A while back I wrote a long post about the growing problem of people buying ripoff carbon frames from China and trying to pass them off as legitimately produced and sold bikes. Pinarello is perhaps the biggest victim of this scam these days, although other companies such as Cervelo and Trek are not immune. For that reason, consumers need to be extremely careful where they spend their dollars. For example, eBay is full of scams just like the one highlighted here.
Description suspicion
The auction immortalized here (in photo form at least) looks to be legit on the surface, but there are a few small details that set it apart from their legitimate brethren. First off, if we take a look at the description, we'll note that the seller describes it as a 2010 model year “frameset 54cm from Taiwan.” While it's true that Pinarello produces their frames in Taiwan, they are all advertised as “produced in Italy” not in Taiwan. While technically the seller is correct, this is a huge red flag.
Secondly, the seller relates that the bike “uses English threaded bottom bracket (sic).” Any of you aficionados will recognize that this is utterly false: the Dogma proudly sticks to the tradition of an Italian bottom bracket. This is a huge red flag that cries foul on the idea that this bike is legit.
the Proof is in the photo
Although the description gives away the fact this frame is a fake, it is more than confirmed by looking at the seller's photos. The Dogma in the auction is a reasonably good facsimile, but it doesn't match the real thing completely. Not only does it require a clamp on derailleur (there's no braze on riveted to the seat tube) but the seat tube itself is incorrect. A quick look at the seat tube of a Dogma sold at an authorized retailer will reveal a seat tube that's ovalized or “aero.” This precludes the use of a clamp on derailleur and requires a Pinarello branded seat post as well. Additionally, the head tube design on the knockoff is not quite the same as a legitimate frame (but there's no photo that shows this.)
Buyer beware
In short, be aware of what you're buying. Look for the round seat tube and clamp on derailleur. Some other models have external cabling (dead giveaway) or extremely poor quality paint. A quick glance at the bottom bracket will show no serial number either, which may raise more than bit of suspicion if an issue ever arises.
Lastly, keep in mind that these counterfeiters are working overtime to make their wares harder to spot. There's some images floating around out there of knockoffs with braze on tabs (screwed on, not riveted) and aero seat tubes, and a few even have Italian bottom bracket threading. But keep your wits about you and be cognizant of what you're buying. Look for that serial number: if it's not there, it's not square.
You forgot to mention that if you *knowingly* buy a counterfeit product of any kind, you deserve whatever you get.