Spotting fake goods Fake goods
Fake goods can be inferior in quality compared with the real thing
Britain's fake goods trade is estimated to be worth £10 billion – incorporating everything from dodgy DVDs, handbags and sunglasses through to copied vinyl records, mineral water and batteries.
The most commonly counterfeited products include:
- designer label clothes, watches, perfume and cosmetics
- alcohol
- CDs, DVDs, video and audio tapes
- computer software, such as games
- vehicle parts
- DIY tools.
Why you should avoid fake goods
Fake goods may usually cost less than the real thing, but they're inferior in quality and may be less durable, unsafe or even dangerous. If you buy counterfeit goods and they don't live up to your expectations, you won't get any after-sales service or guarantees.
Fake goods don't undergo the same rigorous testing manufacturers apply to their products to ensure they are safe, and may cause genuine manufacturers and retailers to put up their prices if they're losing money to counterfeiters.
Experts also believe money made from fake goods often goes toward funding more serious organised crime including drug trafficking and terrorism.
Tips for spotting and avoiding fake goods
- Pay attention to where you are offered cheap goods. Fake goods are often sold away from the high street where it’s harder to trace the seller if there’s a dispute or problem. Be particularly cautious at street markets, car boot sales, pubs and product fairs.
- Be suspicious of bargains that seem too good to be true – especially super low prices 50% or less of what you’d usually expect to pay on branded goods.
- Examine the quality of goods and steer clear of those showing shoddy workmanship.
- Misspelled labels and poor logos are an easily identifiable trait of all kinds of fake goods.
- Research high-value goods using manufacturer websites, before you buy. Use the Brand-i directory, supported by Trading Standards, to find out if the site is registered to sell the item you're after.
- Examine pictures, logos and labels so you're familiar with how the genuine article should look and feel.
- Ask lots of questions if you're suspicious of a seller. Sellers of fake goods may be vague about product origins or try and explain away differences in price or appearance by the goods being imported from abroad.
- Be aware of payment methods. Counterfeit sellers may ask you to pay by cash, be more susceptible to haggling or offer you the chance to avoid paying taxes.
Counterfeits, copies and fakes
Counterfeit goods are those which abuse or steal the intellectual property (IP) of others, ie when products are copied and/or marketed for profit without the agreement of the person who owns the rights to a copyright or trademark.
IP crime comes in many forms. Counterfeited branded goods violate the trademarks of other companies, while counterfeited media (such as music, films and computer games) represent copyright theft.
The two kinds of crime can often overlap where both trademarks and copyright are involved in a counterfeited product – such as in computer software.
Even when a product doesn't have a registered trademark, if it's copied, the genuine manufacturer may still have a claim against the counterfeiter for 'passing off' their copies.
How to take action about fake goods
If you want to report a website you suspect is selling counterfeit goods, use Brand-i's report a site feature. To report a local trader, contact your local Trading Standards service.
If you unknowingly buy a product that turns out to be a fake, you may still be able to use your statutory rights against the seller. For further advice on your consumer rights read our guide to understanding the Sale of Goods Act.
