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zero_deficit

How to tell if I'm looking at a scam website

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zero_deficit

Tell-tale signs of a scam site

 

Genuine Pictures

No replica is 1:1, using a genuine picture that an authorised dealer would use is only a sure sign that the site is misrepresenting what they're selling.

Adding their own little watermark to genuine pictures does not fix this either.

 

 

Replicas being made in Switzerland or Japan

Or any other country that isn't China is complete rubbish, if they're going to lie to you about this, it's likely they're going to lie to you about what they will be doing with your money

 

 

Movement description

No replica (bar a few exceptions) are going to have the same movement as what you find in the genuine (HUB4100, Calibre 2121, 3187, other in-house movements etc).

And if they're going to describe the movement as just "Automatic" or anything along the lines of that's just no good.

You'll find some of the more common movements that are used in reps here:

http://www.rwg.bz/bo...?showtopic=6930

Edit: 2022

Clone movement manufacturing has become fairly sophisticated over the last couple of years. Rolex, IWC and Omega clone movements are fairly common place. Clever mods to MY9015's leave caseback ID of a clone movement for many dress watches to those well educated on movements. RWG TD websites will have ample details on movements in each model. RWI has detailed watchmaker teardown threads of some of the more popular clone movements, if you really want to get into the specific differences between Gen.

 

 

Price Edit 2022

A simple automatic (21J) or Quartz will be in the $100-200 range

A clone of a Swiss movement will be in the $400-$600 range

A working mechanical chronograph (7750/7753) are $300+

Of course this is just a very general overview of price, but if it's too good to be true, it most likely is, and if it's too anything like $1000+, it's most likely a scam, you're not getting better quality or anything closer to gen by paying that much more.

 

 

Testimonials

With the full weight of four massive replica forums with tens of thousands of members each, a proper replica dealer will not need bullsh*t testimonials (probably written by them) to sell their watches.

The same goes for 'Review' sites of those webpages (again probably written by them as well) - you have an enormous repository of information here written by thousands upon thousands of members, everything else shouldn't be trusted

 

 

Other Ridiculous claims:

1:1 quality

AAA+

Swiss made

Waterproof to same as gen

Ability to fool authorised dealers

Working minute repeaters, perpetual calendars, automatic tourbillons, solid gold (or other precious metals)

Some more outrageous claims are expanded on here

http://www.rwg.bz/bo...hp?showtopic=39

 

 

 

Ultimately however, these are all just indicators of a scam site, even if a website does not show signs of above, it doesn't mean it's safe to shop there. But, there is one super easy way to tell if a website/dealer is trusted - and that's if they're on here:

 

 

TRUSTED DEALERS

 

 

 

 

Common (silly) reasons people want to shop at any other sites

1) They have a watch that the other TDs don't have

There are many reasons for this and does not mean a trusted dealer can't get it for you. It may just not be popular enough or repped well enough to be put on their sites or section, or it might just not be repped at all.

Find a dealer (after lots of research) and send them a photo of what you want. They'll be able to tell if they're able to get it for you.

 

 

2) They have a better price

Scam website's supposedly better price will most likely be at the expense of quality of features, that or it's purposely placed low to draw you away from the trusted dealers so they can take your money.

 

 

3) They ship from the same country I live in

Only a handful of dealers ship from outside East Asia (eg. Narikaa) where they will personally travel to those countries and bring them back,

otherwise, if they claim to ship from the US or UK etc, they most likely will not be - anyone can get a .uk domain name.

 

 

 

Hope this has been helpful to newbies who have found us while doing research on their websites in question. Feel free to add, change or delete anything you feel is missing or incorrect

Edited by tribefan
Updated for 2022

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greg_r

Excellent post. Instant sticky!

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PeterPotamus

great info, thanks for sharing

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emcee23

Awesome post! I almost got sucked in to a scam website before I came here. This will sure help a lot of people!

 

-Matt

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Pob

Very nice!!!!!

 

Just one more: all the reps are made of 316L or 316F steel and there is no 440L or what ever else i sow on some scam sites.

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Pihlippe
:clap::thumbsup:

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Vaughan

Thanks for the tips. Almost got sucked in by http://www.iparadisiac.co.

 

me too I was about to order and found this forum just in time

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rocky4691

I also found a website that was only like 9 months old with all the happy customers who claim great watches, shipping time and prices. But after further investigation it seems the owner does have residents in China. The site is rwatchesgotu.com but even Google search all I found were new company with no complaints. Just wondering if anyone her has tried them or been scammed there. Not only do they offer low prices but free shipping which makes me wish I could find more information about this company. If anyone here has anything that they can help me with more information about. rwatchesgotu please contact me ASAP at. email address removed thank all of you for being trusted members.

