List of Reborn Doll Scammers and Counterfeit Sellers

Of course I would love for you to shop with me, but use this list to find well known scam sites. 

Press your CTRL button and then the “F” key to type in a website and search this list to see if it’s legitimate or not.  This list is not inclusive.  If you have some to add to the list, leave a comment below.

Let’s start with why counterfeit reborn dolls and doll kits are dangerous for you and your children.

Phthalates cause reproductive issues when introduced to the body orally or by chemicals emitted into the air.  "Phthalates may induce alterations in puberty, the development of testicular dysgenesis syndrome, cancer, and fertility disorders in both males and females. At the hormonal level, phthalates can modify the release of hypothalamic, pituitary, and peripheral hormones.” (Hlisníková, H., Petrovičová, I., Kolena, B., Šidlovská, M., & Sirotkin, A). 

PVC vinyl contains dangerous chemical additives including phthalates, lead, cadmium, and/or organotins, which are toxic. These toxic additives can leach out or evaporate into the air over time, posing unnecessary dangers to those around it. (L.Johnson). 

PVC packaging has been banned or restricted in a number of countries around the world, such as Canada, Spain, South Korea and the Czech Republic…(but not China). (Centre for Health, Environment & Justice)

Now that you understand the dangers of purchasing counterfeit toys, including reborn art dolls, here is my list of scam websites and companies to avoid when shopping for a reborn. I have removed the .net and .com endings to avoid accidentally directing traffic their way. Please note, in some cases companies in China may in fact have permission to legally reproduce blank vinyl kits. This is dependent on the original sculptor, their contract with the manufacturer, and what steps they took to protect their trademark and intellectual property in China.

What I’m referring to are companies who will show you a photo of a reborn, that may not necessarily be the reborn you’ll be getting. 

These lists are not all inclusive.  To avoid being scammed, always ask for a safety photo that includes the artists’ name, the vinyl sculpts name and sculptor’s name, a recent date and make sure the safety photo doesn’t appear photo shopped.

You can also request the artist show you a personal safety photo by asking then to photograph the baby with an item of your choice in the photo (a spoon, a pencil, etc).  And always ask to see the certificate of authenticity.

Clues that a reborn doll may be a counterfeit/scam:

• Only shows one or two photos of the doll
• Doll is shown in bad lighting
• Seller/Artist is unwilling to show you a safety photo
• Seller/Artist is rude/unfriendly
• Their Facebook/Etsy/Reborns account, page, group is new
• They have no reviews
• There are mad emoticons on their posts from others who know the work isn’t theirs
• The reborn is being sold for really cheap (silicones should cost thousands unless tiny)
• The deal seems too good to be true
• They want you to pay using PayPal friends and family (it should always be PayPal Goods and Services) or by some other method that is not reliable
• No safety photo
• Doll not in their possession (it’s at the rooters, it’s packed up, it’s at a friend’s house etc)

Feel free to run any purchases by me through my contact me page and I will help you make a safe purchase!

www.reborns.com is a safe site to purchase from

Bibliography & References
Hlisníková, H., Petrovičová, I., Kolena, B., Šidlovská, M., & Sirotkin, A. (2020, September 18). Effects and mechanisms of phthalates' action on reproductive processes and Reproductive Health: A Literature Review. International journal of environmental research and public health. Retrieved October 3, 2022, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7559247/#:~:text=Phthalates%20may%20induce%20alterations%20in,%2C%20pituitary%2C%20and%20peripheral%20hormones 
Ljohnson. (n.d.). Department of Human Services: PVC – A major source of phthalates. Department of Human Services | PVC – a major source of phthalates. Retrieved October 3, 2022, from https://www.state.nj.us/humanservices/opmrdd/health/pvc.html#:~:text=PVC%20contains%20dangerous%20chemical%20additives,posing%20unnecessary%20dangers%20to%20children 
Center for Health, Environment & Justice. (n.d.). PVC policies across the world - toronto. Toronto. Retrieved October 3, 2022, from https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2012/cc/comm/communicationfile-28414.pdf