Consumer report: how to spot a counterfeit product
Days after a multi-million dollar counterfeit bust by Homeland Security, we have a warning about knockoffs. Target 11 Consumer Investigator Robin Taylor uncovers the top five counterfeit products and how to spot them.
These days, counterfeits are of higher quality than ever before and some replicas are so good, they're hard to detect, and street corners aren't the only place you'll find them. CNN Money put together this list of the top knockoffs and how to spot them. 1. Clothes and Shoes To spot a fake, check out things like the zippers and the stitching, because counterfeits will usually be a little off. 2. Perfume Give it a smell test. Knockoffs will generally not smell like the real deal. 3. Prescription Drugs Your best bet is to pay attention to the size, shape, color and taste of the medicines you normally take. Gambling with counterfeit drugs can be risky. 4. Watches The best way to tell if a watch is a counterfeit is to look at the box and the certificate. 5. Electronics This is a little tricky, because counterfeit electronics can be harder to spot. Look for things like buttons on the wrong side or knobs that are the wrong color. Counterfeiters have gotten some of their fakes into brick and mortar stores, but there is a tell-tale sign to look for, and that's that the price is way off from what it should be. The best way to protect yourself is to shop at a store you know and trust.
