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About one-third of the e-commerce purchasers in India receive fake products.

These counterfeit products vary from computers & mobile phones to apparel and other fashion items. The fake items thus received become a cause for monetary loss for the buyer or the genuine brand. This is because if identified as a counterfeit, nearly 90% of consumers will return the products and get refunds. This whole situation also negatively impacts the reputation & goodwill of the original seller.

Of course, it remains that this huge number is only indicative of the cases wherein the consumers became aware that the products are counterfeit and accordingly took further steps. However, surely, there have been cases where counterfeit products were received and consumers were clueless.

So, how do you prevent yourselves from buying fake goods and what do you do when you receive one? We have got you covered with how to be able to deal with issues like this which can sour your online shopping experience.

Reasons for receiving fake products & preventive measures for them:

·   Fake websites and checking if they are genuine: There are many websites out there that are fake and scam consumers for money. Scammers are using a similar domain name, similar logos, etc., and setting up dummy sites that look genuine.

Here, consumers may receive a fake product, or not even receive it. In such cases, always double-check the domain name of the website. Make sure that the URL has a lock icon and begins with ‘https:/’ & not ‘http:/’.

·   Fake sellers and checking their ratings: If the website you use is genuine, the other reason for receiving a fake product can be a fake seller or a fraud by the courier company. Hence, before purchasing, always check the ratings and reviews about the seller.

·   Payment scams & ways to pay securely: As said before, scammers are creating fake websites, through such websites along with receiving fake products, payment scams can also be done.

Thus, consumers should take proper precautions for safe payment. They should avoid providing unnecessary information and should opt for secure payment gateways like a credit card, debit card, or net banking. Also, avoid making payments when using public networks.

Now that you know the reasons for receiving the products and the precautionary measures, here is what you can do when you receive a fake product.

What to do when you receive a fake product through online shopping?

·       Immediately contact customer support: When you receive a product and find it is fake, immediately contact the customer support provided by the website from where you made the purchase. So, go ahead, make a call or send an email with all the details about the product, date and time of payment, mode of payment, etc.

The customer support itself should get back to you after verification and solve the issue with a return & refund. If not, you are free to take the legal way

·       Send a legal notice to the seller: If the seller you contact with all the details doesn’t take any action, you can consult a consumer court lawyer and sent the seller a legal notice about the fake product.

The lawyer will draft for you a fool-proof legal notice that mentions details about the issue, the action that was required from the seller, their reply to the complaint, and the action that the buyer can take with that notice.

·       Go to the consumer court & file a case: Other than a legal notice, the other option with the buyer is to approach the consumer court and file a case against the seller. With a consumer case layer, the customer can then claim compensation.

Finally, remember that prevention is better than cure, so be informed, cautious, and aware when shopping online, also don’t be in a hurry check before you buy cause hurry causes worry.