In 2018, $323 billion in damages to the economy was caused by counterfeit goods. Some of these counterfeits also led to damages to property and even deaths. But what qualifies as a counterfeit item? There are two common types of counterfeits, knock-offs and pirated items. Knock-offs are close imitations of copyrighted material and designer products. Pirated items are copyrighted works that are copied without permission from the owner.
More than 1 in 4 consumer reported unknowingly purchasing non-genuine goods online. Fake goods are commonly found in seemingly innocent platforms such as search engines and mobile apps. Brands matter. There are several big reasons to avoid fakes. Fakes rarely comply with safety standards which can lead to damage to your property, injury, and even death. Counterfeits also damage the economy making production and prices more expensive. Fraudulent merchants can also steal personal information to create fake copies of you and your credit card.
Find out how you can keep yourself safe from counterfeits here.
infographic by: www.bestchoicereviews.org
