January 2008
Counterfeit quiz
The fakes shown in this report, bought from street vendors or obtained from manufacturers or the U.S. Chamber of Commerce,
vary from near-clones of the real thing to distant relatives, but they cost far less: $35 vs. $685 for the tote, for example,
and $20 vs. $200 for the MP3 player.
Electrical cord
Of the 21 billion UL marks placed on products annually, very few are fakes, says John Drengenberg, consumer affairs manager at Underwriters Laboratories. Most fake labels are on high-volume, low-cost items such as night-lights, extension cords, and power strips. The real strip bears a holographic label; the fake one has a printed "UL" label that the Chamber of Commerce identified as fake.
MP3 player
The fake 6GB player bears an uncanny resemblance to an Apple Nano. But it's slightly thicker, its screen is not as bright, it doesn't work with iTunes, and it has an On/Off button where the Nano's Hold button is. It uses a generic operating system with a cartoonlike display. Its "click wheel" is a crude jog dial; its headphones are inferior in sound quality. But the knockoff has an FM radio and a voice recorder, which no iPod has.
Diabetic strip
Counterfeiters added a finger, made "One Touch" two words, and changed its typeface. In 2006, Lifescan found erratic results in counterfeit kits. Incorrect results could lead to serious complications. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration saw counterfeit-drug investigations rise to 54 in the year ending Sept. 30, 2006.
Jeans
Clues to a Baby Phat fake can include stitching that lacks details, an atypical finish, and missing nameplates or leather accents. Hangtags may be flimsier, with words that are printed, not embossed. Jeans are a favorite target of counterfeiters. Other jeans may be missing logos or have loose threads.
Sunglasses
Knockoffs like these Oakleys might not provide protection against ultraviolet rays and might not be impact resistant, which could expose the wearer to eye injuries.
Tote
The real Gucci has leather trim, with nice fit and finish. ID tags and quality-assurance numbers are legible. It came in a cloth sack inside an ornate box. The fake's "leather" appears to be plastic glued and sewn onto flimsy hardware. The stitching is imprecise, some threads are loose, and you can't make out "Italy" on the label. Its decorative piping resembles a shoelace. It came without packaging.
Sneaker
"This is one of the best counterfeits I've ever seen," said Ed Haddad, a vice president at New Balance. The real shoe has more marks identifying it as New Balance, including embedded data decipherable only with a special reader. Its insole is vented and the shoe's bottom is more intricate. The "N" on the fake looks sewn on as an afterthought.
Electrical cord
Of the 21 billion UL marks placed on products annually, very few are fakes, says John Drengenberg, consumer affairs manager at Underwriters Laboratories. Most fake labels are on high-volume, low-cost items such as night-lights, extension cords, and power strips. The real strip bears a holographic label; the fake one has a printed "UL" label that the Chamber of Commerce identified as fake.
MP3 player
The fake 6GB player bears an uncanny resemblance to an Apple Nano. But it's slightly thicker, its screen is not as bright, it doesn't work with iTunes, and it has an On/Off button where the Nano's Hold button is. It uses a generic operating system with a cartoonlike display. Its "click wheel" is a crude jog dial; its headphones are inferior in sound quality. But the knockoff has an FM radio and a voice recorder, which no iPod has.
Diabetic strip
Counterfeiters added a finger, made "One Touch" two words, and changed its typeface. In 2006, Lifescan found erratic results in counterfeit kits. Incorrect results could lead to serious complications. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration saw counterfeit-drug investigations rise to 54 in the year ending Sept. 30, 2006.
Jeans
Clues to a Baby Phat fake can include stitching that lacks details, an atypical finish, and missing nameplates or leather accents. Hangtags may be flimsier, with words that are printed, not embossed. Jeans are a favorite target of counterfeiters. Other jeans may be missing logos or have loose threads.
Sunglasses
Knockoffs like these Oakleys might not provide protection against ultraviolet rays and might not be impact resistant, which could expose the wearer to eye injuries.
Tote
The real Gucci has leather trim, with nice fit and finish. ID tags and quality-assurance numbers are legible. It came in a cloth sack inside an ornate box. The fake's "leather" appears to be plastic glued and sewn onto flimsy hardware. The stitching is imprecise, some threads are loose, and you can't make out "Italy" on the label. Its decorative piping resembles a shoelace. It came without packaging.
Sneaker
"This is one of the best counterfeits I've ever seen," said Ed Haddad, a vice president at New Balance. The real shoe has more marks identifying it as New Balance, including embedded data decipherable only with a special reader. Its insole is vented and the shoe's bottom is more intricate. The "N" on the fake looks sewn on as an afterthought.
