How to Tell if a Designer Bag Is Fake: 7 Dead Give Aways (2024)

FAQs

Do fake designer bags have serial numbers? ›

Check to see if your bag has an inside tag with a brand name and a serial number on it (because almost all authentic purses will). The inside tags should be hand-stitched or stamped into the leather. In some cases, designers also include authenticity labels on the outside of the bag.

Louis Vuitton does not come with any authenticity cards. In order to tell if the bag is real, manufacturer places a unique stamp with a place and date code on the inside of the purse. Nowadays LV bags are not only produced in France, but also in the USA, Italy, Switzerland, Germany and Spain.

Fake bags carry no status and won't impress anyone. In fact, because the vast majority of fakes are relatively easy to spot by anyone who owns the real thing, many people will know you are carrying a fake.

In the U.S., it's illegal for a person to sell counterfeit merchandise. Both state and federal laws prohibit this type of conduct.

While the placement of these date codes may vary, most bags will feature the serial code sticker placed directly on the lining. They are typically placed in corners, either facing up or down. Alternatively, they are adhered to a small leather tab inside the bag, also usually found in the corner.

Although Louis Vuitton may use different linings for different collections, Monogram canvas bags are generally lined in brown cotton and Damier Ebene Canvas bags are historically lined in red microfiber. But if you're considering a specific bag, do your research.

Authentic LV bags will always have a yellow-mustard colour stitching, whereas on replica bags, it is often a bright yellow stitching that is used. The stitching on most classic Louis Vuitton bags is white thread made from linen that is later dyed yellow and reinforced with beeswax.

Contrary to popular belief, Louis Vuitton handbags (excluding luggage and rare limited edition pieces) do not have serial numbers. Rather, Louis Vuitton handbags have "date codes" stamped either on interior tags or directly on the interior linings.

She estimates that about 75% to 80% of the bags she sees are indeed fake. While Houston says there are a multitude of factors that need to be explored when determining whether or not a handbag is genuine, she offered these tips for those wondering if their designer find is the real thing: 1. Check the hardware.

Can you sue someone for selling a fake bag? ›

Counterfeit Goods and Injury Lawsuits

When you get hurt because of a counterfeit good, there's a good chance that anyone who manufactures, sells, distributes, or even promotes the product has legal liability. Even without an injury, you may have a claim for fraud.

Hold the bill up to a light to check for a watermark. A watermark bearing the image of the person whose portrait is on the bill can be found on all $10, $20, $50, and $100 bills series 1996 and later, and on $5 bills series 1999 and later.

It is illegal to purchase counterfeit goods. Bringing them into the United States may result in civil or criminal penalties and purchasing counterfeit goods often supports criminal activities, such as forced labor or human trafficking.

Example 1: A counterfeit Rolex visually mimics an authentic Rolex, as it has a brand name and logo on the product. A knockoff Rolex has a nearly identical design, but doesn't have a trademark or logo on the product.

Knockoff products are not necessarily illegal and the customer would not generally face law enforcement if they decide to resell it. They are sold in shops, online and in markets. As a customer yourself, if you are concerned that what you are buying may not be real, then check the price.

If your bag has a 7 digit serial number, the year of production is determined by the first digit (i.e. 6XXXXXX corresponds to 2000-2002.) If the serial number on a bag does not follow the Chanel formula or has more than 8 digits it is most certainly a fake.

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A high-end designer item will have impeccable, minimally visible stitching that appears as straight as possible. Copies often use less stitching, resulting in a more visible and jagged-looking appearance. Counterfeit merchandise often has crooked or messy stitching and stray threads hanging off the item.

Why do designer bags have serial numbers? ›

That said, just because an item has a date code does not guarantee that it's authentic since many counterfeit items have date codes. A valid and properly stamped date code or serial number is just one of many parameters that are checked to guarantee the authenticity of a designer handbag.

Boxes and dust bags.

My practice is to store my bags in dust bags but never in boxes. A handbag in a dust bag will be protected from dust accumulation and will still be able to breathe. However, storing bags in a box prevents the circulation of air and can cause the leather to deteriorate over time.

This leather is untreated and develops a patina (darker color) over time. This means that used Louis Vuitton handbags should show some color change in their handles from the natural wear from hands.

Yes, it is very common for Louis Vuitton items to have upside down LV logos because their leather goods are often made with one continuous piece of leather. Some handbag styles, like the Louis Vuitton Speedy, use one large piece of leather wrapped round the exterior, resulting in upside down LV logos.

Hardware. Most counterfeit Louis Vuitton handbags have very low quality hardware. Sometimes the hardware will be made from coloured plastic or coated low-quality metal. Classically, Louis Vuitton hardware is created from shiny golden brass and shiny silvery metal.

