Do you feel like scams can be hard for you and your brand’s consumers to avoid during the holidays? You are not alone. We’ve compiled a list of 12 counterfeit scams to avoid this holiday season.

1. False Endorsements – Mock ups of celebrities and musicians wearing or promoting a product on social media. Unless the product is promoted directly from their official Facebook page, which you can verify by looking for a blue check mark next to the page name, then chances are the product is counterfeit
2. DM’s for link to purchase products – If the company selling the product isn’t willing to put the link to purchase in their advertisement, and asks you to send them a private message to purchase, chances are the product is a fake
3. Free Gift Cards – Many scammers will try to get your personal information by asking you to fill out a form in exchange for a free gift card. This tactic can be extremely dangerous and lead to identity theft this season
4. Phony Charities – Scammers with bad intentions take advantage of people in the giving spirit by creating fake charities on social media or crowdfunding sites. Make sure you double check the site to confirm it’s legitimate before donating
5. Non-Verified Forms of Payment – If the seller is asking you to wire them money, transfer money via prepaid debit cards, or through third parties, you’ll want to steer clear.
6. Holiday Phishing Scams – Don’t click the SPAM in your email that looks like it’s too good to be true. Chances are you could be downloading malware to your hard drive that helps hackers steal your personal information
7. Extremely Low Prices for Luxury Goods – Yes, some brands run amazing promotions over the holidays, but that Louis Vuitton you had your eye on is not on sale for $20. Always buy from verified websites, or sellers
8. Websites with Brand Name Variations – Some counterfeiters will trick consumers by buying a domain name with a one letter variation so slight that the average consumer wouldn’t be able to tell the difference. Make sure you triple check that the website you’re purchasing from is legitimate
9. Gift Card Fraud – Don’t buy any gift cards that already have the pin scratched off. It’s likely that the card number was already stolen and waiting for you to add money to it.
10. Fake Reviews – Check for broken English on reviews for products in different online marketplaces. Make sure that the reviews are coming from verified consumers and that you feel comfortable before purchasing
11. Photoshopped Product Photos – It’s easy for scammers to edit or steal photos to make their products look authentic. You can always ask a seller to send you an actual photo of the product they’re advertising so you can make sure it’s genuine
12. Repackaged Products with Fake Brands – If you recognize the product, but not the brand selling it, chances are it could be a fake. Sometimes there are more generic versions of the same product, but make sure to research the company you don’t recognize

CounterFind is here to help you protect your brand, it’s fans and, consumers from fake advertisements and products across online marketplaces all year round. Start 2019 off on the right foot with a brand protection partner you can trust.

Happy Holidays!