How can I recover from a $450 online shopping scam?

Topic summary

Multiple users report being scammed by online watch retailer Vigiltime, with losses ranging from $75-450. The original poster purchased watches that never arrived, while another customer received a cheap counterfeit product from China after a month-long wait with no tracking information.

Key Issues:

  • Store allegedly deletes its website after taking payments
  • Emails to the merchant go unanswered or ignored
  • Products either don’t arrive or are low-quality fakes
  • Screenshots provided as evidence

Recommended Actions (from forum moderator):

  • Contact PayPal or credit card provider to dispute charges
  • File a chargeback claim with your bank
  • Filing claims against Shopify stores triggers internal investigations

Notable Development:
A representative claiming to be from Vigiltime appears in the thread defending the business, stating they have “500+ happy customers,” calling the watches “MOD watches” (not fakes), and requesting order numbers to resolve issues. However, this contradicts multiple user experiences of ignored communications.

The discussion remains unresolved, with victims seeking refund guidance and the merchant’s legitimacy heavily disputed.

Summarized with AI on November 19. AI used: claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929.

guys i just got scammed for 450$ i bought watches for my kids the store is https://vigiltime.com/ dont buy from them and please report them

Hi, @AAl .

Thank you for reaching out and providing this information.

If you don’t receive your order in a reasonable amount of time. You can always reach out to PayPal or your credit card provider for further options regarding your payment and possible refund options. If this does happen to be a Shopify store, filing a claim with your bank will trigger a notification internally, which we can use to investigate the shop as needed.

Please let me know if you have any further questions!

1 Like

Hello i got scammed by 4tunes shop. I bought pants for 75 euros. Now this shop isn’t exist. I cant report this bcs they delete site.

How can i get my monet back??

Hi, @Panfc .

Thank you for reaching out. I am sorry to hear about your order.

It would be best for you to contact your credit card provider for possible refund options.

Take care,

Hi AAI! What is your order number or the name you placed your order? WE NEVER EVER SCAMMED NOBODY so please write a correcr review! Thank you , VIGIL TIME STORE

Hi Emily! How can we get in contact to you? We have proofs, photos, tracking number, order number that shows, this review it’s a fake review! Please contact us asap, we think there is no place for fake/liar review! Thank you so much!

Hi AAI, the same happened to me. Even though I received a package after a month without no trace information and many ignored emails I realized I just got a cheap fake watch directly from China which doesn’t even work!! I tried to contact the owner for refund, all emails are ignored and my money is gone. I also report to Shopify, all stay away from this SCAMMER!

Hi Claude!

It’s not a fake watch it’s MOD watch it’s mentioned on our site!!!
we have 100+ emails everyday, it’s hard to reply for everyone, please send us an email again for a refund claim!

We have 500+ happy customers, saying we are scammers it’s to much. You recieved what do you buyed!