Counterfeit Detection
Counterfeit detection scans major marketplaces to find knockoff products using your brand, images, or designs.
The Counterfeit Problem
Counterfeit products on marketplaces:
- Steal your sales - Customers buy the fake instead
- Damage your reputation - Low-quality fakes reflect on you
- Confuse customers - They can't tell real from fake
- Undercut your pricing - Fakes are always cheaper
- Violate your trademarks - Illegal use of your brand
Marketplaces We Scan
| Marketplace | Text Search | Image Search |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | ✅ | ✅ |
| eBay | ✅ | ✅ |
| Walmart | ✅ | - |
| Etsy | ✅ | - |
| AliExpress | ✅ | ✅ |
| Google Shopping | ✅ | ✅ |
| Google Lens | - | ✅ |
How Detection Works
Product Selection
We scan your products looking for counterfeits:
- Best sellers (highest risk)
- Unique designs
- Products with brand names
- Items with distinctive images
Text-Based Search
We search marketplaces for:
- Your exact product titles
- Your brand name
- Key product descriptors
- Common misspellings
Image-Based Search
Using Google Lens and reverse image search:
- Upload your product images
- Find visual matches anywhere online
- Catch counterfeits even with different titles
Threat Analysis
For each potential match, we analyze:
| Factor | What We Check |
|---|---|
| Price | Suspiciously low? |
| Seller | New, unverified, low ratings? |
| Images | Exactly your photos? Similar? |
| Title | Copying your product name? |
| Description | Using your text? |
| Brand claims | Claiming to be you? |
Confidence Scoring
Each threat gets a score:
| Score | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 80-100% | Definite counterfeit |
| 60-79% | Very likely counterfeit |
| 40-59% | Suspicious, investigate |
| Under 40% | Probably legitimate similar product |
Viewing Results
Counterfeit Listings Page
Shows all detected threats:
- Marketplace and listing URL
- Product matched to
- Confidence score
- Seller information
- Price comparison
- Status (active, removed, etc.)
Threat Details
For each listing:
- Full listing information
- Side-by-side comparison with your product
- Analysis breakdown
- Action options
Taking Action
Option 1: Report to Marketplace
Each marketplace has a reporting process:
| Marketplace | How to Report |
|---|---|
| Amazon | Brand Registry → Report a Violation |
| eBay | Report Item → Counterfeit |
| Walmart | Legal@walmart.com |
| Etsy | Report this item → Intellectual property |
We provide direct links and pre-filled information.
Option 2: DMCA Takedown
For copyright violations (your images, text):
- File a DMCA notice
- Use Store Shield's takedown feature (Enterprise)
- Host is legally required to remove
Option 3: Trademark Complaint
If they're using your brand name:
- Document the violation
- File with the marketplace
- Consider legal action for repeat offenders
Enabling Counterfeit Detection
Counterfeit detection requires an Enterprise plan.
- Go to Counterfeit Listings in the sidebar
- Toggle Enable Marketplace Scanning
- Select which products to scan
- Choose marketplaces to monitor
- Click Save
Scan Frequency
Scans run daily for your selected products. The first scan may take 24-48 hours to complete for large catalogs.
Understanding Results
True Counterfeits
Signs it's definitely a counterfeit:
- Exact copy of your images
- Using your brand name
- Price 50%+ lower than yours
- Seller has no legitimate connection to you
Gray Market
Potentially legitimate but concerning:
- Authorized products resold
- Regional products sold outside territory
- Overstock or returned items
Legitimate Competition
Not counterfeits, just similar:
- Different brand, similar product
- Generic products in your category
- Inspired-by products (not copies)
Best Practices
Focus on High-Risk Products
- Scan your best sellers first
- Unique/original designs
- Products with strong branding
- Items that are easy to fake
Regular Monitoring
- Review new threats weekly
- Act quickly on obvious counterfeits
- Track takedown success
Document Everything
- Screenshot violations
- Save listing URLs
- Record seller information
- Track your reports
Build Brand Registry
If you're on Amazon:
- Enroll in Amazon Brand Registry
- Enables better protection tools
- Faster takedown process
FAQ
Q: How long until counterfeits are found? A: Most are found within 24-48 hours. New listings may take a day to appear in search results.
Q: Can you automatically remove listings? A: We can file takedowns on your behalf (Enterprise), but marketplaces make the final decision.
Q: What if the same seller lists again? A: We continue monitoring. Repeat offenders can be reported to marketplace legal teams.
Q: Do you scan AliExpress/DHGate? A: Yes, though enforcement on these platforms is more challenging.
Q: What about Amazon wholesalers? A: We can detect unauthorized sellers of legitimate products (gray market) as well as counterfeits.
Q: How many products can I scan? A: Enterprise plans scan up to 500 products. Contact us for larger catalogs.