Selling a watch online? Count the cash before you hand it over

According to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, anyone selling a luxury watch or collectible through an online marketplace should count every bill in front of the buyer before handing over the item. Richmond RCMP has investigated multiple incidents since November 2025 in which sellers walked away believing they held thousands of dollars in cash, only to discover later that the envelope held a small amount of real currency on top, with paper cut to resemble stacks of bills underneath.

The total reported loss so far exceeds $22,000. Richmond RCMP has also identified similar incidents in other Lower Mainland jurisdictions, which suggests this is not one crew working one neighbourhood.

What to do before any cash changes hands

The scam depends on one moment: the seller takes the envelope, feels its weight, and hands over the item without opening it. That moment is the entire crime. Everything before it, the listing, the message, the meeting place, is ordinary. Once the envelope is accepted unopened, the transaction is over and the loss is set.

So the fix sits at that exact point. Count the cash out loud, bill by bill, before the item leaves a seller's hand. Cpl. Melissa Lui of Richmond RCMP says these suspects are skilled at creating a false sense of security during the exchange and rely on the seller being distracted at a critical moment. That distraction is often built into the handoff itself: a rushed buyer, a comment that pulls attention away from the envelope, a reason to hurry.

Safer places to do the exchange

Richmond RCMP recommends arranging the transaction at a police detachment Exchange Zone where one is available. These are public, monitored spaces set up specifically for online marketplace trades. Where an Exchange Zone is not an option, a financial institution works too: cash can be verified on the spot by staff, not just the seller's eyes.

Electronic payment is the other route, and it removes the counting problem entirely, because the funds are confirmed before the item is handed over rather than trusted on sight.

What a seller should check, every time

• Count and inspect all currency thoroughly before handing over the item.
• Be cautious if the buyer seems rushed or tries to create a distraction.
• Consider an electronic payment method that can be verified immediately.
• For a large cash sale, complete it at a financial institution where the funds can be checked on the spot.
• If something feels off partway through, stop the transaction.

Anyone who believes they have been targeted by this kind of scam is encouraged to contact their local police department and report the incident.