I didn't fall for it..

[trident-7]

I put a WTB for a Grand Seiko SBGJ005 on another forum. I received a PM with the offer of one. Wanting to be diligent I asked, amongst other things, for a photo of the watch with the hands set at 23 minutes past 8. I had already found where the seller had stolen his photos of the watch from the internet so I knew that he didn't have a watch to sell. I was therefore initially surprised to receive this photo:



It only took a few seconds to see that it was a fairly crudely photoshopped picture of the original shown below, a copy of which he had already sent me:



It just goes to show the brass neck of some people, although I do think that you would have to be born yesterday to fall for it

[al1991]

Shocking.

[SteveR]

Flipping hell.

Now I'm looking for it you can see it's pretty poorly shopped. Good spot

[markrlondon]

Wow!

Have you reported it to the relevant moderators?

[Kingstepper]

Crude maybe but reasonable Photoshop skills and could fool a lot of people at first glance (especially in absence of original).

Interesting that the GMT hand hasn't moved though!

[Neilw3030]

Looking quickly at it you wouldnt know, but with suspicion and pics side by side it becomes obvious pretty quick.

[Velorum]

I think that it would have caught me out at first glance

[gcleminson]

forum name of the culprit??

[ed335d]

I think that it would have caught me out at first glance

Me too

[trainspanner]

Christ it wasn't until reading on that I had another look and noticed it! I might have fallen for that!

Name and shame...

[Wallasey Runner]

And again, wouldn't have spotted that at first glance. Thinking about it the hour hand should be close to half way between the 8 and the 9.

Great spot, well done.

[forpetesake]

It's a jungle out there!

Reading about various buyer and seller scams has led me to decide to just hold onto my unloved watches. I can't be bothered with the hassle.

[markrlondon]

Reading about various buyer and seller scams has led me to decide to just hold onto my unloved watches. I can't be bothered with the hassle.

It's not that bad, overall. :-) And SC here is probably safer than most places.

[forpetesake]

It's not that bad, overall. :-) And SC here is probably safer than most places.

The way I look at it Mark, if I had spent the money on a new car instead, it would now be lost to depreciation. I have effectively written it off.

[trident-7]

And again, wouldn't have spotted that at first glance. Thinking about it the hour hand should be close to half way between the 8 and the 9.

Great spot, well done.

That was the first thing I noticed. You can also still see the shadows of the second hand & the hour hand at the original positions.

I had the WTB on WUS. The moderators were on it pretty quickly. I was told that it was a well known Nigerian scammer. He even agreed to meet me in central Glasgow for a face to face deal. I guess he'd have been a no show or turn up with a machete

[Daddelvirks]

Jesus Wept!

Good call.

I hope you will find a genuine one, it's a beauty.

Daddel.

[markrlondon]

The way I look at it Mark, if I had spent the money on a new car instead, it would now be lost to depreciation. I have effectively written it off.

Oh well, that's very stoic of you. Still, SC is there should you change your mind. :-)



- - - Updated - - -

I had the WTB on WUS. The moderators were on it pretty quickly. I was told that it was a well known Nigerian scammer. He even agreed to meet me in central Glasgow for a face to face deal. I guess he'd have been a no show or turn up with a machete

I'm glad to hear they acted quickly!

[Van Diemen]

Good spot.

Absolutely shocking the lengths some scammers will go to.

[JustaHunch]

I had to look again.

[alphajet]

The GMT hand should also have moved slightly as it moves with the minute hand with this movement.

[GrandS]

Is there an easy way to find stolen images?

[ataripower]

Is there an easy way to find stolen images?

Are you thinking of a career change :-)?