The most counterfeit things: how to distinguish a fake from an original when buying from hand

One of the dangers of buying from hands is the likelihood of running into a fake. In some cases, the owners themselves do not suspect that their "branded" thing is a fake. But it happens that cunning merchants order a batch of goods from China and sell it under the guise of used on free classifieds sites.

Every year, the World Customs Organization publishes a report, which indicates the most counterfeit brands. The higher the item in the rating, the more chances you have to run into a fake. The life hacker has selected from the latest tops of fakes those that you may encounter on free classifieds sites, and tells how to distinguish them from the original.

1. Apple smartphones

The huge number of fakes was a logical consequence of the brand's popularity. The iPhone is at particular risk, of course. They are appreciated not only for their friendly user interface, good camera, high quality workmanship and long-term support, but also for their status. Often people are only interested in the latter, so they are ready to buy a case with an apple, but with a dubious filling.

If you are not one of those, then Lifehacker wrote detailed instructions for you on how to distinguish a fake from the original.

In short:

The original is made using aluminum (starting with the iPhone X - surgical steel), the parts fit tightly together, the back cover cannot be removed, the battery cannot be removed, there are no USB connectors and incomprehensible parts.
The mute switch is on the left.
iPhone comes with a box that shows the same IMEI as on the back cover or on the SIM card tray of the phone. The same numbers can be found in the smartphone itself, if you go along the route "Settings" → "General" → "About this device".
If you connect a fake to iTunes, the program will recognize the fake.
If, when you try to launch the App Store or open applications, you are transferred to Google Play, then this is a fake.

2. Smartphones from Samsung

Original and fake smartphones from Samsung

Android smartphones are also actively counterfeited. It's all about the price: Samsung flagships are comparable in money to the iPhone, and a copy can be bought for literally a few thousand. There are several ways to distinguish fake from original:

Samsung has branded services like Samsung Pay. They only work on the original smartphone.
On a fake, it is impossible to log into your Samsung account. When buying, ask the seller to log in with your account or let you use yours - create it in advance from your personal computer.
Before meeting with the seller, go to the store and turn the selected model in your hands. Memorize what it looks like to compare.
The low price should be alarming. Even if the current owner got the smartphone for free, it is more profitable to sell it at a price as close to the market price as possible. The older the model and the phone itself, the lower its cost will be, but there should be logic in pricing.

Samsung is advised to contact a branded service center, where a specialist will tell you for sure whether you are offered an original smartphone.

3. Michael Kors bags

Michael Kors bags are also popular because of their affordable prices. They are cheaper than the products of many other promoted brands, and at sales their cost becomes even lower. But there are also a lot of fakes. Here's how to tell a fake from an original:

The original has all the seams neat, there are no protruding threads or traces of glue. This applies not only to the "facade", but also to the lining. All fittings are the same color. The letters of the logo are evenly spaced.
A logo is sewn into the seam inside the bag, which indicates the serial number of the product and the country of origin.
The company logo is pierced on the fittings, and the lining fabric is also printed with it.
The bag comes with a boot. In theory, the previous owner could have thrown it out. But usually they do not do this if they are going to give things a second life in the future.

Original and fake Michael Kors bags: logo letters must be placed straight

But first, check if Michael Kors even makes bags like the seller suggests. It often happens that, apart from the logo, the fake and the original have nothing in common.

4. Louis Vuitton bags

The sheer amount of fakes has served the brand a disservice. The LV logo is now directly associated with fakes. For calculating the original, the same tips apply as for the Michael Kors brand. With some amendments:

A bag cannot be cheap. The brand is not happy with sales, so the previous owner of the product cost a tidy sum. It is unlikely that she is ready to part with him for a penny.
LV is a luxury brand with high quality bags. Even the number of stitches on symmetrical elements of the product will be the same. Do not be lazy to count.
The pattern is arranged symmetrically, the details fit together to match the print.

Original and fake Louis Vuitton handbags: note the location of the pattern

Inside each bag - on a separate strap or some part - a serial number is embossed

Original and counterfeit Louis Vuitton bags: the serial number must be embossed inside

On modern models, there is no leather splash with an embossed logo, it “moved” into the bag.
Letter o in the Louis Vuitton lettering is always very round. Fake manufacturers are sometimes lazy to copy the font.
Study a similar bag on the brand's website: what colors the model was produced in, what kind of lining it should have. If there is a mismatch, it is better to abandon the purchase.

5. Sneakers Nike

You probably won't think of buying second-hand athletic shoes. But if someone made a mistake with the size, and now they exhibit sneakers in a box and with labels, then why not save some money.

It is important to pay attention to the quality of the product. In the original it is much higher: the lines are even, there are no glue spots, the tags are neatly sewn. Pay attention to the presence of the box: since a person is selling an unsuitable pair, he should have retained the packaging.

Inside the original sneaker, most often on the tongue, a label is sewn with the size, country of origin and code. Enter it into a search engine - if you find just such a model by numbers, then everything is in order.

Original and fake Nike sneakers: look for the label with the size, country of origin and code

Please note: the code on the sneakers and the box must match, otherwise you risk buying the original packaging, but fake shoes.

6. Sneakers Adidas

In terms of the number of fakes, Adidas lags behind Nike, but both companies are in the top. There are so many fake sneakers that Lifehacker wrote a separate guide to choosing original shoes.

High quality and availability of the box are prerequisites. Also, note that the company logo is usually embossed or sewn on. If it's just painted with paint, that's a bad sign.

The New Balance brand is not in the top of the World Customs Organization, but these sneakers are also often faked. And advice works for them too.

7. Ray-Ban glasses

The glasses of the Aviator and Wayfarer models are the hallmark of this brand. They are mostly forged. Here are a few signs that can be used to distinguish the original: