How to Recognize Counterfeit Products

With an increasing number of shoppers going online for their needs, the world of e-commerce is bustling with websites offering all kinds of products. Among the online stores selling genuine items are scammers selling fake products such as clothing, cosmetics, pharmaceutical products, electronics and anything else you can think of. You might have come across one of these stores claiming to sell high-end products at astonishingly low prices. Even though the offer can be tempting, a little bit of awareness might keep you from getting scammed.

Indeed, if a branded product can be found for way cheaper than its original price, that often points to it being a counterfeit. Counterfeit products are generally very low-quality and by buying them, you could be financing activities you wouldn’t want to be associated with. What’s more, you might also be putting your safety and health in peril. 

Here’s Why You Should Not Buy Fake Products 

• You can never be sure about the quality of these products as they do not undergo any quality-control procedures. Counterfeits come with no warranty or guarantee, nor do they have adequate customer support. They are often disappointing and the fit & feel might be different than what you expect. Fake products also compromise on important aspects such as durability and safety bu using sub-standard materials to minimise costs.
  
  
• Businesses producing counterfeits are guilt of intellectual property theft. Buying a fake hurts the original business as it has invested heavily in Research & Development to bring you the best product possible. Manufacturers of fake products violate patent and copyright laws by stealing product designs. They also harm the brands’ reputation by misusing names and logos.
  
  
• When buying counterfeits, you can never be sure of where is your money going. Proceeds from the sale of counterfeit products have been linked to unethical and illegal activities, such as the trade of illicit drugs, child labour, money laundering and even human trafficking.
  
  
• Finally, manufacturers of those products do not adhere to guidelines of environmental impact and social responsibility. We can never be sure about the conditions in which counterfeits are produced. As manufacturers of fake goods do not follow regulations, they often use pollution-creating and dangerous machinery and materials.

Due to the reasons mentioned above, we advise you to always avoid buying fake products. Counterfeits can be directly or indirectly dangerous for you, others and the environment.  

How to Recognize Fake Products 

Check the Identity of the Seller
Find out whether the identity of the merchant is clear. Online shops selling counterfeits often provide fake email IDs, or IDs originating from a different domain name. The phone number and physical address should correspond to the location where the company claims to originate from.

Always check the Contact Us page of an online seller to find these details. Another way to verify the website’s authenticity is to check whether they have a social media presence. Authentic brands often have an active social media presence on multiple channels. 

Read Customer Reviews
Check the reviews of this seller on the Internet. Don’t blindly trust the reviews on the website as they may be fake. Reading reviews on third-party websites like Scamadviser, TrustPilot and more can help you know the experience that others have had with the merchant.

You will be more aware of what to expect if you decide to shop there and whether customers are satisfied or not. Read our article on How to Recognize Fake Reviews for more information.

Is the Website Using a Trustmark?  
Trustmarks are obtained by third-party verification of a website, such as the Ecommerce Foundation’s Safe.Shop trustmark. These seals assure that the website is legitimate. However, dubious websites may use trustmarks without permission. To be sure that the store is verified, try clicking on the seal to see whether it is indeed verified by the third-party.

Assess the Whole Website  
Don’t fall into the trap of being pushed to check out quickly. Fake websites may have timers and banners which create a sense of urgency by saying that you might miss out on a deal unless you complete the order within a few minutes. ‘Flash sale’, ‘Only 2 left in stock’, ‘Offer ends today’ and other such tactics might be used to make you think that you have found an amazing deal that you might miss out on. Take your time to go through the website in detail to spot if there are any red flags.

Shady companies usually have websites that are replete with bad grammar, incorrect spellings, low-quality images, contradictory information, missing contact details, empty pages and other significant mistakes. 

Check the Product Information 
Counterfeit products are often sold using images of real products. You might trust the images and place an order, only to receive something that is a cheap copy. Low-quality images are a sign that they are not genuine images of the actual product. Check whether there are multiple images and if they all show the same item.

The descriptions should match the products and should not be missing any details. Bear in mind that the product descriptions can also be copied, so it is important to consider this information along with other factors. If images of well-known products are shown alongside a generic product name, there is a high chance that you will receive a counterfeit

Compare the Price of the Product
Always remember that ‘if it is too good to be true, it usually is’ when shopping online. Do not hesitate to compare prices with another website to get a general idea about the prices that competitors are offering. Discounts more than 30%-40% are uncommon for big brands and premium brands rarely hold sales. So, if you encounter new Adidas shoes at an 80% discount, you should be very suspicious.

Check if it is an Authorized Retailer
Visit the original brand’s website for knowing their authorized and black-listed sellers. Most big brands have a section on their website where they list approved retailers. This can provide a quick confirmation about the authenticity of the merchant (or lack thereof). 

If You Are Still Unsure...

• Contact the webshop and ask if the product is real. If you don’t get a response, then you already know.
• Contact the brand and ask if they know about the webshop.
• Opt for cash-on-delivery or pay with secure methods like credit cards and Paypal. Avoid paying via debit cards and bank transfers unless you are completely sure about the authenticity of the website, as it may be harder to get your money back if you have a bad experience.

Remember that there are always other websites to shop from. If you aren’t convinced that a website is real, it is advisable to shop somewhere else. Read the articles below to know more about how you can ensure a safe and pleasant online shopping experience.

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