Horological Meandering

I just got taken for $12k by a scammer in the collector's corner. This person had listed a Patek 5712 Tiffany and I contacted him/her, and found out the asking price was $29k, I asked for pictures and details. I was sent pictures of the full kit, but the serial number on the watch and the certificate were blurred out. My offer of $27k was accepted and references were provided and the information for the "shipping agent" was provided. I was traveling at the time and was distracted, so in hindsight, I should have known better, as these pieces are trading in the high 30's. The account information was for a woman, not the person with whom I had been emailing, and the watch was claimed to be located in Chicago, the account was located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. I told this person I wasn't okay with sending the money without knowing who he/she is and/or being a "known" person around the community. We agreed to a new price, $25k, and I'd wire $12k and the watch would be sent to me and then I'd wire the rest. Fast forward two weeks and the person is still in contact with me, but the money oddly took 10 days to clear in their account, and the shipping "agent" never answers his phone, the listing was changed to show that it isn't a Tiffany, but regular 5712 and there are comments claiming it's a fake listing, stolen from another forum. Many of the comments on this person's listings have comments that indicate the pictures and descriptions are stolen from other forums.

I know full well the signs were there and I missed them, but does anyone have any advice on recovering funds?

Thanks. 

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