As kids head back to school, families across the country will be gearing up for another school year. Unfortunately, as consumers look for the best deals on clothing and shoes to kick off the back-to-school shopping season, they may unknowingly be drawn to purchase counterfeit goods.
When looking for savings on apparel and footwear, be cautious of the following channels as sources for counterfeit goods:
Third-Party Marketplaces
The rise of e-commerce has connected consumers with an ever-growing global network of criminal counterfeiters, especially on third-party marketplaces. Counterfeiters have adopted new tactics to deceive consumers, exploiting third-party online marketplaces to gain an appearance of legitimacy and even going so far as to post pictures of authentic goods on websites where they are selling counterfeits. Counterfeiters will also list their fake goods for a slightly cheaper price on these marketplaces to entice unknowing consumers.
In a recent study, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) purchased 47 items from third-party sellers on popular consumer websites. Items included shoes, travel mugs, cosmetics, and phone chargers. Of the 47 items, 20 were counterfeit, according to testing by the products’ rights holders.
GAO stressed that there are many health and safety risks associated with the types of counterfeit goods purchased from these third-party sellers. Not only do counterfeit products pose risks to consumers, but they also are oftentimes manufactured in facilities that do not meet worker and facility safety requirements or comply with worker rights laws.
If you are purchasing apparel and footwear from a third-party marketplace, be sure to check where your goods are coming from (e.g., country of origin) and any other identifying seller details. Additionally, read reviews of the product.
Social Media Platforms
Social media channels, like Facebook and Instagram, are increasingly popular targets for counterfeiters selling fake apparel and footwear on both local and global channels. Many AAFA member brands have reported increased counterfeit activity on social media platforms in recent years. Counterfeiters impersonate brands on social media accounts by repurposing their brand logos and images, leaving consumers confused as to whether the product posted is authentic or counterfeit.
In May 2018, Facebook published it’s first ever report with statistics about its enforcement efforts. Over a six-month period, Facebook and Instagram took down 459,176 pieces of content based on 28,680 counterfeit reports.
As a consumer, it may be enticing to purchase through social media platforms. However, if you find a product on an unverified social media account, there is no way to guarantee its authenticity, and you could unknowingly end up with a counterfeit.
Encrypted Messaging Platforms
Encrypted messaging platforms, like WhatsApp, are also being used to conduct sales of counterfeit goods. Typically, a consumer will be invited to join a seller’s encrypted group. The seller will provide images, product descriptions, and offers; customers can then ask questions on the group or message the seller directly.
It is very attractive for counterfeiters and sellers of fake goods to utilize these messaging platforms because their listings and conversations are encrypted end-to-end. Furthermore, payment transactions are conducted through these encrypted messaging platforms, making them untraceable.
If you must contact someone on an encrypted messaging platform to purchase apparel or footwear, chances are the products are fake.
AAFA’s Brand Protection Council (BPC) vigorously pursues brand protection efforts, with a focus on the global war against counterfeit apparel, footwear, accessories, and other supplier products. If you would like to become part of the conversation, please contact me. We welcome new participation!
Christina Mitropoulos
Government Relations Representative
American Apparel & Footwear Association
cmitropoulos@aafaglobal.org
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