How To Spot Fake Merchandise Online
 

Here are some great tips to protect you from online fakes:
# Don't buy based on price alone. We all know that if the price is too good to be true, it probably is. Not all knockoffs sell for cheap, however. High prices can add a sense of legitimacy, and many knockoff sellers know this. Just because the price is high doesn't mean it's authentic.

# Pictures are not always worth a thousand words. If a seller only has a few pictures, and won't share more, you know you're dealing with someone illegitimate. Anyone selling high-value goods -- used or new -- understands the importance of authenticity. If the merchant is selling something genuine, they will have nothing to hide.

# Read the fine print. Some etailers or auction sellers will lure you in with words that you're likely to search for like "Chanel" or "Gucci". Many sites also use overkill -- "authentic," "genuine" and other enticing adjectives -- to describe their fashion items. It's only by reading carefully through the descriptions that you will see comments like "Inspired by..." to let you know that the merchandise isn't an exact copy (which then affords etailers immunity from trademark infringement.