SCAMS BULLETIN Host Jay White is an inactive attorney in San Mateo County, California.

September 12, 2020.

FAKE WATCHES SCAM

Crooked watchmakers are making it tougher than ever to spot a fake watch post.

Fake luxury watches from the likes of Rolex, Omega, Cartier, Tag Heuer and Patek Philippe are objects of desire. They are not only stunning pieces of jewelry, some are sound investments.

Most of the fakes target the established Rolex-type luxury upper end of the market. Fakery is taking place at the top of the market and is most costly. Three quarters of those 40 million fake watches produced every year are labeled as Rolex models.

If you are planning to buy a luxury watch, especially a pre-owned model, here is a guide:

*If you can, buy only from an established and reputable dealer. If buying from an individual, insist that the watch, including the movement, is inspected by an expert.

*Check the model online. Does the one you are planning to buy match the detailed description and illustrations of other same-model watches?

*Check documentation. Beware if the watch comes without certification that should include a serial number.

*Check the price. Look at auction reports and other online data. Experts say if the price is more than 20% below the going rate, it is probably a fake.

*Check the “feel.” If there are sharp edges or the watch feels lighter than it should, it is a scam. Look for the hallmark if it is gold.

*Check the tick. Luxury watches are barely audible, reflecting the refined quality of moving parts. A loud tick signals a fake.

*Do not be rushed. Be on your guard if the seller is trying to pressure you for a quick deal — a common tactic used by scammers.

Fake Apple Watches and Fitness Trackers:

Scammers are also busy producing knockoffs of smart watches like Apple’s (though some might say the cost of Apple watches puts them in the luxury bracket too!). They may not have Apple branding but in many other respects they look like the genuine item.

It has been reported Apple’s top selling watches are being cloned in China and sold at knockdown prices of $60 to $80.

Here are GeekModo’s suggested actions you can take if you are buying the genuine item:

*Check the thickness. Counterfeiters struggle to match Apple’s 10.5 mm.

*Check that the digital crown control is at the top right of the device.

*Check the heart sensors on the back — they should be circular, arranged in a diamond pattern.

*Check the functionality. Does the device have all the right apps?

*Check the packaging. Apple is known for the quality of its packaging, which tends to be minimalist and mostly white.

Fake Fitness Monitor:

It is not just in the luxury market where watch counterfeiters are at work. They are turning fake wrist-worn digital electronics into a booming business.

Recently arriving from China are cheap fitness monitors with a dangerous fake element — a phony heart rate monitor. Discovered only during the past few weeks, these devices, which sell for $10 or even $5, basically guess at your heart rate based on how much you are moving.

Fake watch or fitness scams can be reported to US Federal Trade Commission. WWW.FTC.GOV.

ATTRIBUTION: http://www.scambusters.org