They wanted to live in luxury, but they did not have the necessary change. That is why three students offered fake Rolex watches – ‘made in China’ – on a sales platform in Graz and Vienna. For a layman it was impossible to tell the difference. Until the trio encountered an undercover investigator after a complaint in Vienna. Then the handcuffs clicked.
One of the defendants received a very generous gift from his father for his 18th birthday: a Rolex. This somehow gave the now 20-year-old from Graz a taste for luxury items and he became increasingly interested in luxury items.
He had the perfect partner in his best friend (21), because he had long had a passion for expensive watches. On the Internet they came across a platform that offered ‘super clones’ from China. These are clones for which the original watch is purchased, measured using the most modern methods and then replicated. They struck.
Forged certificates of authenticity from a fine jeweler
The students then tested with an acquaintance whether the plagiarism appeared original. Once that was accomplished, the plan was clear. They bought the counterfeits in China for an average of around 500 euros and then sold them as originals on a trading platform. To do this, they checked the real watch boxes, care instructions and fake certificates of authenticity from a Viennese noble jeweler. The idea creator’s Viennese girlfriend (20) was also brought on board. She registered two mobile phones with fake names and processed the sales.
In January, things finally clicked in Vienna when the fraudsters tried to sell a fake Rolex Datejust worth 12,500 euros to an undercover Federal Police investigator in a café. A buyer called the police.
Victims are still walking around with counterfeits
The three earned between 2,200 euros and 16,000 euros per watch sale between August 2023 and January 2024. The Graz public prosecutor’s office has charged eight crimes, although only two victims are known by name. The rest are probably still walking around with a fake on their wrist. If you feel interested, visit your trusted master watchmaker.
The three fraudsters have confessed. The trial will take place in Graz in July.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
