Fraud Alert! Experts Share How To Spot Counterfeit Items When Shopping—and Snag Real Bargains
Learn simple ways to spot ‘fool’s gold’ on your next shopping trip—and more tips to outsmart fraudsters
With convincing imitations popping up online and in resale stores, we asked experts for a few easy ways to help ensure you know how to spot counterfeit items—so you can confidently buy authentic gold, electronics and designer clothes!
Spot solid gold jewelry
It’s easy for jewelry sellers to claim high gold content—even if it’s not true. Fortunately, there are clear signs that’ll help you separate the real deal from the phonies, assures Howard Stone, Vice President of Global Asset Protection & Claims at Jewelers Mutual. A few of his strategies:
Whip out your magnifying glass
Check the clasp, underside or back for tiny etched numbers and letters. “Genuine gold jewelry is usually marked with a karat stamp, such as 10K, 14K, 18K or 24K,” says Stone. These markings tell you how much gold the item contains—the higher the number, the purer it is. If a piece of jewelry lacks a stamp, consider it a red flag, he cautions. Need help decoding the mark you found? Visit Jewelers Mutual.
Give it a once-over
Inspect the item for color and wear. “If you see fading or another metal peeking through, it’s likely gold-plated,” Stone says. Pay special attention to clasps, edges and other high-wear areas. “Plating often breaks down first at these points.”
See if it ‘sticks’
Hold a strong magnet—the kind from a hardware store—near the jewelry. “Gold is not magnetic,” says Stone. “If it pulls the piece, there’s likely another metal beneath the surface.
Verify electronics easily
Counterfeit laptops and other tech gadgets aren’t just lower in quality—some fakes may also harbor malware that steals information like passwords, warns Ken Colburn, founder of Data Doctors, a computer repair and data recovery company. To stay safe, Colburn recommends these steps:
Inspect the packaging
“A box that seems flimsy or a logo that looks a little ‘off’ is a telltale sign of a counterfeit,” says Colburn. Also look for mismatched information between the box, device and specs listed on the brand’s official website—like a model that claims 128GB of storage when the real version only comes with 64GB or 256GB options.
Compare this number
Ask to see the item’s serial number, advises Colburn. This is its unique ID that’s usually on both the box and product. If they don’t match, that could signal someone repackaged it. Then log onto the manufacturer’s site.
Most major brands like Apple and Samsung let you enter serial numbers on their websites to confirm a device is authentic. Just look for a “check warranty” or “verify coverage” tool.
Pinpoint luxury clothes
“Thrifting for designer finds is fun, but knockoffs can easily slip through,” says personal stylist Cynthia Kennedy. “It feels like playing a game of fashion detective, but once you know what to look for, it gets easier.” Here, her simple tactics:
Examine the material
Designers use quality fabrics—not ones that fade after one wash, says Kennedy. “If the material is flimsy or unusually light, it’s not real. Designer pieces have weight to them—literally and figuratively.”
Check for a ‘neat’ label
The tag should be well-sewn and flat and it should use the correct font for the brand. “If it’s off-center, that’s a giveaway.” Kennedy recalls finding a “Burberry” coat at a thrift store. “But the plaid lining was too shiny, and the tag was stitched at an angle, which Burberry would never do.” That’s when she realized it was a fake!
Bonus tip! Buying Labubu toys for little ones? You can verify they’re authentic simply by scanning their QR code!
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