The "authentic code" you scanned may actually be a "passport" for counterfeit goods.

Originally from: Xinhua News Agency

Your scanned “authenticity code” might actually be a pass for counterfeit goods—a fake “scan to verify” scam sparks a crackdown: netizens report 46 counterfeit anti-counterfeit query websites

When buying a relatively inexpensive product online, many consumers may choose to scan the QR code on the item and visit the relevant quality verification website to check its authenticity. Few people realize that not only could the product in their hands be fake, but even the “authentic” verification website displaying the words “Genuine Product” could be fake.

Recently, the Cybersecurity and Information Department of the Central Cyberspace Administration, based on reports from netizens, collaborated with market regulation authorities to investigate and shut down multiple suspected counterfeit anti-counterfeit query sites, including the “National Quality Supervision Anti-Counterfeit System,” “Made in China Product Supervision 315 Anti-Counterfeit Query System,” and other sites that impersonate or are unauthorized by market regulators.

These websites, disguised as “official authority,” are actually endorsing counterfeit products. When “scan to verify” becomes a scam itself, how can consumers develop “sharp eyes” to spot the fakes?

Some screenshots of counterfeit sites. (Provided by interviewees)

Netizens’ reports lead to clues: 46 counterfeit sites shut down

On January 17, a netizen reported via the official website of the Cybersecurity and Information Department that four websites—“National Quality Supervision Anti-Counterfeit System,” “Made in China Product Supervision 315 Anti-Counterfeit Query System,” “315 Product Anti-Counterfeit Center,” and “National Product Quality 12315 Anti-Counterfeit System”—used domain names with “315” or “12315” numbers, displayed names like “National Platform,” “National System,” and “315,” and promoted through search engines, claiming to offer “national traceability anti-counterfeit labels” for profit, misleading consumers.

“315,” “12315,” “Quality Supervision,” “Anti-Counterfeit Query”—these words are usually associated with authority and credibility, but are exploited by criminals as tools to deceive consumers.

Chen Chao, staff member at the reporting center, explained that upon receiving the report, staff immediately collected evidence from these sites and handed the clues over to market regulation authorities for investigation. The investigation found that these four sites were not operated or authorized by official market regulation systems and lacked ICP registration, illegally using terms like “China,” “National,” and “315.”

This means these “official-looking” sites are outright fakes.

In response, market regulation authorities “learned a lesson” and further identified 46 websites involved in counterfeit or unauthorized anti-counterfeit systems, illegally using terms like “China,” “National,” and “315.” The cybersecurity department has already taken action against these illegal sites.

Liu Han, director of the reporting and handling division, said, “This crackdown on ‘315’ counterfeit sites is a concrete measure by the internet regulation department to manage and govern online space, and also provides consumers with a ‘pitfall avoidance guide.’” Moving forward, the center will continue to handle reports of counterfeit websites, creating a better online environment for consumers.

Scan to verify, but beware of traps: how low-cost scams precisely “harvest” consumers

“How can a product be fake if the scan shows it’s genuine?” This is the first reaction of many consumers who realize they’ve been scammed.

In recent years, as more consumers shop online, “scan to verify” has become a habitual step after receiving goods. Many believe the “verification passed” message and trust it blindly, unaware they have fallen into a trap set by criminals.

Even more alarming is that this scam has very low costs. A reporter from Xinhuanet found on an e-commerce platform that for less than 30 yuan, you can buy 1,000 “universal anti-counterfeit labels” with unique QR codes, and setting up a “anti-counterfeit traceability system” costs only a few thousand yuan. This opens the door for criminals to mass produce fakes and easily imitate legitimate verification systems.

Long Liang, secretary-general of the China Anti-Counterfeit Industry Association, warned that many consumers confuse QR codes with anti-counterfeit codes. “Regular QR codes on product packaging are mainly for logistics management. Only when combined with professional anti-counterfeit technology can they serve as a true anti-counterfeit measure.” Criminals exploit this misconception to carry out “fake code to verify fake goods” scams.

On social media, many consumers also share their “avoidance tips” for similar scams. Some posts say they bought a product online at half the official store price, and when scanning the QR code, the verification site’s domain was not official but a suspicious redirect link, posing security risks. One user scanned a QR code on a cosmetic product, which led to the “China 315 Product Anti-Counterfeit Center” website showing a genuine product, but after further checking on Baidu, the site was found to be nonexistent. Many users also report that even if the scan shows “genuine,” the actual product experience may differ significantly from authentic ones, and they warn others: “Just because it scans as ‘real’ doesn’t mean it’s truly authentic.”

Some screenshots of counterfeit sites. (Provided by interviewees)

According to investigators involved in the crackdown, these counterfeit sites mainly use the following typical tactics to mislead the public:

— Confusing domain names with similar spellings. Criminals register domains similar to “315” sites, such as “fw.ym12315.cn,” using slight differences in letters, numbers, or suffixes to imitate the official “www.12315.cn” platform, making it hard for consumers to distinguish.

— Faking official government symbols. Counterfeit sites use “315” logos and symbols to visually mimic official backgrounds, creating a false sense of authority.

— Using words like “China,” “National,” etc., to increase confusion. These fake sites deliberately include trustworthy terms like “China,” “National,” or “State” in their names, exploiting public trust in government institutions to lure users into providing personal information or conducting transactions.

These counterfeit sites not only directly infringe on consumers’ right to know and their property safety, causing them to relax vigilance under the false impression of verification, but also seriously disrupt market order. Fake products damage the reputation of legitimate companies, and consumers deceived by counterfeit sites may doubt genuine government services and official information, increasing government communication costs and undermining public trust.

How should consumers identify and defend against fake anti-counterfeit sites?

When encountering suspicious or fake verification sites, how can consumers quickly and accurately identify them? And what should they do if they find a counterfeit site?

Long Liang explained that anti-counterfeit verification services are mainly provided by industry regulators, anti-counterfeit companies, and brand owners. Consumers are advised to access verification pages through official brand websites or download official verification apps, following the prompts for authentication. Additionally, consumers can use visual recognition or simple tools provided by brand websites to verify anti-counterfeit features.

The reporting center reminds consumers to verify official domain names or websites when checking product authenticity, and be cautious of highly similar counterfeit domains. Legitimate websites usually display their ICP registration number at the bottom, which can be checked via the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology’s domain registration system to confirm the registered entity matches the official organization. Official government websites also display a shield icon indicating “Party and government organs,” which is an important identification mark.

“Never trust unofficial links from unknown sources, especially those asking for personal information or redirecting to other pages,” Liu Han said. If consumers encounter fake anti-counterfeit sites, they can report them through the official reporting website (www.12377.cn), the 12377 hotline, or the “Online Reporting” mobile app.

In today’s increasingly diverse consumption environment, “scan to verify” should not be a gamble. Moving from “scan with peace of mind” to “consume with confidence” requires continuous efforts from regulators and the whole society to build a robust “defense network” against counterfeit and fake products. “We welcome more netizens to be our ‘eyes,’ playing a role in co-governance and jointly safeguarding a clean online consumption environment,” Liu Han said. The reporting center will keep channels open for online reports, provide more convenient ways for consumers to report, promote awareness about counterfeit sites, and enhance consumers’ ability to identify scams. Meanwhile, market regulation authorities will continue monitoring anti-counterfeit verification sites, strengthen the dissemination of legitimate verification information, and promote anti-counterfeit knowledge to raise overall awareness. (Reporter Tang Niu, Zhang Silin, Wang Mengyao)