Counterfeit and scam products have a huge marketplace Worldwide, and many people fall prey to these scams by ordering the scam products. The counterfeit product market has dribbled deeper into the global mainstream market, making it challenging for shoppers to distinguish between fake and genuine products.
Apart from allowing black money to flourish, the scam product market also takes a toll on authentic products’ revenue generation and brand identity. Besides, the scam products are low-grade, and they malfunction after a few days of usages. Some fake websites don’t even deliver the products to customers.
There are different types of online scams and products tricking a large number of people. How To Check If The Product Is A Scam is the question that many buyers have in their minds.
What are Scam Products?
Scam or fake products are low-grade products sold online by many ecommerce websites. These are second or third copies of the original product. It may claim to perform as the original products but lacks quality like the original products.
There are different types of product scams prevailing online and targeting Worldwide consumers. Being the victim of a product scam can be risky for your wallet, health and security. So, you must avoid buying scam products.
If you are not sure, please ask yourself the following questions to learn whether the product is a scam or genuine.
- Are the scam products working as intended?
- Is the product safe and toxic-free for you and your family members?
- What might be in the scam products?
- Are you sure your electronic products won’t explode when using them?
- What if the scam product is defective? Do they come with any guarantee?
- What if you get an email asking you to pay the shipping charge for the product you have not purchased?
It is important to ensure that you are not buying any counterfeit or scam products online.
A Detailed Guide on How To Check If The Product Is A Scam!
Check Identity of the Seller
It is important to check the contact us page of the seller to verify if the company exists and how and where to complain if any problem arises. Below is the detail to verify:
- Check the name of the company
- Geographical location
- Email address or contact form
- Phone number
- Website’s URL
You must not trust the website just because it has a .com, .org, or .net extension. There are scam websites selling scam products with genuine extensions. You also have to check the domain creation date and the website’s trust index to confirm its legitimacy.
Look for Consumer Reviews
Use the web world to check the experiences and reviews of other consumers related to the product you intend to buy. You have to check whether the product has received good or bad comments with star ratings.
Excessive positive reviews are not good, and the seller itself may publish them. You have to see the reviews on multiple portals and check what reasons are provided by consumers to consider it a bad or good product.
Check the General Layout of the Seller’s Website
The majority of the websites selling scam products lack professional layouts. The product description would include misspelling and grammatical errors and copied content, and poor images. It indicates that the seller is a scam, and so as the products, it is selling. Don’t trust the seller with a URL starting “http” instead of “https.”
Check Description and Product Images
You have to check the images of the products carefully to confirm the legitimacy of the product. You have to compare the logo and the background of the images and ensure that it is professional. If it is different from the authentic product or has low-quality images, it means the product is a scam.
Watch for the Prices
Sellers selling scam products always keep the price below the normal price at the product’s official website. If you see the price is too good to be true, it is a huge red flag, and you must not purchase the product without comparing the price on multiple sellers’ websites.
Social Media Presence
Products that are genuine and authentic always have a social media presence. If the product you are buying lacks in social presence, it is a red flag for you. It is important to check the social media existence of the product to confirm the legitimacy.
Availability of Product
You must carefully check the product’s availability and ensure that it is easily deliverable and available on multiple reliable and trustworthy ecommerce websites. Genuine and authentic products are easily available online on multiple websites and portals with customer reviews and ratings that help consumers make the right buying decision.
Check on Official Website of Product to Learn About Black-listed and Authorized Sellers
A majority of the brands have tie-up with ecommerce websites, and they authorize online selected sellers to sell their products. Buying products from certified and authorized sellers means investing in genuine products and not in a scam. So, please check the official website of the products to know about the authorized and black-listed sellers.
Final Thought
The guide on How To Check If The Product Is A Scam can help you avoid falling prey to product scams online. Apart from the tips mentioned in the guide, it would help you consider doing your research and analysis before buying anything online.
Scammers are opting for new methods and getting sophisticated when it comes to doing scams online. They are using different methods in selling scam products online and trick innocent shoppers globally.
Scammers are not only limited to hacking your email ID and system; they have also extended to scamming online by selling fake and counterfeit products for the sake of making easy money. They are using different platforms to sell these counterfeit products.
You must use these tips to stay alert and avoid getting the next victim of counterfeit and scam products online.
Have you ever fall prey to product scams online? How you managed to spot them? Please share your experiences in the comments section.