Crimestoppers
Fearless
There’s a lot at stake when you buy fake
More than ever, social media is being used by criminals to exploit people by selling fake products.
You’re online shopping for something specific.
For yourself or someone close to you.
You want your gift to be special and want it to work.
And you think you’ve got yourself a bargain.
Wrong. Buying fake products costs more than you realise.
Fake products are often dangerous and cause real harm.
Fake products definitely aren’t worth the money you paid.
You may not realise the implications that buying fake goods actually has.
Fake cosmetics aren’t good for you, they’re harmful.
You think that you're saving money and being savvy.
That others are doing it, so it must be okay.
You think that you’ve got a bargain on your favourite brand.
Buying fake products costs more than you think. There’s always a victim when you buy a fake product.
You put yourself and loved ones at risk when you use fake goods.
Do you know who's sourcing and selling fake goods? You can tell us what you know, and remain 100% anonymous - guaranteed. No one will ever know that you got in touch with us.
Did you know that fake cosmetics are harmful, and even toxic?
Every time you buy fake cosmetics, you're taking a chance with:
- Allergic reactions
- Acne and eczema
- Skin rashes and infections
- Poisoning
What pushes people to buy fake beauty and hygiene products?
- Thinking they’ve got a bargain
- Keeping up with social trends
- Following influencers
- Not realising they’ve bought a fake
Buying fakes is hazardous to health.
Your buying habits can impact you, your loves ones, your community and the wider world.
Did you know buying fake goods:
- Contributes to 80,500 job losses every year in the UK
Resulting in innocent people losing their jobs. - Contributes £9 billion annual loss to the UK economy
Money that could otherwise be used to fund crucial public services. - Impacts workers’ rights around the world
Working conditions are often horrific, and employment rights are close to non-existent. - Is linked to organised crime groups
Gangs complicit in human trafficking, child sexual exploitation and prostitution.
Did you know that if you deliberately buy a fake product, you’re also committing a crime.
Spotting the signs of fake beauty products
Criminals are becoming more skilful at finding new ways of ripping people off. Here are some of the signs to spot to protect yourself and your loved ones the next time you’re looking for a good deal:
- Price – too good to be true
If it’s too good to be true, then it’s likely to be a fake and harmful – and very poor value. - Dodgy websites and unusual place of sale
Untrusted websites and less well-known outlets are hotbeds for criminals selling fake goods. If someone is selling products off the back of a van, in a pub or club, it most likely isn’t real. - Spelling and grammatical errors
Criminals often miss the smaller details and make spelling mistakes on their websites and product packaging. - Differences in product or packaging
If the product you receive looks poor quality, and doesn’t match originals, it is likely to be a fake. - Missing information
If the product is missing information like the batch number or the period-after-opening (PAO) symbol, it means it’s fake.
Symbol signifies the product will remain stable and safe for human use 12 months after opening.
Spot genuine products:
- User reviews
Trusted websites will have verified user reviews, sometimes with pictures and videos too. Use these to get customer feedback on products. - Legitimate resellers
Make sure that you're buying from a licensed stockist. Reputable brands often display links to websites where you can buy their products.
When you spot the warning signs for fake products, protect yourself and those close to you by speaking up and telling us what you know.
As an independent charity, we keep you 100% anonymous - so you’ll never have to worry about anyone finding out you’ve spoken to us.
