Counterfeit Products Online: How to Identify and Report Them
Quick Answer
Counterfeit products are illegal copies of branded goods sold as genuine. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security estimates counterfeiting costs the U.S. economy hundreds of billions annually. Red flags include prices significantly below authorized retail, third-party marketplace sellers for luxury or health products, and listings that lack a brand's official product identifiers. Report counterfeit goods to the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center (IPR Center) at iprcenter.gov.
What Counterfeiting Is
Counterfeiting is the manufacture and sale of fake goods bearing a trademark or brand name without authorization. It is a federal crime under the Trademark Counterfeiting Act (18 U.S.C. § 2320). Buyers who unknowingly purchase counterfeit goods are not criminally liable, but they do not receive the product they paid for and may face safety risks depending on the product category.
The highest-risk product categories for health and safety involve counterfeits of: pharmaceuticals, dietary supplements, electronics with safety certifications (chargers, batteries), automotive parts, infant products, and personal protective equipment.
How Counterfeit Products Reach Online Buyers
| Channel | How It Works |
|---|---|
| Third-party marketplace listings | Sellers list fake goods on Amazon, eBay, or Walmart Marketplace, often with photos taken from the authentic brand's marketing materials |
| Direct websites impersonating brands | Sites built to look like an authorized retailer but selling fakes at discounted prices |
| Social media shops | Ads or posts directing buyers to sites selling unauthorized goods |
| Overstock or clearance claims | Listings claiming to offer genuine excess inventory at reduced prices |
How to Identify a Potentially Counterfeit Listing
Price significantly below authorized retail: Genuine luxury, electronics, or supplement brands control their distribution and pricing. A listing at 60 to 80 percent below the authorized retail price from a third-party seller is a documented pattern in counterfeit sales.
Seller is not an authorized retailer: Major brands publish lists of their authorized online retailers. A product sold by an unrecognized third-party seller on a marketplace rather than through the brand's own store or an authorized retailer warrants verification.
Packaging or product identifiers do not match: Genuine branded products have consistent packaging, barcodes, serial numbers, and holographic seals. Photos in a listing that show inconsistent fonts, colors, or missing identifiers are a signal.
Reverse image search the listing photos: If the product photos appear on many unrelated listings or do not match the brand's official product photography, the photos may have been copied from the authentic brand to sell fakes.
Check the brand's official website: Most major brands have an "authorized retailer" or "where to buy" section. If the seller is not listed there, contact the brand directly to verify.
What to Do If You Received a Counterfeit
Step 1: Do not use the product if it falls into a health or safety category (supplements, electronics, infant products, pharmaceuticals).
Step 2: Contact the retailer or marketplace and report the counterfeit. Amazon, eBay, and Walmart all have counterfeit reporting tools. Dispute the charge with your credit card issuer under the Fair Credit Billing Act.
Step 3: Report to the appropriate agencies:
| Agency | How to Report | What They Handle |
|---|---|---|
| IPR Center | iprcenter.gov | Federal coordination for IP crime including counterfeiting |
| FBI IC3 | IC3.gov | Internet-facilitated crime including counterfeit goods fraud |
| FTC | ReportFraud.ftc.gov, 1-877-382-4357 | Deceptive practices in commerce |
| CBP (if imported) | cbp.gov/trade | Counterfeit goods entering through customs |
| Brand directly | Via the brand's official website | Brands have legal teams to pursue counterfeit sellers |