As counterfeit cosmetic products are in the news again, we’re reminding how to spot a counterfeit cosmetic or personal care product for sale online and what are the associated risks.
Counterfeits - what’s the harm?
Cosmetic products are unfortunately often targeted by counterfeiters, but it is important to remember that nearly every type of consumer product, as well as important sectors such as medical, automotive and foods, can be the subject of counterfeiting.
Why does buying a counterfeit beauty product matter? They may look, smell and feel similar to the real deal, but are sold at a cheaper price. You may ask what’s the harm? Last year the UK Intellectual Property Office’s (IPO) campaign, Choose Safe Not Fake, highlighted how the lookalike packaging of counterfeit beauty and hygiene products can be hiding some very unsavoury and unsafe ingredients.
IPO said that testing carried out on a selection of counterfeit products revealed that they contained carcinogenic ingredients such as beryllium oxide and harmful heavy metals (arsenic, lead and mercury), all of which are banned from use in legal cosmetic products. Samples also contained rodent urine and equine (horse) faeces, pointing to the unsanitary conditions in which counterfeit products can be produced.
We can be pretty sure that those making fake cosmetic products won't have adhered to the strict legislation, and the products won’t have gone through a safety assessment which is required for all legal cosmetic products in the UK. They are unlikely to contain the same thoroughly and scientifically assessed ingredients as legitimate cosmetic products nor been manufactured under strict levels of cleanliness to avoid contamination, which is also part of the cosmetics laws. It is therefore no surprise that fake cosmetic products have been found to contain microbes and debris from unclean premises and equipment which could be harmful to health.
In addition, profits made from Intellectual Property crime are used to fund other serious organised crimes.
The brands whose products are being illegally copied do not know who is creating the fakes. Companies take their legal obligations to produce safe and efficacious cosmetic products very seriously and share CTPA’s concerns about the possible implications for consumers’ health posed by counterfeits.
It is therefore really important to know how to recognise counterfeit products and avoid them.
Beware of counterfeits on social media
Social media platforms have become a popular place to shop online. They can offer a fun way to explore new cosmetics and personal care products - but as with any online purchase, it’s not always easy to tell whether what we’re buying is the real deal. Don’t be caught out.
How to spot a counterfeit online? Six tell-tale signs
1. Heavily discounted prices
If the product is being offered at a very cheap price, the chances are that it is an untested and unsafe look-alike that’s not worth the potential cost to your health.
2. ‘Flash sale’ social media ads
Beware of ads promoting ‘flash sales’ for heavily discounted products. This is a technique that counterfeiters commonly use to make you rush into buying without thinking first.
3. Social account not connected to the brand website
Fake social accounts selling counterfeits may well contain the original brand name. If you’re in any doubt, head to the brand website and click back to its social media account.
4. Poor quality website
Exercise caution around websites with poor spelling and grammar or no way to contact customer services. If you’re unsure, look for reviews in forums and blogs. People will often warn others of illegal sites.
5. People who post but don’t interact
Look out for people who spend lots of time posting about products for sale on social media, but invest little to no time engaging with other community members. It’s a common counterfeit tell.
6. Unverified influencer
While being verified by a social media platform is no guarantee that an influencer isn’t selling counterfeits, it provides reassurance that if a purchase is too good to be true, you can report it to the platform who can take swift action to address this.
Dr Emma Meredith OBE, Director-General of CTPA said:
“Counterfeit cosmetics and personal care products may look like the brands we love, but the packaging is where the similarity ends. You could be buying a product that won’t work in the way you want and could pose a serious risk to your health.
The cosmetics industry takes your safety very seriously. Fake and illegal products could jeopardise your safety and also threaten the trust that millions of consumers have in the many, many legal and safe cosmetic products available and used every day.
Always make sure you buy your products from reputable outlets, be suspicious of any products offered for sale from unusual places and remember if an offer seems ‘too good to be true’, it probably is.”
How to report a counterfeit
If you see or suspect counterfeit products being sold on a website or via social media, contact Crimestoppers and tell them exactly what you know. They will pass this on to the appropriate organisation for investigation. All information can be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Read more
Counterfeit products (www.thefactsabout.co.uk)
The Anti-Counterfeiting Group (A-CG)
