Golf club / equipment scam

LONDON - AN INTERNATIONAL network of criminals duped eBay customers into paying millions of pounds for counterfeit golf clubs in the largest fraud of its kind, British media reported on Wednesday.

Briton behind four-year online fraud
THE scam's alleged mastermind, Gary Bellchambers, a 45-year-old Briton, travelled frequently to China to source for counterfeit golf clubs.

His six co-conspirators, who deny conspiracy charges, are said to have managed accounts or acted as distributors.
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One golfer a month swindled in Singapore
AT LEAST one person a month in Singapore is swindled by online vendors peddling fake golf clubs. And there is little that big-name golf manufacturers can do to help them.

Mr Rick Brown, brand manager of Titleist and Cobra Acushnet Singapore, said that typically, customers find out that their online purchase is counterfeit only when they turn up at the store with a defective product.
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The alleged mastermind of the 'counterfeiting empire', which sold fake goods, from golf clubs, clothing and accessories, to passes for an airline lounge, was Gary Bellchambers, 45, a Briton.

The prosecution told a London court on Tuesday that the four-year scam had been of a 'truly global nature', and eBay called it the 'single largest counterfeiting conspiracy yet uncovered' on their website, the Times newspaper said.

Prosecutor Adam Davies said that 'large sums' were continually being transferred between accounts held by Bellchambers in Britain and Thailand. A sum of £73,000 (S$170,000) was transferred to one of the accounts in a month, he added.

'Nearly every major golf brand has been affected by the sale of counterfeit goods through the eBay accounts. It is the belief of the fraud investigation unit at eBay that this case represents the single largest counterfeiting conspiracy yet uncovered on their website,' he said.

From mid-2003 to early last year, the network was responsible for the sale and distribution of millions of pounds' worth of counterfeit goods both in the UK and abroad, primarily through eBay, the court was told.

'This is a conspiracy of a truly global nature. Conspirators are thought to have been based in the UK, Thailand, Australia, Germany, Singapore, the US, Hong Kong, China - and goods have been distributed from, or to, all those countries and more,' Mr Davies said.

The court heard that the downfall of the 'counterfeiting empire' had been triggered by a pensioner, Ms Christine Manz. She had bought clubs from Bellchambers but, unhappy with their quality, she asked for a refund.

Her letters to Bellchambers went unanswered as he was abroad at the time. Ms Manz then turned to the trading standards office in east London. Her complaint sparked an investigation, which led to raids at a string of addresses and the recovery of a 'large quantity' of fake clubs.

On Tuesday, the court was told that Bellchambers and two others had admitted to conspiring to sell or distribute golf clubs, clothing and accessories, bearing signs identical to, or likely to be mistaken for, registered trademarks. Bellchambers also admitted to two offences of unauthorised use of trademarks. The trial is expected to last three months.

When I read this news on Straits Times, nearly fainted!!! Just won a bid today on ebay for a SC putter

22tang wrote:

When I read this news on Straits Times, nearly fainted!!! Just won a bid today on ebay for a SC putter

... and my Cleveland Launcher Hybrid - but mine's from 3Balls so hopefully it's more reputable.

I am keeping my finger cross, hope it is not fake!!!

I also just bought a Callaway Hyper X 3W.... *sweating*

& was about to make a purchase for Srixon irons from a seller with 100% feedback... too good to be true??

The papers also warned buyers, if the price is too good to be true ... usually it is fake!!!

I had my experience on Ebay where a seller MIA for a mth after I paid. Luckily I filed for dispute with Paypal and got my money back after a week.

woah.. that's why i only pay items especially when it is located overseas using paypal.. local can always come to your door and o$p$ so no issue there haha

botak wrote:

I also just bought a Callaway Hyper X 3W.... *sweating*

& was about to make a purchase for Srixon irons from a seller with 100% feedback... too good to be true??

Look at the feedback... 100% isn't always real. There are ways to jack up their feedback. I've seen sellers with great ratings in the hundred but all for items which are crap like pencils, rubbers etc valued at $1 and below. Sure fake!!

Asking for opinions: USD300 for Srixon I-701 4-PW, NS Pro R300, New. Too good to be true??.... Please let it be true....

Here's the Srixon irons I was talking about...

NEW! SRIXON I-701 FORGED IRONS 4-PW R300 SENSICORE

WAh.....ideed scary.....but 300 is a bit too cheap IMHO

its $300 USD & u have to bid for it right?
btw, the ratings for this Seller very good.

good luck!

i'm still trying to bid from an ebay seller : empire-golf

no need to bid, it's Buy Now!

i don't like bidding.... no patience

If SC that I receive is fake, can I get it return?

Where can I get it check?

JawereZ wrote:

its $300 USD & u have to bid for it right?
btw, the ratings for this Seller very good.

good luck!

i'm still trying to bid from an ebay seller : empire-golf

think empire golf is quite reputable... they even state boldly that you will have 3 times the money back if any of their clubs are found to be fake....

Duval_S wrote:

WAh.....ideed scary.....but 300 is a bit too cheap IMHO

Here's the thing.... rockbottomgolf.com is selling TaylorMade R7 for USD330, and Adams Idea Pro hybrids & forged irons combo for USD320, shipping charges USD55/set.

The Srixons are going for USD300, shipping USD70/set.

So works out to be very close pricing.

That's why I initially concluded that the price by the ebay seller was not extremely cheap. Also, scanning through his feedback and looking at the people who trade with him, they do not seem to be newbies and there was no pattern of similar comments (sign of fake feedbacks). Also, he only trades in golf equipment, no pencils or erasers or condoms...

How???

take and try!

My father's last name is not Buffett/Gates/Maddoff

Technospaz wrote:

22tang wrote:

When I read this news on Straits Times, nearly fainted!!! Just won a bid today on ebay for a SC putter

... and my Cleveland Launcher Hybrid - but mine's from 3Balls so hopefully it's more reputable.

I just got my 3 clubs from 3Balls and they look genuine to me.

I hope mine too, should be in by next week

Christo72 wrote:

Technospaz wrote:

22tang wrote:

When I read this news on Straits Times, nearly fainted!!! Just won a bid today on ebay for a SC putter

... and my Cleveland Launcher Hybrid - but mine's from 3Balls so hopefully it's more reputable.

I just got my 3 clubs from 3Balls and they look genuine to me.

Thanks.

The best thing to do is to use Paypal. I've had several transactions on eBay where I pay via Paypal. When the items are fake, I lodge a complaint. In all situations, I get a full refund. Very good!

ironfist wrote:

woah.. that's why i only pay items especially when it is located overseas using paypal.. local can always come to your door and o$p$ so no issue there haha

Paypal only warranty the items ship out, not the content. I have a friend buying from internet end up receiving junk. He try to claim back the money from Paypal but fail. This is a loophole.

Check out this link http://reviews.ebay.com/Counterfeit-Scotty-Camerons_W0QQugidZ10000000004901621?ssPageName=BUYGD:CAT:-1:LISTINGS:4

I suppose you should only buy from reputable vendors from the USA that categorically say "All of our products are 100% authentic" or something to that effect. As always, use protection, ie PayPal.

Both my SC putters were from eBay (one to two years ago) and checked out ok (using this guide). Including shipping, saved about S$80 on each club compared to local prices. Not sure about current prices but you have to decide if it will be a large enough margin to risk.

Cheers.

22tang wrote:

If SC that I receive is fake, can I get it return?

Where can I get it check?

Bring it to a club fitter you trust. I know that Eric at big fish has a collection of SCs, so he should be able to tell you if it's real.