Look for price comparisons and know what the product is worth. If a third-party retailer is selling a product for well below its established price, that is a sign that the product could be fake. Even small discounts could be an indicator as a counterfeiter might charge only a little under the retail price to trick customers.

If the price is too good to be true, it probably is. But there are other warning signs to consider, like if a hard-to-find product is suddenly abundantly available from an online seller. 

Scan through the customer reviews on a particular product or seller and notice whether buyers generally seem satisfied or dissatisfied. However, also remember that reviews, like products, can be fake, so use your best judgment and don’t rely on this method alone.

Companies often publish lists of authorized retailers of their products. If you are unsure whether the product comes from a legitimate distributor, ask the seller for proof.

Avoid making an online purchase if you are uncomfortable with the security of your transaction. When shopping online, make sure that your payments are done through websites that start with “https://” and a lock symbol on your browser. 

Make sure you know who the seller is. Look for their external information like their physical address and phone number so that if you have questions or concerns about your purchase, you know where to reach them. Just because the seller “looks legit” does not mean the product they are selling is legit. When a seller lists a product and it says “fulfilled by,” it does not mean “sold by.” This is a sign that a product could be fake and the seller is not a distributor of the product that you are looking for.

If you are buying from second-hand websites such as eBay, Amazon or Etsy, you have the option to send a message to the seller and ask for pictures of the product. Feel free to even ask for specific angles. If they comply, it’s a good sign. But if they send minimal pictures or do not send pictures at all, do not risk it. You can also do a reverse image search in a search engine to make sure those photos aren’t pulled from somewhere else.

Make sure before you go shopping online for a particular product that you’re familiar with the appearance of the product and any specific details about the product. Also make sure to carefully read the description posted by the seller. It’s better to be prepared before going shopping online so you can spot a fake before it’s too late. 

Many businesses abroad offer products that are unavailable or hard to find at home. But, in some foreign markets, counterfeit items are more prevalent. So be careful when ordering products from outside the United States. The U.S. Department of State publishes alerts on counterfeits that are appearing in other countries. 

Merchants who sell counterfeit goods usually do not share their sales with financial authorities. The total price you will be paying may be cheaper than it should be, but this isn’t necessarily a good thing. If the price does not reflect the required sales tax in states that require it, you could be buying a fake product. Protecting yourself might mean heading to a brick-and-mortar store to shop, and if that’s the case, here are a few secrets shopping malls don’t want you to know. 

More from The Active Times:

Reasons Why You Should Do Your Black Friday Shopping Online 

Ways You’re Being Rude Online 

How to Save Big on Your Next Trip, According to Travel Agents

This Is the Rudest Thing You Can Do Online

Which Everyday Items You Should Have Appraised