Using internet resources to spot a fake site

Here's a few simple steps you can take to protect yourself from sites selling counterfeit UGGs.

1. Check the site's registration. All domain names have to provide basic company information at registration (address, name, phone number, country, etc.). Do a whois lookup on the site. Whois is the organization that collects all registration information on every domain. Red flags: Domains registered in China or have private registrations (there's no contact information listed, so only an illegitimate site would hide who they are, right?)

2. Check UGG Australia's authorized online retailer page. If it isn't on that holy grail of a page, then the site sells fakes.

3. Use the Wayback Machine to see how long a site has been live. Has it been around a year or less? If so, it sells fakes.

4. Check fraud forums for what other people say.

5. Using the company's address posted on it's website, use Google Maps to check it out with the street view option. Very cool, and if a business doesn't look for real than guess what it ain't!