Almost all luxury brands have joined the digital revolution and are now selling online.

It is no secret that luxury brands’ sales are growing much faster online than in physical retail, and online marketing is the way to appeal to modern affluent consumers and influencers. The luxury goods industry is especially susceptible to counterfeit products and unauthorized sales that may result in lost revenue and brand damage caused by skepticism among luxury consumers and low quality fakes.

Although many luxury brand owners have taken steps for protecting their intellectual property rights, often through the court systems, the counterfeit market is booming rapidly, retailing fake goods such as handbags, fashion, watches and many more.

The online counterfeit industry now utilizes various media platforms, including social messaging networks that are more difficult to track. Fake watches or handbags are now sold on Instagram and WhatsApp. Many shady retailers post products on Facebook, and complete a transaction by directing buyers to a landing page or through private messaging apps.