The Truth About Fake Products: Why They’re More Dangerous Than You Realize
Published on 4 April 2025
Counterfeits lurk everywhere – and the scariest part? They’re now indistinguishable from the real thing (Image by: Hazelwood from Pexels)
“I’ve realized that counterfeit goods go much deeper than fake Louis Vuitton bags – they touch every aspect of our lives and can even affect our health and well-being” – （Vikas R Jain, CEO of Acviss)
We’ve all been there—spotting a deal that seems too good to be true but too tempting to resist. After a battle between logic and desire, you finally give in and make the purchase. Now, with the product in your hands, it looks and feels like the real deal… but you can’t shake the thought: “Is this actually authentic?”.
But here’s the uncomfortable truth: counterfeit products are everywhere, and they’re getting harder to spot. From online marketplaces to the shelves of retailers, fake goods have infiltrated every corner of commerce. Shockingly, Brand Protection Agency (2023) reveals that nearly 1 in 4 products sold online may be counterfeit, meaning your next ‘great deal’ has a 27% chance of being fake. What’s worse? Many of these fakes are so well-made that even experts struggle to tell them apart from the real thing.
Fake Products, Real Consequences: When Counterfeits Turn Deadly
Counterfeit purchases don’t just drain your wallet – they can cost lives (Image by: Shvets from Pexels)
The dangers of counterfeit products go far beyond just wasting your money. These fake items often bypass safety regulations, containing hazardous materials that can put your health at serious risk and in some cases causing fatalities. Documented cases reveal the horrifying dangers of counterfeit products:
The scariest part? You might not realize you’ve purchased a fake until it’s too late. That “great deal” could end up costing you much more than you bargained for – your safety, your health, or even your life.
Shop With Confidence: How to Spot Fakes in Seconds
That quick scan could be the difference between safety and tragedy (Image by: Kampus Productions from Pexels)
So, how can you protect yourself and your family from the dangers of counterfeit products? The good news is, technology like SmartKood is stepping up to help consumers fight back. Imagine being able to scan a product with your phone and instantly know if it’s genuine.
Maybe you’ll have to download some applications or make an account? Nope, you just need a smartphone with a camera. Thanks to advancements in traceability technologies, you can now verify the authenticity of products with just a simple scan. Here’s how it works: many brands are now using unique, tamper-proof labels powered by QR codes or RFID tags. When you scan these labels, you can access the product’s entire history—where it was made, what materials were used, and even how it traveled to the store shelf.
This isn’t just cool tech; it’s a game-changer for consumer safety. For example, parents can scan a code on baby formula to ensure it’s safe and meets strict quality standards. Homeowners can verify the authenticity of building materials to protect their investment and their family’s safety.
Even luxury brands are using cutting-edge tools like blockchain and spectral fingerprinting to ensure their products are genuine and preserve their value over time. But it’s not just about avoiding fakes—it’s about making smarter, more informed choices. These technologies empower you to shop with confidence, knowing that what you’re buying is real, safe, and ethically sourced. Plus, they help brands build trust with their customers, creating a win-win for everyone (except the counterfeiters, of course).
The bottom line? Counterfeit products are a growing problem, but you don’t have to be a victim. By staying informed and using the tools available to verify product authenticity, you can protect yourself and your family from the dangers of fake goods. So, the next time a too-good-to-be-true deal tempts you, make sure the seller is trusted and do look out for products that have protections like SmartKood QR.
Author: Chung Kai Foong, Team SmartKood.
Looking to enhance your supply chain visibility and product traceability? Ready to transform your supply chain? Learn how SmartKood can help your business stay competitive!
Sources referenced:
BBC. (2018). Fake cosmetics found to contain ‘toxic’ chemicals. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-45313747
Brand Protection Agency. (2023). The danger of counterfeit goods: Do consumers care?. https://www.brandprotection.ai/post/the-danger-of-counterfeit-goods-do-consumers-care
Chadwick, J. (2025). Urgent warning to iPhone users over dodgy charging adapters that can cause fatal electric shocks or house fires. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-14442623/iPhone-charging-adapters-electric-shocks-house-fires.html
Hazelwood, S. (2019). Assorted cosmetic lot [Photograph]. https://www.pexels.com/photo/assorted-cosmetic-lot-2536965/
Huaxia. (2024). 37 fake alcohol deaths reported in Türkiye’s Istanbul since Nov. https://english.news.cn/20241216/87e5059d986041008f58f2ad33ce4568/c.html
Jain, V. R. (2023). My Journey into the World of Counterfeit Products. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/my-journey-world-counterfeit-products-vikas-r-jain/
Kampus Productions. (2021). Person scanning QR code [Photograph]. https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-taking-photo-of-the-qr-code-7289717/
Shvets, A. (2020). Patient with IV line [Photograph]. https://www.pexels.com/photo/patient-with-iv-line-3845126/
Wise Eyes Optical. (n.d.). Dangers of Wearing Counterfeit Foreign-Made Contact Lenses. https://wiseeyesoptical.com/counterfeit-lens-dangers/