| A leading UK newspaper tells today how one of its | | | | then decide to sell them, where all you do to |
| researchers bought 34 designer items on eBay and | | | | safeguard yourself is keep the product packaging and |
| only one was real. The news was about major | | | | proof of purchase. |
| companies claiming damages from eBay for | | | | Among the most heavily faked names on eBay are |
| counterfeit sales of its goods allegedly taking place at | | | | Cartier, Tiffany & Co., Louis Vuitton. I personally |
| the auction site. | | | | wouldn't even consider buying those items specifically |
| It all gets eBay a bad name, and also threatens the | | | | to resell on eBay. But if you do decide to purchase |
| reputation of genuine sellers on eBay. That means you, | | | | such items, be sure to get a receipt from the seller and |
| it also means me! | | | | make sure the receipt has a valid name and address |
| It's very easy to fall victim to buying a fake to resell on | | | | for you to give eBay and the police should that item |
| eBay, usually innocently as where an auction company | | | | later prove 'iffy'.eBay is doing all it can to limit the |
| sells items it believes are genuine, only they're not. It's | | | | number of dodgy items at its site, alongside many |
| also easy to become a victim as a result of buying | | | | other organisations also working hard to protect the |
| from criminals, however plausible those people might | | | | buying public. |
| be. | | | | A spokesperson for one of those organizations, the |
| But worry not because you can reduce your chance | | | | Anti-Counterfeiting Group, told reporters: "Counterfeiting |
| of buying fakes just by knowing which are the most | | | | has risen by more than 10,000 per cent in the past two |
| heavily faked items and making sure not to purchase | | | | decades globally, while in the UK the market is worth |
| these items purposely for resale. It's a bit different if | | | | at least £14 billion a year. We strongly advise |
| you buy these items as personal goods from the | | | | people not to buy any luxury goods on eBay. |
| original manufacturer or authorised representative and | | | | |