Over the past few years, it seems like fake designer bag replicas are being produced at an all-time high, with even the most tactful details of the Hermès Birkin bags and Chanel flap bags being reproduced.

They’re called ‘super fakes,’ and some can even retail for thousands of dollars, as many customers now go through private dealers via WhatsApp or Telegram to get their hands on sophisticated replicas.

The phenomenon is so prevalent that, according to recent research by Michigan State University, almost seven in 10 people reported being deceived into buying a counterfeit good online at least once in 2023. 

In November 2023, federal agents performed the largest seizure of fake goods in U.S. history, according to ABC News, of which the total was approximately $1.03 billion.

It wasn’t just bags that agents seized – it was also jewelry, clothes, and shoes.

According to The Wall Street Journal, some luxury brands are even paying private investigators to find out what these counterfeiters are doing when it comes to replicating their items.

With more fakes than ever overflowing the market, it’s hard to know who to trust.

In November 2023, federal agents performed the largest seizure of fake goods in U.S. history, according to ABC News , of which the total was approximately $1.03 billion – pictured above is a real Birkin 

Even department stores are facing something called ‘return fraud,’ per CNN , which happens when a customer buys a real item and then replaces it with a replica before sending it for a return to get the large sum of money back

According to The Wall Street Journal, some luxury brands are even paying private investigators to find out what these counterfeiters are doing when it comes to replicating their items – like this real Chanel bag seen in July 

Even department stores are facing something called ‘return fraud,’ per CNN, which happens when a customer buys a real item and then replaces it with a replica before sending it for a return to get the oftentimes large sum of money back. 

In some instances, these returned counterfeit bags have been sent to customers who believe that they’re purchasing the real thing.

So, which online platforms are the real deal?  

FEMAIL recently had the opportunity to go inside pre-loved designer retail platform Vestiaire Collective’s New York City warehouse, where we saw the rigorous authentication process that each item goes through before it’s sent to the customer. 

Vestiaire allows customers to shop from curated closets of individuals all over the world, giving fashion lovers the option to buy and sell some of their coolest and rarest pieces.

During our visit, we watched the authentication process of multiple items, including a precious Hermès Kelly bag, with one of their professionally trained authenticators, Hyo Lee.

The company’s verification process includes four steps – profile monitoring to make sure that there’s no suspicious behavior happening, digital verification through experts and AI technology, physical in-person verification at their warehouse, and finally, quality control. 

While we were at the warehouse, we even took a stab at trying our own authentication course, during which we tried to tell authentic bags and jewelry items from ones that they have previously identified through their rigorous process. 

When we were there, we ran through the authentication process for multiple items, including a precious Hermès Kelly bag, with one of their professionally trained authenticators, Hyo Lee

Their verification process includes four steps – profile monitoring to make sure that there’s no suspicious behavior happening, digital verification through experts and AI technology, physical in-person verification at their warehouse, and finally, a quality control

Vestiaire allows customers to shop from curated closets of those all over the world, giving fashion lovers the option to buy and sell some of their coolest and rarest pieces in their collections – like these real Chanel shoes seen in Paris in July 

She warned that it can be ‘difficult to authenticate’ if you don’t have experience or practice, but that there are a few general tips to keep in mind. The bag that Xenia Adonts is carrying above is a real purse from Chanel’s collection 

The task was much harder than it looked, and many of the bags that we thought were real were actually the staged fakes. 

FEMAIL spoke to the company’s Senior Brand Manager and Authentication Specialist, Ms. Victoire Boyer Chammard, who revealed some of the most important details you need to look out for when differentiating a super fake from the real designer item.

She warned that it can be ‘difficult to authenticate’ if you don’t have experience or practice, but that there are a few general tips to keep in mind. 

The first step? Checking everything – digging through every inch, flap, and zipper of the item you’re looking at. 

‘Whether through photos or physically, it is essential to examine the packaging and all accompanying elements of an item to ensure that the materials, colors, typography, and finishes are consistent with the product that comes with the rest,’ Chammard told DailyMail.com exclusively. 

‘A luxury item will always be made from high-quality materials,’ she continued.

‘Check the quality of the materials (leather, for example). The smell and touch should help. If it smells like plastic or if the touch feels rough, this should alert you.’

Chammard also emphasized the importance of checking the weight of certain parts of the bag or jewelry item, too.

The first step? Checking everything – digging through every inch, flap, and zipper of the item you’re looking at. Above, Kris Jenner carries her real Birkin bag 

‘The engravings should be legible and sharp. A counterfeiter often makes mistakes in the details, so examine your item carefully from all these angles’

Chammard said that you need to look closely at the ‘typography and information on composition labels,’ like this real Louis Vuitton bag seen at Paris’ Haute Couture week this month

‘High-quality pieces are often heavier. Light or hollow pieces could indicate that the item is a counterfeit,’ the expert offered.

Similarly, inspecting all of the item’s information is something to pay close attention to. 

Chammard said that you need to look closely at the ‘typography and information on composition labels.’  

‘Everything should be centered, without spelling errors, and should conform to the typography, font, and writing size of the era,’ she explained.

And, last but not least, you need to ‘pay attention to the finishes’ on the pieces.  

‘The stitching should be regular unless it’s artisanal work,’ Chammard said.

‘The engravings should be legible and sharp. A counterfeiter often makes mistakes in the details, so examine your item carefully from all these angles.’

As for jewelry, she said that it ‘requires the same methodology.’ 

Still, she warns that authentication is a ‘very specialized job,’ and highly recommends purchasing pre-loved bags and other luxury items, like jewelry, from a ‘reputable platform with the expertise’

Ranging in price from $3,490 to $6,810, the bowling-shaped Margaux bag by The Row comes in a handful of different sizes, as well as a variety of colors and finishes

‘Combining digital and physical authentication for items that could be subject to counterfeiting is essential, and that’s what we offer at VC,’ Chammard explained. Above is a real Birkin bag carried by twins Jyoti and Snehal Babani 

‘In the world of jewelry, it’s important to clearly distinguish between costume jewelry and fine jewelry, as they do not use the same materials and do not have the same standards in terms of craftsmanship,’ the expert shared.  

Still, she warns that authentication is a ‘very specialized job,’ and highly recommends purchasing pre-loved bags and other luxury items, like jewelry, from a ‘reputable platform with the expertise.’ 

‘At Vestiaire Collective, our authenticators come from fashion, luxury and auction houses, and complete 750 hours of initial training, followed by 180 hours annually at minimum though our own authentication school, the Academy,’ she explained. 

Jewelry specialists are also required to take external gemology courses.  

‘Each expert is enabled to run authenticity checks on all the categories including accessories, ready to wear, jewelry and watches,’ she said. 

They’ve had to adopt more advanced techniques as time has gone on, too. Vestiaire collaborates with certain brands like Gucci and Burberry, as well as e-commerce platforms like MyTheresa and LuisaViaRoma, to ‘ensure the quality’ of their expertise. 

‘Combining digital and physical authentication for items that could be subject to counterfeiting is essential, and that’s what we offer at VC,’ Chammard explained. 

If an item is deemed fake by one of Vestiaire’s experts during the authentication process, they will cancel the sale and inform both the buyer and seller. 

Under their terms and conditions, the seller of the item may decide to have the item returned to them, as they may want to try to get a refund from the original place where they made the purchase. 

Any remaining fakes are destroyed using the company’s sustainable methods.