Beyond Simple Cloning
While clone sites typically take payment and never ship, counterfeit stores are more sophisticated - they actually ship products. Just not real ones.
The Counterfeit Store Model
- Copy your store - Design, images, descriptions
- Source counterfeits - Cheap knockoffs of your products
- Sell at discount - Undercut your real prices
- Ship fake products - Customers receive counterfeits
- Disappear or repeat - Move to new domain when caught
Why This Is Worse Than Cloning
Product Safety Risks
Counterfeit products may be:
- Made with dangerous materials
- Missing safety features
- Incorrectly labeled
Deeper Brand Damage
Customers think they bought from you and received garbage.
Legal Complications
You may face liability questions for products you didn’t make.
Harder to Detect
Because orders are fulfilled, complaints take longer to surface.
Warning Signs
- Reviews mentioning quality issues you can’t explain
- Returns of products that aren’t yours
- Customer photos showing wrong products
- Social media complaints about “your” product quality
- Warranty claims for items you didn’t sell
Protection Strategy
Clone Detection
Catch counterfeit stores early with:
- Canary token monitoring
- Typosquat scanning
- Risk assessment
Customer Education
Help customers verify they’re on your real site.
Legal Action
Counterfeit sales may warrant stronger legal response.
Brand Monitoring
Watch for mentions of quality issues.