Luxury handbags are what most women lust for. But is that beauty you saw on Instagram the real deal?
With more than R6 million worth of knockoffs of luxury designer brands like Gucci and Chanel recently confiscated by police, it is important to know how to spot a fake.
And although most shoppers think they’ll never be conned, 70% might have unknowingly bought a fake. South Africa has become a hotspot for ‘triple A-grade’ fakes,” says Michael Zahariev, co-founder of the luxury reseller and authenticator, Luxity.
“These look so much like the genuine article that even a brand enthusiast would struggle to tell the difference,” he adds. Most ‘triple A-grade’ fakes are being sold online, with websites accounting for 41% of sales, followed by online marketplaces (32%) and social media sites (28%).
Shoppers buying from a flea market might know they are getting a fake, but shopping through social media channels, is more than dangerous than you think.
“In fact, social media analytics firm Ghost Data reportedly identified more than 26,000 active counterfeiters’ accounts operating on Facebook between June and October 2021 and over 20,000 active counterfeiters’ accounts on Instagram,” shares Zahariev.
“WhatsApp has been found to be the preferred communication channel used by crooks, with 75% using the platform,” he adds.
SEVEN RED FLAGS TO LOOK OUT FOR TO AVOID BEING SCAMMED
1. NO RETURNS OR EXCHANGES
Swindlers don’t allow these – a sure sign that their items are fake.
2. IF THE PRICE IS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, IT PROBABLY IS
Prices of triple A-grade’ fakes are not as high as the genuine item, but high enough to make someone believe that they can own an original. Often, shoppers will be fed a story about why it’s a bit cheaper. Counterfeits generally resell for up to 35% of the original price. However, there are exceptions, with some sophisticated counterfeiters charging up to 80%.
3. PRE-OWNED POSERS
Some scammers will pass items off as pre-owned to explain the lower price. Look up reviews on the company to ensure that it’s a legitimate business and not just a fly-by-night operation.
4. NO WEBSITE OR PHYSICAL ADDRESS
Most sellers deal directly with customers through WhatsApp or social media. If a product is fake, buyers have little recourse when querying a product’s authenticity or reporting the fraudsters to the authorities.
5. WAITING LISTS
Many counterfeiters will tell customers that there’s a two- or three-week waiting list. But this is because they’re importing items from China on order and not from Chanel, as buyers are told. .
6. SO-CALLED PRIVATE SHOPPERS
One way criminals convince people to part with their cash is by posing as private shoppers. The “shopper,” and the money are never seen again, or they return with a counterfeit.
7. TWO-MINUTE DEALS
In the past, a common way to catch counterfeits was by checking the material and stitching on an item. Crooks has since gotten better at getting this right. Nowadays, to the untrained eye it can be close to impossible to tell if an item is counterfeit or not.
Source: thesouthafrican
