Getting the Real Goods on Cyber Monday

Think you’ve found a great deal on a name brand item to give as a gift for the holidays? Be wary. Bargain hunters may find themselves searching for discounts on a website that is actually hawking counterfeit items.  A recent study by Neilsen and MarkMonitor, an online brand protection company, found that about one in five online bargain hunters in the U.S. and Europe had mistakenly shopped for counterfeit items.

The study notes that sites selling the fake products appear professional and often draw from the brand’s most recent advertising campaign. The study, which was conducted between July 2011 and March 2012, found that for every one shopper searching for fake goods, 20 other shoppers were seeking bargains. Most counterfeit goods, the study said, are priced to appear as legitimate goods on sale offering 25 to 50 percent discounts, thus duping the consumer.

So how do you know if you are buying a real name brand product? The BBB suggests consumers follow these steps:

• Look for a contact page with a physical address and phone number for the company selling the items and also check to see who owns a website. Be cautious about buying items from websites that are private.
• Insure payment information is secure by checking in the lower right corner of the website for the lock symbol and for the “s” in the https:// address.
• Use a credit card to pay for online purchases, which allows you to dispute charges.
• Search for a BBB seal of approval on the website.