I hope you got your money back, most of us have had this kind of experience, wit some more or less happy endings!... The vintage world is complicated and the Rolex vintage world is a real mine field and as enjoyable it is when you get a great watch, it feels equally soar when you get fooled!...This is why this kind of community is great to help as there are some very knowledgeable, helpful and nice guys around. Now I am also cautious when it comes to buying a watch and even more when it comes to serious pieces and budgets! the rule I try to follow is buy the buyer as much as the watch and get all possible reference and points of view, on the buyer as well as on the watch. Then, Rolex is extremely complex but at the end of the day the market is quite well self organized and prices well established so it is a good reference. In my opinion any too good deal or ultra rare/non well documented piece is to be dealt with the biggest precautions as most of the time there might be something wrong.
Best
Matt