How to know if a product is genuine or fake?

Did you pay thinking that the product was an original but turned out to be a fake or copycat of a branded item and then get stuck with it? Almost all of us come across shampoo, soap, mineral water, ear pods, baby care products, etc. which came in original like brand packaging but were actually cheap fakes. Sometimes it is easy to identify these fakes but sometimes the copy is so close that even and expert can be fooled. Using these products could be sometimes quite harmful, they could leave a serious or permanent damage.

So how does one identify an original or a fake product? Nakul Pasricha, President of Authentication Solution Providers' Association (ASPA) shares certain steps that would require very little effort:

1. Packaging is a huge giveaway
Before opening check the packaging to ensure it is intact. Good quality branded products come in properly secure packaging. Signs of tampering of the box or plastic sleeve or tamper evident label or flimsy packaging reveals it's a fake. Branded products would not come with smudged labels, spelling mistakes, tampered expiry date, etc.

2. Checking authenticity is easy
Brands apply authentication solutions on the packaging, these are mostly Phygital solutions (Physical + Digital = Phygital). One can easily scan QR Codes, Barcodes, Scratch-off Labels or go online to check look for Unique Serial Numbers and know in an instant if it is an original or other features that may have been put on the product packaging.

3. Choose you shopping partner wisely
While shopping online or offline, buy from authentic websites or authorised shops. Brands give discounts and offers but don't fall for unbelievably attractive discounts and offers, these are common tactics used by fraudsters to lure consumers. One way to determine that the website URL is legitimate is that it has "https" in its address (look for the lock sign in your browser address bar).

4. Check the Price:
If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. Extremely low prices, especially for well-known brands, can be a red flag for counterfeit products.

5. Shop responsibly
Always take a bill for your purchase. The shopkeeper might not give you a proper bill to avoid GST or applicable taxes, but then they might be slipping a fake product in your shopping. Just to save a few rupees you might end up buying something harmful.

In case you discover that you bought a fake product, don't feel obligated to get stuck with it. Report the fake product to the shop, the brand or the right authorities like Ministry of Consumer Affairs and others. This will help in catching the fraudster and making the market a little safer from fake products.