Think You Can Spot a Counterfeit Product? – Probably not.

Consumers easily deceived by fake products

March 2, 2015, Los Angeles, CA – Price and quality were usually the indication that a Rolex watch or fashion handbag was a counterfeit. But now serious, sometimes deadly consequences await unsuspecting consumers; not just with counterfeit pharmaceuticals, but everyday products you wouldn't suspect. Counterfeit products are widely distributed to unsuspecting consumers over internet websites, including web giants eBay^®, Amazon^® and Alibaba^®. And the counterfeit product industry is big, very big -- expected to top $1.7 trillion globally in 2015.

Would you suspect the air-bag facing you in your automobile to be a counterfeit? The National Highway Traffic Safety Counsel ("NHTSA") says 250,000 US automobiles have inoperative counterfeit air-bags installed. Other not-so-well-known counterfeits include Over-the-Counter (OTC) medications like the Lamisil shown below, razor blades and counterfeit visually identical nationally branded fragrances and cosmetics with ingredients like anti-freeze, urine, lead and bacteria.

Consumers are facing a big challenge, an epidemic of deceptive counterfeit goods from e-commerce websites and internet retailers. Global web giants Amazon and eBay feature listings that convey credibility of the seller and can lead the consumer into mistakenly believing featured product is genuine or authentic. It is not unusual that buyers are deceived into unknowingly purchasing counterfeit products. The products end up as gifts, often go unidentified, or are discovered only after the seller has vanished.

Think you can spot a fake? Probably not says The Counterfeit Report^®, a popular consumer watchdog. (www.TheCounterfeitReport.com). If it's manufactured, it's probably been counterfeited and will likely fool you. The Counterfeit Report website features over 250 global brands and has purchased hundreds of counterfeits from eBay, Amazon and AliExpress. Thousands of counterfeit product photos on the website help educate and protect consumers from the fakes.

Could you identify these counterfeit products? (all are fake)

(photo credit: The Counterfeit Report) photo link

1. While the Gillette packaging and razor blades may look authentic, counterfeit razor blades are hugely popular items with online counterfeit retailers. In just one week, Gillette reported seizing over 400,000 razors and 100,000 razor blades destined for unsuspecting consumers.
2. Counterfeit fragrance users would be alarmed to learn of lab test results which found counterfeit ingredients included urine, bacteria and antifreeze. These ingredients are going on consumer's faces and skin, and result in rashes, sickness and infection.
3. Well known Novartis Lamisil with its trademarked branding is easily recognizable, but this counterfeit product is sold online. It is not a Novartis product, and is not available in the Novartis Lamisil product line – it is a fake.
4. The well-known iconic Swiss Army knife may have 44 implements, but this poor quality counterfeit is available from China counterfeiters for just a fraction of the authentic products price. Counterfeit items are often are listed on eBay and sold to unsuspecting buyers as "100% authentic" or "genuine."
5. Counterfeit iPhone chargers displaying the "Apple" trademark and a counterfeit Underwriters Labs (UL) Mark will deceive consumers into believing they are receiving authentic, safe Apple products. In this case, fake can be fatal.

Most consumers are simply unaware, wouldn't expect popular products are counterfeited, or recognize the danger of the counterfeited product. Poor quality, deceptive and often unusable counterfeit products are not the only hazard consumers are facing -- consumers are dying from counterfeit products and pharmaceuticals. For instance, 23-year-old flight attendant Ma Ailun collapsed to the floor and died from electrocution while answering a call on her charging Apple iPhone 5. A counterfeit iPhone charger is suspected in the tragic death of the young bride-to-be.

Counterfeiting is now the largest global criminal enterprise; the criminals avoid taxes, destroy an estimated 750,000 US jobs, and cost US businesses over $250 Billion annually. Illegal counterfeiting activity is profitable, difficult to track and widely unpunished. While consumer awareness is only part of the global solution, counterfeited products are visually very deceptive, and consumers often unknowingly purchase hazardous or deadly products. Many counterfeit products are identified when the products are returned to the manufacturer for warranty or repairs, leaving the consumer out their investment and without a product. It's the consumer who ultimately gets hurt -- buyer beware.
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