Watch Out for Counterfeit Products When Shopping Online or Offline
They can be cheap and stylish, and they may look authentic. Yet, they might be fake. When shopping online or offline (for example, on a holiday), you run the risk of buying counterfeit items. Why is that a problem? Do you really have to pay extra for an authentic brand logo on a bag or shoe you like?
There are several problems associated with buying counterfeit products. In a worst case scenario, you will have an unsafe product that ends up causing harm to you or someone else. Often, counterfeit products do not comply with the safety requirements that protect us in the EU — for example, because they contain certain substances hazardous to human health or the environment.
Another thing you should keep in mind when buying a counterfeit product is the manufacturing method. It may significantly impact people, animals, and the environment — both in your immediate vicinity and on a global scale.
Shopping online
When shopping online, it is difficult to inspect a product in detail. But there are some things you can do to try and verify an item’s authenticity.
Tips for identifying counterfeit products online
- Check the seller’s identity. Always make sure the contact information listed on the website is correct and you can make a complaint in case you encounter any problems.
- Read other customers’ reviews. Use a search engine on the Internet to see what other consumers have written about the company. Read their comments with a critical eye.
- Check if the website has a website security certificate and security mark. A security certifies that the website complies with the website complies with certain quality requirements and indicates this website has taken appropriate measures to provide a secure online shopping experience. Click on the mark to verify it is authentic.
- Assess if the website looks professional. Most websites that sell counterfeit products contain misspellings, grammatical errors, and low-quality images. Are the images of poor quality or do they look a bit strange? That may be a sign that the website is selling counterfeit products.
- Check the website for an explanation of your consumer rights. Online retailers are required to provide customers with clear, accurate information about their consumer rights.
- Investigate the price of the product. Sellers of counterfeit products often charge significantly lower prices than official online retailers. A good rule of thumb is that if the price seems too good to be true, it probably is.
- Check out authorised dealers on the manufacturer’s official website. Manufacturers often share lists of approved or blacklisted web shops. If you order products from approved retailers, you can rest assured they are authentic.
- Use a secure payment method. When making a payment, always make sure the website has a security certificate. You should pay after receiving the products with an invoice — or, if you pay upfront, use a credit card. Avoid direct money transfers. Always save the receipt and order confirmation.
- If the product is refurbished, examine it closely. If possible, examine the product and check if it contains authentic parts. This makes a significant difference for your warranty and tells you what to expect from the product.
Shopping while on holiday
If you buy branded products while on holiday, either abroad or in your country of residence, it is important that you try to verify their authenticity. And keep in mind as a general rule that counterfeit products are illegal.
Although a counterfeit product is usually cheap, it may cost you a lot more in the long run. The laws governing counterfeit products vary within the EU, but they are often harsh. In some European countries, you can be fined up to 10,000 euros — not only for purchasing a counterfeit product, but also for bringing it into your country of residence.
Counterfeit products may be difficult to recognise, but they are often of poor quality and lack safety guarantees.
How to recognise counterfeit products upon inspection?
- Examine the materials and details. The quality of a counterfeit product is often inferior to that of the original. Carefully examine seams and labels. If these are flawed or sloppy, there’s a good chance you are dealing with a counterfeit product. Check if the brand name is spelled correctly and make sure no details are missing from the logo. Also, read the labels and washing instructions — if they contain misspellings, the product is likely counterfeit.
- Check the lining and pockets. The inside should be made with the same care as the outside. Counterfeiters usually work from photographs, and they often lack a good picture of the inside of an item.
- Check the packaging. Check if the packaging and the item contain the same trademark or brand name. Keep in mind expensive fashion products are rarely sold in plastic packaging.
- Check where the product was manufactured. Counterfeit beauty products and perfumes can cause severe allergic reactions. Ask the distributor of the brand to check if the product was manufactured in the original factory. They can use the product’s manufacturing number (which is on the packaging) to do so.
- Pay attention to the price. Find out what the product costs in an authentic brand shop. If the price seems too good to be true, it probably is.
- Ask for a receipt. Keep in mind goods sold by private individuals can also be counterfeit. Ask where they purchased the product and ask for receipts and warranties (if any).
- Do not buy products from well-known brands that are sold on the beach, on the street, or on city squares. A seeming bargain may ultimately come with a high price tag: if you have to pay heavy fines, your counterfeit product may end up being more expensive than the authentic version.
No guarantee of product safety
As a consumer, you can’t tell for sure what ingredients or materials have been used to create a counterfeit product. Many counterfeit products do not comply with applicable safety requirements and can be immediately dangerous. Examples include pharmaceutical medicine, children’s toys, or beauty products and perfumes.
Counterfeit toys rarely comply with established safety requirements. If they break easily or if small parts come off, they can be very dangerous — and sometimes even lethal — to children.
Cosmetics and skincare products can contain as many as 60-70 ingredients and require advanced technology to be properly produced. Perfumes are much easier to copy, as they contain less ingredients than colour cosmetics and skincare products. But even if the scent of a counterfeit perfume seems very similar to that of the authentic product, it may cause severe allergic reactions.