In all the authentic LV bags there is a heat stamp that acts as a mark of authentication. Unlike Chanel, which has authenticity cards that come with the purchase, these heat stamps are placed on the inside of a Louis Vuitton purse.

The trademark heat stamp is the embossed Louis Vuitton label that will be on the outside or inside of a Louis Vuitton bag or accessory. If inside, the stamp can be found on the lining or, in newer styles, on an interior leather or cloth tag; if outside, it can be found on the Vachetta trim, detailing, or strap.

France. A0, A1, A2, AA, AAS (Special Order), AH, AN, AR, AS, BA, BJ, BU, DR, DU, DR, DT, CO, CT, CX, ET, FL, LA, LW, MB, MI, NO, RA, RI, SA, SD, SF, SL, SN, SP, SR, TA, TJ, TH, TN, TR, TS, VI, VX.

Features: Two letters followed by four digits. The first two letters represent the factory location. The first and third numbers represent the month and the second and forth numbers represent the year. For example, “AR1004” would indicate that the bag was made in France in October of 2004.

If you've bought a Louis Vuitton item produced after the 1st March 2021, the item will likely have an RFID tag inside of it. However, these microchips are tiny, they're small in size and thin as paper, they are also often placed under the lining of the bag and therefore cannot be seen.

Are fakes made in the same factory? ›

Speaking to state of counterfeit goods – those that utilize a trademark that is “identical with, or substantially indistinguishable from” a genuine registered trademark and that is used on the same class of goods as the registered mark – Ma elaborated, saying, “They are made in exactly the same factories, with exactly ...

DHgate is another website in a long list of companies taking advantage of the relative ease of online IP infringing. The site, like many other online marketplaces, hosts a huge amount of products, many of which are counterfeit. The website is Chinese-owned, but that doesn't mean they exist outside of the law.

Selling fake and counterfeit designer merchandise such as Louis Vuitton, Prada, Tiffany, Adidas, or Nike can get your arrested and charged with felonies punishable by state prison time, steep fines, and a huge restitution bill.

If you suspect that someone is producing or selling counterfeit goods, you can submit a report online to the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center. Other federal agencies that investigate reports of counterfeit goods include: The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Much like other social media platforms who experience similar problems with counterfeit and copyright infringement, Facebook's policies and Terms of Use strictly prohibit the advertisem*nt, promotion or facilitation of the sale of counterfeit goods.

The counterfeit portrait is usually lifeless and flat. Details merge into the background which is often too dark or mottled. On a genuine bill, the saw-tooth points of the Federal Reserve and Treasury seals are clear, distinct, and sharp. The counterfeit seals may have uneven, blunt, or broken saw-tooth points.

Check to see if your bag has an inside tag with a brand name and a serial number on it (because almost all authentic purses will). The inside tags should be hand-stitched or stamped into the leather. In some cases, designers also include authenticity labels on the outside of the bag.

Do fake bags have authenticity cards? ›

Certain features of the card may be unique to the brand, such as a trim on the outside, a specific font, or the type used for the specific bag number. However, certain brands don't come with authenticity cards at all, including Hermes and Louis Vuitton, but fakes may include them regardless.

Almost 90% of replica designer bags in the world are from China. You can find many Chinese suppliers specializing in replica designer bags easily, including manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, etc. The replica designer bags industry has been around in China for a long time.

If the bag is purportedly a newer model, and doesn't have a tag, this is an instant red flag of counterfeit. Furthermore, since 2016/2017 and through 2021, in addition to the serial number tag, Gucci began using QR codes, located on a black fabric tag inside the bag to help fight against counterfeiters.

Contrary to popular belief, Louis Vuitton handbags (excluding luggage and rare limited edition pieces) do not have serial numbers. Rather, Louis Vuitton handbags have "date codes" stamped either on interior tags or directly on the interior linings.

The Gucci Serial Number. Modern Gucci handbags all feature two sets of numbers on a leather tab inside the bag. While these numbers are commonly referred to as a serial number, they're a style and supplier number. You can locate the leather tag inside the handbag, near the interior zipped pocket.

A visually similar offering by Gucci is the inclusion of a standard serial number. This non-unique number will appear on many bags from the same batch – or series. You can find this 10-13 digit number on the semi-rectangular leather tab located inside of Gucci bags, usually near the interior zipped pocket.

Gucci uses metal YKK zips and these high-quality zips are an important hallmark of an authentic Gucci handbag.

If the bag has a QR Code on it, the code can be faked by simply taking a photographic scan of a real Gucci bag.

Real Gucci handbags have a heat stamp or label stitched on the interior that displays the brand name with the registered trademark and the words “Made in Italy.” The underside of this label shows the bag's serial number or production code, which is usually two sets of 6-digit numbers (for new models).