I did this same thing a few months ago -- won an auction on Ebay for a 172 Tantalium. Pics of gen were posted and the item was listed as being located about 300 miles away from me. The pics were obviously real and the watch had some wear on it with all the boxes, papers, etc. I won the auction for a 172 for ~$4500 and contacted the seller indicating I would pick-up in person at their local bank and pay with a cashier's check upon delivery. They requested wire transer only to an account titled "Panerai Investor Holdings" with B of A in NY. I told them I would wire from their local bank when I inspected the watch and .... I never heard from them again. I complained to Ebay and their account dissapeared within a few days.