Watch Community Account Compromise Warning

Key Points from the Discussion

• The scam involved a compromised account, 'RGS,' sending private messages (PMs) to members, attempting to solicit email responses for supposed watch purchases, specifically mentioning Audemars Piguet and Patek Philippe references.
• The fraudulent messages often included a link to a watch advertisement and requested confirmation of a reference, aiming to move the conversation to email addresses like 'Mattnshilp AT gmail DOT com,' which were explicitly identified as phishing attempts.
• Replying to the scammer via email, even without disclosing further personal information, could expose members to spam and future phishing attempts, emphasizing the danger of engaging outside the forum's protected messaging system.
• One member, 'jakubL,' was falsely listed as a reference in the scam messages, confirming they had no prior dealings with the fraudulent account, indicating the scammer's tactic of fabricating connections.
• The moderator confirmed that 'RGS's account was deactivated around 10 AM GMT, meaning any PMs received after that time were from the criminal who hacked the account, reinforcing the need to cease all engagement.
• The incident prompted discussion about a potential increase in wristwatch fraud, with one member noting a similar suspicious activity on a Rolex forum and a questionable buyer experience on Chrono24.