FASHION
Look for the outlier
A low price alone is not a red flag second-hand. The Intellectual Property Office says to look for one far below similar listings, and for photos of labels, tags and sizes.
Check an itemWHAT UK GUIDANCE SAYS
Cheap copy,
real risk.
A "replica" is usually a fake with a friendlier name.
Check an item
LOOK TWICEbefore you pay
Counterfeit clothes can use poor materials and harmful chemicals, and counterfeit chargers have failed safety tests almost every time. UK guidance says the clues are in the price, the seller, the photos and how you pay.
At a glance
- Compare the price
- Read the seller
- Pay on the platform
- Four checks, one minute
397 of 400
Counterfeit chargers that failed a basic safety test
Investigators bought 400 counterfeit chargers for one well-known phone brand online, from suppliers around the world. All but three failed a basic safety test, the Chartered Trading Standards Institute reported in 2016.
CHARGER TEST · TRADING STANDARDS
$467 bn
Estimated trade in counterfeit goods, 2021
That was about 2.3% of total global imports. Clothing, footwear, leather goods and electronics remain top targets, and fakes turn up in nearly 50 of 96 product categories.
GLOBAL TRADE · OECD AND EUIPO
TWO NUMBERS WORTH KNOWING
Fakes are common,
and some are dangerous.
One figure from a UK safety test,
one on the size of the global trade.
The OECD and EUIPO found that shipments of fewer than 10 items made up 79% of seizures in 2020-21, up from 61% in 2017-19: fakes increasingly travel as small parcels sent straight to buyers.
A QUICK ITEM CHECK
What are you
about to buy?
Pick an item to see what UK guidance says to check first. The bar shows how much care the guidance asks for.
Based on UK Intellectual Property Office, Office for Product Safety and Standards and Electrical Safety First guidance. General information, not legal advice.
THE SHORT ANSWER
Judge the listing,
not just the price.
Fakes turn up new and second-hand.
The same few checks catch most of them.
General information only, not financial advice. For advice on your own situation, speak to a regulated financial adviser or a free money-advice service.
CHARGERS
Buy the plug you trust
Electrical Safety First says counterfeit USB chargers may carry a higher risk of exploding or catching fire. Buy from a reputable retailer, not an unknown third-party seller.
See the numbers
SECOND-HAND
Check it in your hands
The Office for Product Safety and Standards advises checking an item in person where you can, checking for recalls, and asking whether it has been modified.
Four checks
FOUR CHECKS BEFORE YOU PAY
A minute now,
fewer regrets later.
These come from the Intellectual Property Office's 2026 guidance on second-hand fashion and from UK product safety advice. None needs special knowledge.
Compare the price
Look at other listings for the same item in similar condition. A price far below them is worth a closer look.
Read the seller
Check feedback and whether their listings look consistent. New sellers with detailed, original photos who answer questions are a good sign.
Match photos to words
Ask for photos of labels, tags and any codes. A listing that says perfect condition but shows otherwise is a warning sign.
Pay inside the platform
Be wary of anyone asking you to pay outside the platform's own payment system, which is where buyer protection usually sits.
IF YOU THINK IT IS FAKE
Report it,
then check it.
The IPO says to report a suspect listing through the platform's own reporting tool, and to inspect an item as soon as it arrives, photographing labels, logos and stitching as evidence. Bought in person? Return it to the seller and ask for a refund.
Your local Trading Standards service enforces the criminal law on counterfeits. You can report sellers through Citizens Advice on 0800 144 8848, or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Questions
Questions people ask
Is a cheap second-hand price a sign of a fake?
Not on its own. The IPO says good-value prices are normal second-hand; the warning sign is a price significantly lower than other listings for the same item in similar condition.
Why are fake chargers a particular worry?
Electrical Safety First says substandard or counterfeit USB chargers may present a higher risk of exploding or catching fire, and can damage the device. In a 2016 trading standards test, 397 of 400 counterfeit chargers failed a basic safety test.
What can harm me in fake clothes?
The IPO says counterfeit clothes, shoes and accessories use inferior materials and poor stitching and may contain harmful chemicals.
What should I photograph if an item looks fake?
The IPO suggests clear, close-up photos of the labels, logos and craftsmanship, taken as soon as the item arrives, so the platform can investigate.
Who do I tell about a seller of fakes?
Report the listing to the platform, and contact your local Trading Standards via Citizens Advice on 0800 144 8848. To stay anonymous, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Sources
Where the facts come from
- GOV.UK (Intellectual Property Office): How to spot fake fashion when shopping second-hand
- GOV.UK (Office for Product Safety and Standards): Consumer products, buying second-hand goods
- Electrical Safety First: USB chargers usage and safety
- Chartered Trading Standards Institute: Warning over fake chargers and second-hand electrics (2016)
- OECD and EUIPO: Mapping Global Trade in Fakes 2025, executive summary (PDF)
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