How can I prevent myself from being scammed?

The reborn and silicone doll community has been heavily targeted by scams, and unfortunately, it’s a growing problem. The fact that scammers steal artists’ photos and undercut real doll makers with too-good-to-be-true offers makes it very hard for buyers to know who to trust. The issue is compounded by counterfeit kits, poor-quality materials, and fraudulent websites with no real accountability.
Here are some ways buyers can protect themselves and spot red flags:

​How to Identify Scams in Reborn & Silicone Dolls

1. Price Too Good to Be True
   • Authentic reborn or silicone dolls are handmade art pieces that often take dozens (sometimes hundreds) of hours to complete. If a “full silicone baby” is being sold for £100–200, it’s a scam. Real ones usually cost thousands.
2. Stolen Photos
   • Scammers lift photos from real artists’ websites and social media. If the same photo appears across many cheap shopping sites (Wish, AliExpress, DHGate, random Facebook ads), it’s almost certainly stolen.
3. Generic / Fake Websites
   • Many fraudulent shops use vague names like “Best Baby Doll Store” or “Reborns Outlet.” They often lack:
     • Artist name and contact details
     • About page or studio information
     • Clear return/refund policies
4. Copied Kits & Dangerous Materials
   • Fake kits may look similar to real ones but are produced with cheap vinyl or silicone, sometimes with toxic fillers. Real reborn kits come from legitimate sculptors and distributors.

Safer Ways to Buy Legitimate Dolls

• Buy Directly From Known Artists
  • Look for artists who sign or certificate their work. Many have Facebook, Instagram, Etsy, or Reborns.com profiles with customer reviews, or their own website in their own name or nursery name.
• Check for Certificates of Authenticity (COA)
  • Real kits and dolls come with COAs from the sculptor. If a seller can’t provide one, it’s likely fake.
• Use Trusted Marketplaces
  • Reborns.com, Dollfan, and artist-run websites are generally safer than mass-market platforms like eBay, Amazon, or Wish.
• Pay Safely
  • Use PayPal “Goods and Services,” not wire transfers, gift cards, or “friends & family” payments. That way you can dispute fraudulent transactions.

Quick Red Flags for Buyers

• Prices way below market (£100-200 for a full silicone baby).
• Websites with stolen or stock photos.
• No artist name, no history, no studio info.
• Sellers refusing to show “real-time” photos or videos of the doll.
• No COA for the sculpt.

Buyer’s Checklist: Avoiding Doll Scams

Safe Buying Steps

1. Check the Price
   • Authentic reborn dolls: usually £300–£1,500+.
   • Full silicone dolls: usually £2,000–£10,000+.
   • Anything offered for £100–£200 is almost certainly a scam.
2. Look for Artist Information
   • Legit artists proudly list their name, studio, and contact info.
   • Be cautious if the site has no "About Me" page or contact details.
3. Ask for Real Photos/Videos
   • Request current photos (with a piece of paper showing today’s date) or short videos.
   • Scammers rely on stolen stock photos—they usually cannot provide this.
4. Check for Certificates of Authenticity (COA)
   • Real kits/dolls come with a COA from the sculptor.
   • If no COA is available, it may be a fake copy.
5. Research the Seller
   • Google their shop name + “scam” or “reviews.”
   • Search images to see if photos appear on multiple scam sites.
6. Use Safe Payment Methods
   • PayPal “Goods & Services” = protection for buyers.
   • Never pay by wire transfer, gift cards, or PayPal “Friends & Family.”

Red Flags of a Scam

• Too-good-to-be-true prices.
• Websites with many baby photos but no artist credit.
• No return/refund policy.
• Stock descriptions (“cute baby doll toy”) instead of art-focused details.
• Refusal to show proof of the actual doll.

Trusted Places to Buy

• Directly from artists (via their websites, Facebook, or Instagram).
• Reborns.com and DollFan (established communities).
• Reputable kit distributors (MacPherson Arts & Crafts, Bountiful Baby, Irresistables, etc.).