How to Stay Safe and Avoid Buying Counterfeit Goods
How To Stay Safe And Avoid Buying Counterfeit Goods Offline
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The vast majority of alcohol sold is safe. International spirits brands are produced to the highest quality standard to ensure that consumers enjoy their favourite brand every time. However, counterfeit alcohol exists and can be harmful to consumer health and safety. Protecting consumers and preserving the brand reputation is of paramount importance to our members, so every counterfeit is taken very seriously. |
When buying spirits brands, the following indicators may assist you in ensuring that you are purchasing genuine product:
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PLACE Where are you purchasing from? Buy from a reputable trader and ensure you are given a valid receipt. If the seller has no credentials, it may not be genuine. |
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PRICE Compare the price of the product with a supermarket. If you are getting the product for a very low price it may not be genuine. If the price sounds too good to be true, it probably is. |
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PRODUCT The spirit should not contain any debris, have an unusual smell or be an unusual colour. If you are suspicious, do not consume the spirit. |
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PACKAGING Every bottle should be sealed and in perfect condition. If the printing is blurred, labels are not perfect or the cap looks odd, you may not have the genuine article. |
If you are concerned at all, please contact us and we will be happy to offer guidance.
Key Physical Indicators of Counterfeit
How To Stay Safe And Avoid Buying Counterfeit Goods Online
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Counterfeiters increasingly use online eCommerce platforms and websites to sell counterfeit alcohol, where the buyer cannot examine the product and must rely on trust that the online seller is genuine. When buying spirits online, there are additional indicators which may assist consumers in ensuring that you are purchasing genuine product. If you are at all unsure, please contact us and we will be happy to offer guidance. |
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PAYMENT & REFUND Are you making payment to a recognised payment channel? Does the site offer a limited number of payment options? Are the payment options disabled? If payment options are unclear or suspicious, it may be to a disreputable website offering counterfeit products. |
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PRICE Compare the price of the product with a supermarket. If you are getting the product for a very low price it may not be genuine. If the price sounds too good to be true, it probably is. |
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POOR REVIEW Check the seller’s reviews. If they are selling counterfeit products, they may have received negative reviews from other purchasers. |
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PLACE Some eCommerce companies do not allow the sale of alcohol on their platforms. Alcohol offered for sale on these platforms is unlikely to be from genuine sellers. Genuine websites will impose age gating to deter the sale of alcohol to underage consumers. |
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PICTURE Counterfeiters sometimes use pictures of genuine products to advertise counterfeit. Do not be fooled by the on screen picture. |
If you are come across counterfeits online, please report the seller to the platform.
- Trust your instincts – do not rush and be fooled into believing you are getting a good deal.
- Check the spelling and grammar on the website and of the URL – often the people behind these sites do not pay a lot of attention or care to this detail. Fraudsters may also try to deceive you by slightly changing the spelling of a well-known brand or shop in the website address.
- Look to see where the trader is based and whether they provide a postal address – just because the web address has ‘uk’ do not assume the seller is based in the UK. If there is no address supplied or there is just a PO Box or email, be wary.
- Only deal with reputable sellers – only use sites you know or ones that have been recommended to you. If you have not bought from the seller before, do your research and check online reviews. People will often turn to forums and blogs to warn others of fake sites. If you are buying an item online you can check to see if the website is a legitimate stockist by visiting www.brand-i.org
- Ensure the website address begins ‘https’ at the payment stage – this indicates a secure payment.
- Keep security software and firewalls up-to-date. Regularly update your internet browser when a new patch-security update is released.
- Don’t access links in unsolicited emails, always type in the website address or use a search engine to find a site.
- Ask the trader if there is a returns policy or guarantee. Most rogue traders will not offer this.
- If you are not sure whether the items are genuine, do not enter your payment details – it is not worth the risk.
- Watch out for pop-ups appearing asking you to confirm your card details before you are on the payment stage. Never enter your PIN online.