Black Friday always brings tempting offers, but it also increases the circulation of counterfeit products due to the difficulty of identifying them among legitimate items. The recent case of beverages adulterated with methanol, which caused poisonings and deaths in São Paulo, shows the real risk of purchasing products outside reliable channels. Counterfeit beverages, cosmetics, electronics and even medicines, which do not undergo quality control, can put your health at risk.
In addition, there is an essential point often associated with this type of practice: the violation of Intellectual Property. Products that imitate registered trademarks, copy packaging or reproduce distinctive signs without authorization commit legal infringement and are often associated with other criminal activities, strengthening a parallel market that harms companies and puts consumers at risk. According to the OECD–EUIPO*, global trade in counterfeit products reached 467 billion Brazilian real in 2021. In Brazil, the National Confederation of Industry (CNI) estimates annual losses of 453 billion Brazilian real —around 4% of Brazil’s GDP— as a direct result of piracy, counterfeiting and smuggling.
When buying, pay attention to warning signs:
- Prices far below the market average;
- Lack of reviews or clear information;
- Absence of an invoice; or
- New or unreliable profiles on digital platforms.
Choosing official sellers and confirming product authenticity is the best way to enjoy Black Friday safely — and to strengthen a market that respects innovation and Intellectual Property.