Milton Keynes man jailed for £86,000 counterfeit Rolex sales
Christopher Mancini involved victims in unprotected transactions
Christopher Mancini, a 39-year-old man from Milton Keynes, has been sentenced to over two years in prison after defrauding victims out of £86,000 through the sale of counterfeit Rolex watches.
Mancini, who also goes by the name Christian John, advertised fake Rolex watches on eBay and convinced buyers to complete transactions outside of the platform, leaving them without the protection of eBay's safeguards.
Between 2021 and 2023, five victims fell for the scam, one even trading a genuine Rolex for a counterfeit.
The Serious Fraud and Cyber Unit of Hertfordshire Constabulary initiated an investigation into Mancini in 2024, with two offences occurring in St Albans.
Although none of the victims were from Hertfordshire, Mancini appeared before St Albans Crown Court on 9th April and was convicted of five counts of fraud.
He received a sentence of two years and four months behind bars.
Detective Constable Liz McGrath from the Serious Fraud and Cybercrime Unit highlighted Mancini's brazen actions, meeting victims in person, unbeknownst to them that the watches and packaging were counterfeit.
The prosecution is seeking to recover funds for victim compensation via Proceeds of Crime legislation.
Detective Sergeant Jonny Ellison advised purchasing high-value goods from established retailers and using credit cards for added protection.
He cautioned against cash transactions that bypass platform fees, as they can lead to financial losses.
The public is encouraged to share this advice with vulnerable individuals and report suspected fraud to Report Fraud at 0300 123 2040 or via herts.police.uk.