Fraudulent sales of "Made in Italy" branded products have increased worldwide on the Internet. This comes after an increase in e-commerce in the wake of the pandemic.

First-press olive oil, Italian wines including Prosecco, cheeses (gorgonzola and parmigiano reggiano) and sausages (capocollo and soppressata) are the most commonly counterfeited products, according to Istat.

As the agency's data show, more than half of popular brands are counterfeited. For example, from February to May, nearly 560 cases of fake advertising of these products were revealed. Violations were recorded on the websites of Alibaba, Amazon and Ebay.

Before buying, experts recommend adhering to a few rules in order not to become the owner of a fake. One should choose online sellers who have a direct relationship with a farmer or are in direct sales.

Also, make sure that there are no minor typographical errors in the name of the product. On products with a designation of origin (DOP and Igp) and on organic products specific distinctive logos should be shown. In addition, buyers should be wary of the low prices of high-value agricultural produce.

Made in Russia // Made in Russia

Author: Ksenia Gustova