It took until 2011 but finally...

...it seems like someone's caught on. Actually, I think everyone's caught on. The consumer realizes that she has to be careful when buying UGG boots, the major search engines (Google, Bing and Yahoo) have done a good job of cleaning up their act and not promote fake ugg boot sites, and importantly the manufacturer down a lot to shut down the factories in China making the fake product. But we're not out of the woods yet! As long as something is successful, it will be copied. A lot of the fakes have moved to Facebook, where they can still get away with selling their shoddy merchandise.

Anybody seen any new methods the counterfeiters are using to promote their fake UGG boots?

Things to look for on Google Adwords

Here's a few tips you can use when looking at an Adwords ad to tell if you have a legitimate site or not. 


Adwords ads are, by the way, the sponsored links (paid listings) on Google located on the top of a search page in a light pink background and also on the right hand column of the screen.

1. Come back in a few days to check if the site is still listed. Can't find the site? Wonder why. They've probably been removed by Google.

2. Google and Deckers (manufacturer of the UGG Australia brand) have gotten together and white-listed the sites that can actually use the word 'UGG' in the link and text of all adwords ads. So you'll see advertisers use the word UGG with something directly before or after it such as:

• AusUGG boots
• UJJ
• U99
• VGG
• OfficialU®GG boots

3. Deep discounts = counterfeit almost always. check first before buying.


4. Poor English or foreign language: Some advertiser keeps selling Bottes de Neige (snow boots in French). Why Google doesn't shut this guy down I'll never know. Many different ads pop up with the is bit of French in it and then disappear from the American Google site. (this site circumvents #2 above because it's registered in Australia. See my post from 10/1/2009 for more info)

5. Snow boots is a term not used in conjunction with UGG Australia products by the manufacturer, retailers or customers. If you see this term, rest assured the site sells counterfeit.


WHEN IN DOUBT ALWAYS CONSULT UGGAUSTRALIA.COM's AUTHORIZED ONLINE RETAILER PAGE:
http://www.uggaustralia.com/retailstores/onlinestores.aspx?p=aor

Faked in China

A fantastic story about a Reuters report who knowingly ordered a fake handbag on the internet and followed the trail back to China.

Remember: Buying counterfeit = supporting organized crime

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/us_china_counterfeit

Photos from the story:

http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/woman-looks-fake-foreign-brand-handbags-stall-Beijing-May-8/photo//101026/ids_photos_ts/r999319530.jpg//s:/nm/us_china_counterfeit;_ylt=AlKH0iJtJ_xdJB7ZZh9hrk4h2.cA;_ylu=X3oDMTE5bGo3a21yBHBvcwMxBHNlYwN5bl9yX3RvcF9waG90bwRzbGsDYXdvbWFubG9va3Nh

The Brits finally get it right!

Finally, the authorities are cracking down on scammer websites selling fake uggs in the UK. They've shut down over 1200 sites, all using the co.uk domain extension, that have proven to sell fakes. HATS OFF TO YOU! 

Just go to google.co.uk, search ugg boots, and try to click on a link that ends in co.uk. You'll get a broken link. 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8392600.stm

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/police-close-scam-websites-targeting-christmas-shoppers-1833477.html

Keywords to look out for

If you visit a site and suspect it deals in fake ugg boots, here's a few keywords used to dupe customers so look for out for them. See any of these and you'll know you've found a site that sells fakes.

• 'factory direct' - The only way to get UGGs is from the manufacturer or from an authorized dealer. Check the UGG Australia site for authorized dealers. None of them claim to be factory direct.

• 'outlet' - UGG has an outlet store in Calabazas, CA, I believe. But online? no such thing. so if you see a site that claims to be an outlet, it really just sells fakes.

• 'surprise gift' - wonder if that surprise is your credit card bill getting run up by the folks who just stole your credit card number? 

And always remember, if the price looks too good to be true (especially before Christmas), it most likely is.

When categories are used to promote products

Another way to detect a fake site: On the left navigation bar, if you see style names as headers instead of product categories (ladies boots, mens slippers, etc.) like you see on most websites, you're looking at a site that sells fakes. Check out this screen shot of the left navigation bar on a site that sells fakes:

Ever seen this sheep image on a site?

Don't know why but fake ugg boot sites love this poor little sheep picture. I often wondered how they plan on backing up their 'guarantee', since most of these boots aren't real sheepskin!