1 hr ago
Three Checks to Avoid Fake Products During Festive Shopping
Online shopping festivals can make expensive products look very cheap.
Sometimes, however, the product may be fake.
Before buying, shoppers should check who the seller is and compare the product with the brand’s website.
They can also scan a special QR code on the package if one is available.
The scan may show whether the product is genuine.
After the product arrives, shoppers can register its warranty through the brand’s official website or system.
These checks can help protect people from losing money.
Taking a few extra seconds before buying may prevent a costly mistake.
A 2026 report found that 89% of urban consumers had bought a counterfeit product at least once.
Shoppers should verify a seller’s credentials when a deal appears unusually cheap.
Comparing product details with the brand’s official website can help identify suspicious listings.
Unique QR codes and serialised product IDs may help consumers authenticate products.
Registering a product through the brand’s official digital warranty system can provide another verification step.
- Who
- Online shoppers, brands, and authentication specialists such as Ayush Jhawar are involved.
- What
- Consumers are being advised to use three checks to avoid counterfeit products during festive online sales.
- Where
- The guidance concerns online shopping, with one example involving Mumbai-based consumer Prerna Tripathi.
- When
- The advice applies during the festive shopping season; the cited consumer report was published in 2026.
- Why
- To help shoppers avoid fake products and verify the seller, product authenticity, and warranty.
Key facts
- Counterfeit-purchase rate
- The Authentication Solution Providers' Association reported that 89% of urban consumers had bought a counterfeit product at least once.
- First check
- Review the seller’s credentials and whether the seller is authorised.
- Product comparison
- Compare specifications, packaging, and other details with the brand’s official website.
- Digital authentication
- Unique QR codes and serialised product IDs can help verify and track individual products.
- QR-code technologies
- Dynamic QR authentication and geo-fencing can help identify suspicious codes or unauthorised sales locations.
- Warranty verification
- Digital Warranty Activation Management can connect a genuine product with its warranty record.
- Consumer data
- Digital warranty journeys have helped some brands collect up to 35% more consumer data.
Quotes
Prerna Tripathi
Mumbai-based communications professional who received a counterfeit branded shoe after shopping online
“I paid money to buy a branded shoe for an office event, but ended up getting a fake one online. Eventually, I had to return it, and attend the event in my old shoes. The entire process was just infuriating,”
NDTV
Sources
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