Edited by greg_r
admin edit: posting your email address in the open on the board is really not the smartest thing you could be doing unless you actually LIKE horse porn...

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greg_r

I also found a website that was only like 9 months old with all the happy customers who claim great watches, shipping time and prices. But after further investigation it seems the owner does have residents in China. The site is rwatchesgotu.com but even Google search all I found were new company with no complaints. Just wondering if anyone her has tried them or been scammed there. Not only do they offer low prices but free shipping which makes me wish I could find more information about this company. If anyone here has anything that they can help me with more information about. rwatchesgotu please contact me ASAP at. email address removed thank all of you for being trusted members.

 

Site you mention is down, so I can't check, but how many times do we have to say this? Stick to the trusted dealers!!!

 

It's REAL easy to get scammed out there - we've spent a lot of time and effort (not to mention money) finding dealers that can be trusted - why take the risk?

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jeffw69
Edited by greg_r, Today, 09:23 AM.

admin edit: posting your email address in the open on the board is really not the smartest thing you could be doing unless you actually LIKE horse porn...

 

 

and I'm off to :google: wtf horse porn is. :lol:

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onzenuub
Edited by greg_r, Today, 09:23 AM.

admin edit: posting your email address in the open on the board is really not the smartest thing you could be doing unless you actually LIKE horse porn...

 

 

and I'm off to :google: wtf horse porn is. :lol:

 

You invented it.

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Heywood20

Very helpful information, any person looking to invest in a watch should review this page first to prevent being "scammed" thanks very much.

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theschultz

Bought a watch from www.pickreplicawatches.com 40MM Submariner Red dial Bamford and Sons etc. PVD. Nice quality but will not respond to emails for return. Actually exchange.They respond but only to confuse the situation and not allow me to exchange it.

 

Bought a GMT2 from alamowatches.com with red gmt arm, runs 15 minutes slow every hour! Second hand stops dead. Supposedly has 2836 movement AND bracelet was missing a pin/rivot. Looks damn nice otherwise. CO has not responded to emails. Oh yeah. Their processing is ridiculously slow.

 

My Jeweler is charging me $200 to fix the watch. Pd $350.

Edited by theschultz

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Electrobrat

Avoiad ebay!

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Springbokkie

Thanks s much for this info. I nearly nearly nearly got sucked in to parting with my cash on iparadisiac

Just thought it was really strange that watches by James only referred people to that 'trustworthy' site.

 

Then I stumbled across your website.

THANK YOU.

 

I'm still going through all your TD.

But can at least have peace of mind when I buy.

Btw. I'm looking for a Tag carrera calibre 16.

 

Cheers

Springbokkie

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Hazz

And most pics taken from Trusty Time

 

Goodbye !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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greg_r

And most pics taken from Trusty Time

 

Goodbye !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Sorry Hazz - got fed up with cleaning up after this spammer, so just mass deleted a bunch of posts.

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videokill

Great info. thanks!

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Amifsin

Thank You for your hints, very useful

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kmalone0023

Agreed, I got sucked in and had a couple of issues, thanks!

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demendez

Just for reference, not all watches are made in china. Most of them are in guangdong province, but some others in south korea, taiwan. Also, one time talking to a supplier face to face, he told me the best rep they know are made in a well know rep factory in hong Kong, but is true, the rep are not made in swiss or japan never.

Also, i know someone work in LVMH in watches deparment and he buy many small pcs of the watch in china, Fujian province. Asking him in that case why write that is swiss made, he say only 70% of the watch need to be made in swiss to put that words in the dial (not considering the belt).

So now you know, even you have a gen watch, this will have parts made in asia anyway, normally buttons, screws and others,

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James.

Just for reference, not all watches are made in china. Most of them are in guangdong province, but some others in south korea, taiwan. Also, one time talking to a supplier face to face, he told me the best rep they know are made in a well know rep factory in hong Kong, but is true, the rep are not made in swiss or japan never.

Also, i know someone work in LVMH in watches deparment and he buy many small pcs of the watch in china, Fujian province. Asking him in that case why write that is swiss made, he say only 70% of the watch need to be made in swiss to put that words in the dial (not considering the belt).

So now you know, even you have a gen watch, this will have parts made in asia anyway, normally buttons, screws and others,

 

Fascinating :Yawn:

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trailboss99
Just for reference, not all watches are made in china. . . .

 

. . . . Also, one time talking to a supplier face to face, he told me the best rep they know are made in a well know rep factory in hong Kong

Hong Kong is China ya dope!

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Jamjam

Very educational! Thanks

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