Man sells grandfather’s Seiko watch on eBay. 8 days later, the buyer claims it’s a fake: ‘not even a high-end luxury brand people typically fake’

A man who sold his grandfather’s Seiko Presage watch on eBay for $1,200 claimed he was left without the money or the watch after the buyer allegedly returned a broken counterfeit. The seller listed the watch on eBay and allegedly sold it to a buyer with positive feedback, according to Cheezburger.

He claimed he took more than 30 photos documenting the watch’s condition and identifying details, including its serial number and caseback. He then packed it in its original box, added bubble wrap, and shipped it through the United States Postal Service with tracking and insurance.

The buyer reportedly waited eight days after receiving the package before requesting a return, claiming the watch was “not authentic.” The seller claimed he “was confused because it’s literally a Seiko, not even a high-end luxury brand people typically fake.” However, he claimed eBay approved the return before he had a proper opportunity to respond.

The watch apparently cost him a great deal

When the package arrived back, the seller alleged that the watch inside was a broken knockoff and that his family heirloom was stolen. He said its serial number and caseback were different from those in his original photographs, and he also noticed that the crown was on the opposite side.

The seller reportedly contacted eBay to challenge the return, but the company sided with the buyer since they apparently “provided a ‘report’ from some random jeweler saying it was fake.” According to the post, the seller’s appeal was subsequently denied, so now the buyer has the “real watch and his $1,200 back.”

After apparently becoming a victim of fraud, he also purportedly filed a police report in Tampa, Florida. However, he said the detective who took his information allegedly warned that pursuing the case could be difficult because the buyer lives in Ohio.

The seller then asked whether the incident could qualify as mail fraud because the transaction involved USPS and whether taking the buyer to small claims court would be worthwhile. He added that he apparently had money set aside for rent and could not afford to use those funds to cover the loss.

According to The Law Office of Jeffrey Chabrowe, mail fraud is a federal offense that can result in potential prison time and large fines. To prove a mail fraud case, prosecutors must show that there was a “deliberate plan to deceive someone in order to obtain money or property” and that the person “acted with a specific intent to deceive.” The prosecutors must also show that the involved parties “used the U.S. Postal Service or a private carrier such as FedEx or UPS to carry out the scheme.”