"Bought the 'Cozy Skin Scent' Perfume Everyone Wants, But the Scent Is Off... Seller Unreachable When Asked for Refund"

Half of Online "Counterfeit" Cosmetics Are Perfume
Number of Consultations About Counterfeit Cosmetics Rising Every Year
Majority of Purchases Made Through Online Shopping Platforms

Recently, the distribution of so-called "counterfeit cosmetics," whose quality and efficacy have not been verified, has been spreading online.

According to the Korea Consumer Agency on October 10, a total of 447 consultations related to counterfeit cosmetics purchased online were received by the 1372 Consumer Counseling Center and the International Transaction Consumer Portal over the past three years. The number of cases has been increasing each year, with 99 cases in 2023, 138 cases last year, and 131 cases from January to August this year.

Regarding purchase channels, "online shopping platforms" accounted for the largest share at 70.7%. This was followed by "individual online shops" at 18.3% and "secondhand trading platforms" at 8.7%.

By product category, "perfume" accounted for the highest number of consultation cases at 51.5%. This was followed by "basic skincare products" (26%), "color cosmetics" (11.9%), and "cleansing cosmetics" (4.4%).

The reasons for suspecting counterfeits included "differences in scent or texture compared to genuine products," "differences in containers (spray nozzles) and printing," "absence of product serial numbers and expiration dates," and "adverse skin reactions upon use."

As for the reasons for consultation related to counterfeit cosmetics, dissatisfaction with "quality" was the most common at 58.6%. This was mainly due to the low quality suspected to be non-genuine and the seller's failure to provide proof of authenticity.

Next, "no response from the seller and closure of the website" during inquiries about suspected counterfeits accounted for 13.2%. In 10.5% of cases, excessive fees (such as shipping charges) were imposed when requesting a refund, or the refund process was delayed.

Other cases included shifting the burden of proof for counterfeits onto the consumer, promising 300% compensation for counterfeits but refusing compensation at the time of refund, or denying refunds due to the product being opened or used.

To prevent damage from counterfeit cosmetics, the Korea Consumer Agency advised consumers to: ▲ purchase cosmetics through official brand websites and authorized sellers; ▲ check for any abnormalities immediately after purchase; ▲ verify authenticity certificates and labels; and ▲ keep receipts and other proof of purchase.