ANCONA — Financial wellness professionals know that every deal requires attention to detail — but sometimes, it's the illusion of familiarity that becomes the Trojan horse of deception. It happened in Ancona, where a Rolex Daytona changed wrists in exchange for a bundle of fake banknotes, turning what should have been a €20,000 transaction into a costly exercise in misplaced trust.
At the center of the story is a 67-year-old man from Falconara, a lover of fine watches who found himself — unwittingly — in the middle of a scheme worthy of a stage play, at least according to the prosecution. The script is textbook: the victim, the go-between, a mysterious buyer, and a trolley full of illusions.
The alleged instigator? A 40-year-old man from Chiaravalle, a former acquaintance who, according to the charges, volunteered to act as a broker. He allegedly offered to help sell the Rolex via social media, for a modest €500 commission. Too bad the man pulling strings from behind the curtain — a so-called “serious buyer” — was anything but serious. What followed was a chess match played with fake money and a real watch that vanished into thin air.
The meeting point? A hotel in Ancona. Its conference room briefly repurposed as a stage for deception. The 67-year-old handed over his Daytona and received a suitcase that looked like it was bursting with cash. Only later, with surgical calm, did he realize the case held more dreams than euros. Of the €20,000, only €1,400 were real. The rest? Sheets of paper labeled “fac-simile” — the kind of fine print that only the reptilian brain ignores when logic is sedated by the scent of easy money.
Meanwhile, the buyer had already vanished. Gone without a trace, leaving the man from Falconara without his watch — and with one more life lesson: in some circles, the word “wellness” has little to do with mental health or financial wealth.
What now? Judge Francesca Pizii has confirmed the case will move forward: the first trial hearing is set for March 11, 2026. The incident dates back to January 13, 2023. The 40-year-old denies all charges, perhaps counting on the gray area between being an accomplice and simply a naive facilitator. But when it comes to Rolex deals, the very concept of “trust” must be measured in grams.
Of €20,000, only €1,400 were genuine. The rest — “fac-simile” paper — the kind of detail the brain happily skips when greed dulls discernment.
In an age where professionals increasingly rely on online platforms to promote their services — from physical health to financial well-being — stories like this serve as an implicit warning. Not moralistic, let’s be clear. Just practical: verify, double-check, confirm. Because relationships, like Rolexes, deserve a certificate of authenticity.
Meanwhile, in Ancona, the Daytona remains missing and the questions keep piling up. Who was the buyer, really? Was the 40-year-old a partner in crime or just an unwitting pawn? The truth may emerge in court — or maybe it’ll stay just another story to share over coffee, wallet firmly closed.
