“Far too often, fake websites steal photos of brand name products and post them for sale,” said Better Business Bureau of Upstate NY CEO, Warren Clark.
Experts said you used to be able to spot a phony product a mile away. These days, overseas manufacturers are becoming more sophisticated.
“It's become more profitable than ever for counterfeiters to make high quality counterfeit and sell them for slightly less than what the genuine brand sells them for,” said New Era Cap Company Senior VP of Global Legal and Brand Protection, Lorrie Turner.
The problem is that counterfeit products can be harmful to your health because they aren't held to U.S. standards. Warren said most knockoffs come from China and Hong Kong. “Today almost anything that can be shipped, can be and is being counterfeited,” he added.
Amazon shoppers aren't immune to counterfeit items. Third party sellers are the ones to watch for. “It's really difficult. You have to read all the fine details. So, you do have to be careful when you're shopping on Amazon,” said Turner.
The BBB said no matter the site, be mindful of pricing. If the price is too good to be true, it probably is. And, trust your instincts. It could be your best line of defense against a scammer.
To report a scam, click here.
