Other Areas
Recognise fake products beyond fashion including car parts, medications, food and currency. Articles also cover consumer rights and what to do after purchasing counterfeits.
Bogus Workmen and Your Rights
Protect yourself from cowboy builders by learning how to spot dodgy tradesmen and check a worker's credentials before you hire them.
China and the Counterfeit Problem
China produces the vast majority of counterfeit goods flooding global markets, from fake clothing to nearly everything else.
Consumer Rights: Buying Counterfeit Goods
Get your money back if you've bought counterfeit goods—here's what UK consumer law says you can do.
Counterfeit Auto Accessories
Fake car accessories might seem harmless but can be genuinely dangerous, from faulty fuel converters to defective petrol caps that fail safety standards.
Counterfeiting and Copyright: Protecting Your Intellectual Property
Learn how copyright and counterfeiting laws protect what you create, from music and books to designs and patents.
Do You Buy Fakes?
You might be buying counterfeit goods without realizing it—here's how to spot them.
Fake Aeroplane Parts and Illegal Counterfeiting
Counterfeit aircraft parts make up over 10% of some planes and have caused crashes, yet airlines quietly use fake components anyway.
Fake Food and Drink
Counterfeit food and drink are sold worldwide, from fake wine to phoney baby formula, and can contain dangerous chemicals like methanol.
Fake Weddings Cakes
Budget-conscious couples use fake wedding cakes to cut costs while still having an impressive display at their reception.
How Countries Are Battling Counterfeit Drugs
Governments and health organisations are working together to stop counterfeit drugs, which kill thousands of people yearly in unregulated countries.
How to Spot Fake Charities
Fake charities collect your donations and old clothes to sell for profit, so here's how to spot the scams before you give.
How to Spot Fake Identification
Fake IDs are easier to get than you might think, and criminals use them for far more than just sneaking into bars.
Recgonising and Handling Counterfeit Currency
How to spot fake banknotes and protect yourself from counterfeit currency in circulation.
Recognising an Email as Spam
Spam emails make up most of your inbox traffic, and some carry real dangers like phishing scams and viruses that can steal your personal information.
The Business in Fake Car Parts
Counterfeit car parts are a £6 billion global problem, and they're often filled with sawdust or newspaper instead of real materials.
The Dangers of Fake Medications
Counterfeit medications sold online often contain harmful or completely useless ingredients, posing serious health risks.
The Fake Antique Market
Counterfeit antiques fool even experienced buyers, from high-end forgeries to cheap mass-produced fakes flooding online auctions and markets.
The Penalty for Adulterated Milk
Chinese milk producers added melamine to infant formula, poisoning hundreds of thousands of babies and killing six in 2008.
Which Countries Produce the Most Counterfeits?
China dominates global counterfeit production, accounting for 8% of its GDP, with factories making fake goods on the same lines as authentic products.
Who Buys Fakes?
Most of us buy counterfeit goods without realising it, from fashion knockoffs to items with cut corners that fail faster than you'd expect.
Your Rights as a Consumer: How to Make a Complaint
If you've bought counterfeit goods, consumer law gives you the right to a refund or replacement from the seller.