If you’ve been to a city or even on online markets, you’ve probably seen counterfeit products for sale. Whether it’s designer purses, priceless watches, or even pharmaceuticals, there’s no end to sellers trying to fake out potential customers. Counterfeits have become a worldwide concern, threatening consumer security and financial stability. Keep reading to learn about six of the most counterfeited products to keep an eye out for.
6. Smartphones
Starting our list of most counterfeited items are smartphones. While everyone may want to have the newest version of the iPhone or the Samsung Galaxy, they are often sold at too high a price. This has prompted a surge in counterfeit smartphones. Back in 2015, New York City Police confiscated 20,000 counterfeit phones in one raid, including knock-offs of Apple, Samsung, LG, Nokia, and Motorola. Along with smartphones, technology in general is one of the fastest-growing sections of counterfeit products in the world.
5. Jewelry/Accessories
Fifth on our list of the most counterfeited products is jewelry and other accessories. Fake jewelry and sunglasses are often on display on major city streets like New York and San Francisco. They are some of the most prevalent counterfeit items because of how cheap it is to counterfeit and sell them. Counterfeit jewelry and sunglasses are also popular with tourists as they search for a decent-looking necklace or pair of sunglasses.
4. Pharmaceuticals
Next on our list of most counterfeited items is pharmaceuticals. While this may be surprising, counterfeit drugs have seen a major upswing in the past two decades. Fake medicines, vaccinations, and lifestyle medications are often available without prescriptions. Medications that are most vulnerable to counterfeiting are cancer, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, malaria, antibiotics, pain killers, and central nervous system medicines.
3. Watches
Rounding out the top three most counterfeited products are watches. More people than you expect are probably walking around with fake Rolexes on their wrists. Watches are an incredibly popular item to counterfeit, and all the major brands like Rolex, Omega, Tissot, Hublot, Seiko, and Swatch probably have a counterfeit version for sale. While the quality may not be great, the fake branding is incredibly believable.
2. Sneakers/Shoes
Second on our list of most counterfeited products are sneakers and shoes. It doesn’t matter if they are Air Jordans or Jimmy Choo pumps; knockoffs of popular footwear brands are a focal point for counterfeiters, especially with how popular new shoe releases are. It is also one of the best counterfeits in this list, with many law enforcement agencies even having trouble picking out the real from the fake. Among the most popular counterfeit brands are Nike Air Jordan, Puma, Fendi, and Doc Martens.
1. Handbags/Purses/Wallets
Last but not least on our list of most counterfeited products are purses, handbags, and wallets. When it comes to counterfeit items, similar to shoes, purses, and related handbags remain the most popular. Guess, Hermes, Givenchy, Prada, Gucci, and Versace are some of the most popular brands that are counterfeited and sold for cheap. The main reason is that some of the bags are extremely expensive, so it’s easier to pay a fraction of the cost for something nearly identical.
