1) PRICE
Whether you are shopping on the high street, through mobile apps or online, price can be one of the first indicators than item is fake. While not always the case, counterfeits tend to be cheaper than the genuine brand so consumers should be wary of unusually low prices. Check the advertised price against the recommended retail price of the brand - what might seems like a bargain could leave you with poor quality imitation.
2) QUALITY
Counterfeits are often produced using cheaper and poor quality materials such as fake leather, low quality glass, inferior cloth materials and old or used electronic parts. If the item does not look or feel authentic, it likely isn’t. When buying products from a reseller, protect yourself and ask them about their supplier quality assurance processes. Reputable resellers should have inspection and authentication procedures in place as well as technicians to inspect the quality of the goods they are selling.
3) PACKAGING
Inspecting the packaging is another way to distinguish an original from a counterfeit. Reputable brands and business invest in high quality packaging so if you receive an item in ill-fitting or suspicious packaging, or wrapped in what appears to be cheap plastic or flimsy materials then it could be a warning sign. And items which come without any packaging at all are almost definitely fakes.
Similarly, be wary of packaging which features expired “use by’ dates, has broken or missing safety seals, or is lacking warranty information or producer contact details. Spelling errors, flawed logos or trademarks are further indicators that an item is a fake.
4) WHO IS SELLING IT?
Most companies or brands list their approved retailers on their website or within packaging materials. For example, in an effort to stop Ugg counterfeits, the company’s website provides a list of authorised Ugg retailers as well as information on the latest scams counterfeiters are using and a search function where, by pasting in the URL of a website, consumers can check if it is selling fake UGG products.
Whether shopping online or on the high street, if you are having doubts about the source of the goods then ask the retailer for information on their distributor.
5) PAYMENT METHOD
When making in-person transactions, look out for signs that your customer data or credit card information may not be handled and stored in as securely as you would expect from legitimate retailers. For online purchases, check that your payments are submitted via websites which begin with https:// and which are accompanied by a lock symbol. Legitimate online retailers tend to request payment via credit or debit cards, or with PayPal so consumers should be suspicious if they are asked to make a payment through a direct money transfer, such as a bank transfer
