The manufacturers of fake products often cut corners. By using outdated manufacturing processes and substituting key inputs, these fake products become unreliable and unsafe.
Recent lab tests on a sample of counterfeit Crocs show some of these dangers. The majority (60%) of tested footwear contained polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). These chemicals have been shown to cause lung, liver and skin cancer, and would have been introduced when a counterfeiter used a cheaper input during manufacture. These chemicals are not found in authentic Crocs.
Unfortunately, its not just footwear that faces this problem. Counterfeiting is rife in many industries, from cosmetics through to vehicle manufacture and repair. Companies and brands must be ever vigilant to minimise the risk of brand damage.
Read more at the SMCS Risk Blog Post