Counterfeit Products - How to Tell if it's Real or Fake

The selling of counterfeit products has become one of the biggest and most profitable illegal businesses in the world. Even with authorities employing entire task forces dedicated to eroding piracy, it's an epidemic that will never fully subside, especially with online shopping making it easier for counterfeiters to sell their shoddy merchandise without the scrutiny that comes with meeting their customers face-to-face.

Common counterfeited items include everything from designer clothes to computer software to pharmaceuticals. And trust us, spotting these phony items is a lot trickier than you think. Here are 10 commonly counterfeited products and some tips that will help you spot a fake. And remember: buyer beware.

No.10 Adobe Photoshop

Some blame major software developers like Adobe for the glut of pirated material sold on the black market, a by-product of their astronomical prices. But even though they may be asking for it, those hefty price tags don't make counterfeiting right.

What to watch out for: Adobe Photoshop is one of the most commonly pirated programs, with fake copies missing warranty cards and littered with malfunctioning features like keyboard shortcuts that don't work. Also, look for the serial number that's usually printed on the CD case or the CD itself, and make sure there are no spelling mistakes on the box that it comes in.

No.9 Dolce & Gabbana Sunglasses

For some reason, consumers are a lot more willing to accept the idea of buying counterfeit sunglasses more so than any other product. But that doesn't make it OK, especially for designers like Dolce & Gabbana who've lost millions of dollars in revenue thanks to the selling of shoddy replicas.

What to watch out for: Real D&G sunglasses will come in-box with a protective cover as well as a cleaning cloth and an information booklet. They should also have product codes and model numbers on the inside of the glasses.

No.8 Tiffany Jewelry

Before you tell your girlfriend that you bought her a real Tiffany bracelet for your two-week anniversary (slow down buddy!) make sure you weren't duped by one of the many counterfeiters selling fake Tiffany jewelry online and off.

What to watch out for: A Tiffany piece will never go on sale. Also, all Tiffany pieces show impeccable workmanship and are stamped with the date the piece was trademarked, the Tiffany logo and the metal content, all in that order.

No.7 Viagra

The business of counterfeit pharmaceuticals is booming and according to Pfizer no drug is as commonly counterfeited as Viagra. In 2007 alone, 74% of seized tablets were Viagra, an alarming statistic considering that phony pills could cause a litany of dangerous side effects.

What to watch out for: The No. 1 rule when buying Viagra is avoid online shopping; the internet is like the Wild West when it comes to counterfeit drugs. If the pills are drastically cheaper and the color, shape and imprinting seem off, then you're likely looking at a fake.

No.6 Rolex Watches

Watches are another oft-counterfeited product, because their many intricacies are barely detectable, making it easy to dupe paying customers. Rolex watches, in particular, are a favorite of counterfeiters, and can be just as easily sold online as on any New York street corner.

What to watch out for: Some key differences between phonies and the real thing include the hand movement, which should be smooth and not jerky if it's real and, if there's a glass back, it must be sapphire glass. If water smears instead of beading up, it's regular glass and thus fake. And perhaps most importantly: Real Rolex watches don't tick.

No.5 Louis Vuitton Bags

Handbags are probably the most counterfeited item in the world, and in 2007 accounted for 7% of all counterfeit items seized in the U.S. Most ubiquitous of all are Louis Vuitton bags, whose shoddy doppelgangers can be purchased anywhere from Canal Street in Manhattan to downtown L.A.'s seedy fashion district.

What to watch out for: Just remember that all authentic LV bags should have a date code and a serial number. Stitching should be perfectly symmetrical and aligned and the iconic logo should not be cut off or used as a background.

No.4 Nokia Cell Phones

Knock-off cell phones have been ubiquitous for some time and although spotting a phony iPhone may be simple, older cell models are harder to differentiate. In 2008, New York authorities seized 20,000 counterfeit cell phones; models that ranged from LG to Nokia.

What to watch out for: Nokia knock-offs are particularly common, so keep an eye out for the following: All Nokia phones should come with a 12-month limited-warranty sticker, a tamper-proof label at the back and the NTC logo and type acceptance number. On the battery, the hologram label must reflect the Nokia connecting hands at an angle and the original enhancement logo at another angle.

No.3 Rechargeable Batteries

Although buying a pair of shoddy batteries may not seem like the biggest deal at first, counterfeit batteries can be fire hazards and have a tendency to short circuit whatever device you attempt to power.

What to watch out for: Rechargeable batteries, in particular, are big on the black market, so beware of faded colors, loose plastic covers, misspellings of brand names, and badly constructed packaging.

No.2 Reebok NFL Jerseys

NFL jerseys are big business, so it's no surprise that knock-offs are a hot commodity on the black market.

What to watch out for: Some surefire ways to spot phonies include the location and quality of the NFL hologram on the tag. If the colors don't pop, it's most likely a fake. Also don't be afraid to touch the jersey. If the numbers are bubbly and shiny instead of smooth and matte, ditch it. And once again, make sure to look at the stitching; shoddy, uneven stitching is usually the first sign that a high-end article of clothing isn't legit.

No.1 Adidas Footwear

In 2007, adidas claimed that $7 million worth of counterfeit footwear bearing the German sporting good manufacturer's name was seized by government agencies worldwide.

What to watch out for: To spot a counterfeit pair of adidas shoes (and trust us, they're out there) look at the way the extra laces are packed. If they're packed loosely in plastic instead of rolled tightly and sealed, the shoes are most likely fake. All adidas shoes also come with two separate serial numbers, one for each shoe. If the serial numbers match, the shoes are fake. And of course, keep an eye out for any loose, uneven stitching, a surefire sign that the shoes are indeed counterfeit.