THE QUICK RWI ANTI-FRAUD GUIDE FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T LIKE TO READ, BUT WANT TO BUY A REPLICA:
Intro: This guide is supposed to serve as a fast reference sheet for newbies to get a quick scam prevention overview over the most important things to consider before buying a rep.
Remember: You need to research before the transaction, not after! IDEALLY, YOU SHOULD ALSO USE THE MUCH MORE DETAILED RESOURCES!It's YOUR money, YOUR research to do, and ultimately YOUR choice. The information is here, so it's YOUR decision to use it, or not.
A. (TRUSTED) DEALER SHOPPING:
A1.Don't ever use Google or another search engine to look up a TD's contact info! ONLY use the official info found on RWI!
A2.Don't ever use your real credit card to pay, ONLY virtual cards for one-time use! Try to prefer other payment methods if available.
A3. If you want to play it safe: ALWAYS stick with the TDs on RWI or on other communities!
A4. Remember: If you use a TD, it is SAFE to pay before receiving QC photos. It's common practice to pay first.
A5. A real TD will NEVER contact you via PM without your prior inquiry!
A6.Remember: The web is packed with TD impostors / scammers who use a TD's name and logo with very similar URLs, but have NO actual affiliation with the real TD! (see point "A1")
A7. If you stumble across a dealer who claims to have Swiss / India / Turkey etc. made reps with real Swiss movements, run away! Virtually ALL reps are made in China! Anyone who claims to have Swiss-made reps is a fraud!
A8. If you stumble across a dealer who claims to be selling "directly from the factory" and / or has a known factory's name in its URL, run away! FACTORIES DO NOT SELL DIRECTLY! NEVER!
B. M2M (Member/Private) TRANSACTIONS:
B1. If if an offer looks too good to be true, it probably IS!
B2. Be alarmed if someone who's NOT certified offers you a watch via PM as this is how scams start!
B3. KEYWORD: DUE DILLIGENCE. "Buy the seller"! Make sure the seller is a user with a good reputation / track record on RWI!
B4. In a sales thread, ALWAYS reply with "PM" if you pm the seller, and with "Funds sent" if you pay the seller! This protects you and everyone else.
B5. If you are offered a watch or other item through PM, always INSIST on a "reserved sale" for your own protection. Backdoor deals are frowned upon and, if insisted on, this should be a big RED flag, especially if the user is new and trying to redirect comms outside of RWI!
B6. Verifying that the merchandise is in your personally desired condition & is indeed from the advertised factory is your responsibility, NOT the sales mods'!
B7. RWI recommends that you ONLY use "Goods & Services" when paying with PayPal, instead of "Friends & Family"
B8. Seller certification is NOT a guarantee that fraud is impossible. Good judgement & due diligence still apply!
