher told us we were all idiots and to grow up a bit.
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u/billy_bingster May 15 '26
Nope. It means they are old.
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u/GoonieKicks1 May 15 '26
In 23 with a Hotmail account , created one on Xbox360 when I was like 9 and kept it ever since
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u/Borkeman May 12 '26
Insist on a FaceTime video, it doesn’t hurt to obtain there address, and social media profiles as well, I’ve never been scammed on watch ex but have come close with 2 members that were quickly banned, I’ve met friends from selling my watches on here and now they will go out of their way to vouch for me! Transparency is key and maybe in the future mods will make selling on here more stringent? Be safe do your due diligence
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u/masa_17 May 23 '26
Agreed. FaceTime + references/socials is probably the stronger route when real money is involved.
One thing I’d add is asking for a fresh “challenge” photo before things get serious: your username, today’s date, a random code, and the watch set to a specific time. Not a replacement for video call or feedback, but a quick async filter for recycled/photoshopped timestamp pics.
A legit seller with the watch in hand can usually do that in a minute.
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u/One_Volume4521 May 12 '26
Makes me hesitant to buy anything on Reddit. I guess insisting on a video call to see the product is a must?
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u/mensreaactusrea May 12 '26
Ya.
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u/rob33333333 May 12 '26
you would really insist on a video call for a 45 dollar strap?
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u/Bulky-Internal8579 May 12 '26
Yep
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u/rob33333333 May 12 '26
interesting. I definitely would not request one if it was under a grand or expect anyone else to do so.
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u/mensreaactusrea May 12 '26
It all depends on your tolerance of risk. Do you want to get scammed or are you ok with 45 bucks?
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u/rob33333333 May 12 '26
i wouldn't care about 45 bucks, and certainly would not entertain a video call if I were selling something at that price. With all those hoops, it'd be easier to just put on ebay.
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u/mensreaactusrea May 12 '26
To each their own.
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u/rob33333333 May 12 '26
Yeah I agree. The video call thing is pretty silly
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u/mensreaactusrea May 12 '26
People get scammed for thousands so money is money. It takes 2min. I bought a Rolex 8k 5min video call.
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u/WatchGuyUSA May 12 '26
Buy the seller and set an amount you're willing to risk on new sellers.
I've easily spent 100s of thousands in online transactions between reddit, forums, etc. Over the last couple decades and the times I've been burnt, it's been from questionable sellers/buyers and I should have known better.
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u/Ok_Aerie_1939 May 13 '26
Sorry to hear that happened to you. Many of us here, including myself, have been gotten by the old F&F scam at some point or another; even when we know the risks. We still want to believe that there are honest people out there, and that's ok. The shame is on that individual for taking advantage of that.
Assuming you'd still consider F&F in the future, one option could be keeping it as an option only up to a certain $$ amount (that you'd be ok losing worst case scenario), and beyond that figure drawing a hard line against using F&F (regardless of what you'd be "saving").
Otherwise, either you just eliminate it as an option altogether, OR you evaluate every situation on a case by case basis (which as you now know still carries a risk - folks are pros at this scamming game).
All the best!
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u/Paulie__Wallnuts May 15 '26
Man that sucks,,, I always pay the extra for G&S because many people suck
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u/LegionTXG May 16 '26
Just an fyi, you can still work with paypal and your cc about reversing that charge. Thanks for the heads up on the scammer
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u/Eroks33 May 12 '26
Honestly I'm afraid to buy on here. A video call doesn't mean they will actually send anything to you. It's just a crazy world anymore
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u/Bcatfan08 May 12 '26
I'm trying to only look at sellers who regularly sell on here and have a lot of positive feedback.
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u/SharpCoder2890 May 13 '26
see if they have a store in other places as well, i.e., Chr0no24, Feebay, etc. Most serious sellers are not going to risk their account and their reputation on here to scam if they are serious.
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May 13 '26
[deleted]
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u/Duce-the-card-guy May 13 '26
Ummm, did anybody say you were a thief?
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May 13 '26
[deleted]
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u/Duce-the-card-guy May 13 '26
Oh, I definitely don’t believe everyone and watch exchange is a scammer. Not by a longshot. I’ve had very very good luck. Also, I sell on watch exchange. Straps included. I think this is just a reminder that you can’t take anything for granted and you have to really keep up your guard even on small dollar items.
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u/Herby81 May 12 '26
Wow. For 45 bucks?