Horological Meandering

An Italian con man, Mr. Deepak Singh, with an elaborate plan to defraud a Singaporean watch dealer, was sentenced to seven months prison in Singapore. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/italian-man-rolex-watch-fake-impossible-crime-6067846 ...  

I got a little confused since they said the watch was real. So, was the defrauding attempt established based on the fact the real watch had an altered serial number?

in Italy as a con man?

I guess Intending to commit a crime is a crime even if you don't pull it off