Click below for the full infographic:

Questions:

• Have you ever bought a product online that you later found out was a counterfeit? 
• Based on the data in the infographic, are counterfeit products an issue that you should worry about? Provide at least two pieces of evidence.
• Are some products easier to fake than others? Which products do you need to be most suspicious about based on the data? 
• What are steps that you can take to ensure that you don't become a victim and purchase counterfeit products? 

Behind the numbers (Visual Capitalist)

While it’s easy to downplay the issue of fake goods, it turns out that the data is pretty clear on the subject – and counterfeit goods are finding their way into consumer hands in all sorts of ways.

More than 25% of consumers have unwillingly purchased non-genuine goods online – and according to a test by the U.S. Government Accountability Office, it was found that two of every five brand name products they bought online (through 3rd party retailers) were counterfeits.

Some of the most common knockoff goods were as follows:

• Makeup – 32%
• Skincare – 25%
• Supplements – 22%
• Medication – 16%

Aside from the direct impact on consumers and brands themselves, why does this matter?

About the Author

Tim Ranzetta

Tim's saving habits started at seven when a neighbor with a broken hip gave him a dog walking job. Her recovery, which took almost a year, resulted in Tim getting to know the bank tellers quite well (and accumulating a savings account balance of over $300!). His recent entrepreneurial adventures have included driving a shredding truck, analyzing executive compensation packages for Fortune 500 companies and helping families make better college financing decisions. After volunteering in 2010 to create and teach a personal finance program at Eastside College Prep in East Palo Alto, Tim saw firsthand the impact of an engaging and activity-based curriculum, which inspired him to start a new non-profit, Next Gen Personal Finance.