Here’s how to avoid wasting your money on counterfeit goods
It’s hard to pass up a great deal, but sometimes a great deal can be too good to be true. Counterfeit products are filling the marketplace, duping consumers into paying for bogus, faulty, low quality goods. They are often sold at markets, in bars or door-to-door.
They can also be found at online auctions and websites, where you have no way of checking whether the products are genuine until you’ve paid and had them delivered.
Counterfeit products mimic the original to fool consumers into wasting their money. “Knock offs” or “copycat” products are popular, but these don’t try to market themselves as a real thing.
Commonly counterfeited items include clothing, purses, watches, cosmetics, shoes and electronics. They are typically high-end products and brands. Most counterfeit items sold in the United States are brought in from other parts of the world.
BBB offers these tips to avoid counterfeit scams:
■ Remember, if the price seems too good to be true, it usually is. Be wary of unusually low prices. Large discounts could be a red flag.
■ Avoid sketchy sellers. The best way to avoid purchasing counterfeit goods is to know the seller. Purchase items through the brand’s own store or website or an authorized dealer.
■ Beware of the online marketplace. You can’t inspect the item ahead of time, so understand the risks.
■ Keep in mind licensed products will always have the correct fonts, colors, spellings and tags.
■ Do research to authenticate the price of a product if you find an item at a low price.
■ Use common sense. If a deal seems sketchy or you feel uncomfortable patronizing a specific retailer, don’t make the purchase.
■ Understand the consequences. If you’re buying a counterfeit item, you are helping break the law, contributing to job losses because genuine manufacturers are unable to match bogus product prices and some counterfeits can be dangerous to use and in some cases are made using toxic substances.
If you believe you have purchased counterfeit goods, you may be entitled to a refund or the legitimate version, no matter the seller’s return policy. However, counterfeit sellers aren’t easy to track down. If you come across a counterfeit seller, file a complaint with the Attorney General, U.S. Department of Commerce and U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
If you believe you have found counterfeit merchandise online, report it to the FBI Internet Fraud Complaint Center. As always, you can turn to the BBB by calling (937) 2225825 or (800) 776-5301 or visit bbb.org.