Get to the dealer through a forum link, or the current domain on their page here. Not a search result. Not an Instagram DM.
Run the domain through the domain check. Read every character. Look-alikes are off by one.
Read the dealer's recent forum threads, newest first. You're looking at how complaints got handled. Every dealer has some.
Pick the factory before you pick the dealer. Work out which workshop makes the reference you want, then get the dealer to confirm in writing which factory version they'll ship.
Ask about payment before you order. A lot of dealers only show the options at checkout. For a first order, prefer anything with recourse (card). Irreversible methods are for dealers whose tenure you've already checked.
Expect a QC step. Most TDs send photos of the actual watch before it ships. Don't skip it. Compare against a known reference thread and look at date alignment, bezel pip, rehaut and crown.
Know your own country's import risk. US and UK buyers get seizure letters. Parts of the EU hand out fines. Dealers with domestic stock exist because of this.
Keep the whole conversation in one place (email or the dealer's own chat) and keep screenshots.
Don't pay a "customs fee" after shipping unless the dealer's own written policy covers it. After look-alike domains, that's the second most common scam.
If it goes wrong, post in the forum where the dealer holds status. It's the only lever you've got, and it works.