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So I was recently browsing through the internet and found an amazing deal,a Skaven Warlord on Brood horror, that, with shipping would only be about 50 bucks. I was super excited as one would expect, it all seemed legitimate, no base included which seemed silly, but whatever right? However I paused, with the whole Resin forge fiasco that happened a little ways back, I was literally too worried about it being a scam that I did not end up buying this steal of a model. I think I may just be paranoid after hearing all the horror stories, but still... Does anyone have any advice for spotting potentially fake deals, or will buying things online always be this kind of spooky grey, danger area?

First thing's first: check the seller's location. Greece, Russia(or Ukraine, Georgia, and a few other former Bloc countries), or China are generally red flags.
Second: Is the deal remarkably good?
Third: Is the seller using stock photos from Forge World(or whatever company made the model in question) as their own?

Last: Does the seller have an abnormally large amount of the item in question? If the seller has multiple Skaven Warlords on Brood Horror or has sold multiples of them in the past, it's a good bet that it's a recast.

Honestly though, it comes down to hunting for a lot from a seller who looks to be getting out of the army in question. That Skaven Warlord on Brood Horror might have been a recast--but it could also just have been a nightmare project that you would have received secondhand from someone who could not assemble it properly.

well what I can think of:

Colour of the resin/plastic

if parts are cast together or the sprue points are in different places

most of the time a model without a base is a heads up (but sometimes if its a big model I can see them taking a few bucks off then selling it online for more)

 BewareOfTom wrote:
Colour of the resin/plastic

That doesn't actually tell you a great deal.

Forgeworld have used all sorts of different coloured resins, and GW's plastic often changes shade from batch to batch.,

Scams are relatively uncommon to include recasts. Sure it happens with a degree of regularity, but its really not something you need to be ever vigilant for.
There are deals to be had, even remarkable deals. I try to keep buys from new (to me) sellers below $100. And I've gotten some awesome deals, sometimes you have to jump

Also check the company itself.

> Have they been around for a while?
> Do a search online, any complaints?
> Do they offer tracking and paypal?

If the website has just gone up and looks very basic and your searches regarding the company have come up blank you usally know to avoid it.

And anyway; most credit card companies and paypal have systems in place for you to get your money back should it be a fraud and you decided to take the chance.

Most scammers can only get away with it by convincing you to wait too long before you try to get your money back (such as missing paypals 45 day dispute window).

As with any payment online - always be wary and ready to dispute - you can always cancel it after you get the item.

Also check the company itself.

> Have they been around for a while?
> Do a search online, any complaints?
> Do they offer tracking and paypal?

And an address! Be VERY suspicious if there is no address and just generic email or cell phone numbers.

Unless its me, ignore those complaints they are just crazy exe's anyway. And my email address: GeneralApathy@husmail.com; is totally legit. Ask anyone I can fake an email from to rove my legitimacy.
If any of that sounds ridiculous: it should; also all things I've heard IRL from sellers. What's buyer beware in fancy lawyerspeak? Caveat Emptor?

Don't forget the primer.
Many recasters primer their models to hide flaws and resin that is perceived as being the wrong color.


Eric