Cheap fakes: 1 in 8 Aussies buying counterfeit luxury goods straight from China
Millions of Australians are purchasing luxury goods directly from Chinese manufacturers, according to new research by Finder.
A Finder survey of 1,015 respondents revealed 1 in 8 Australians (12%) have admitted to purchasing fake designer goods through online retailers overseas.
That's an estimated 2.6 million Aussies buying everything from rip-off activewear to faux luxury handbags.
The research found a further 16% are considering buying from Chinese manufacturers through websites such as DHgate and Alibaba.
Women (15%) are twice as likely as men (8%) to have purchased counterfeit designer goods directly from China.
Sarah Megginson, personal finance expert at Finder, said social media users are increasingly hunting for "fake" luxury goods overseas.
"Buying counterfeit goods overseas, especially through unregulated social media channels and e-commerce sites, carries significant risks.
"Many Australians lose their money to parcels that simply never arrive or to 'sellers' who disappear overnight."
Megginson said the lure of cheap luxury goods online is a prime hunting ground for scammers.
"It's a good idea to use payment methods with some level of buyer protection, like PayPal or a credit card with chargeback options. Never use direct bank transfers.
"Be careful about providing personal information to these unofficial sites that could increase your risk of identity theft or spam."
Megginson said if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.
"What appears to be a smart shopping hack could actually cost consumers more if their goods never arrive or if they turn up looking nothing like what you expected.
"It's also illegal to purchase counterfeit goods online, so you have virtually no consumer rights if the item is faulty, never arrives, or isn't as described.
"You can't complain to the ACCC, Scamwatch, or your bank for a chargeback on an illegal purchase."
Megginson said if you're seeking discounted luxury goods, there are legitimate alternative avenues available to acquire them.
"There are websites in Australia, like Depop and eBay, where you can buy authenticated luxury goods secondhand or for less than full price.
"On Finder Shopping we have discount codes to get up to 58% of fashion items on eBay at the moment.
"If you are shopping on eBay, remember to stick to top-rated sellers with clear return policies and look for the 'Authenticity Guarantee' badge."
Are you buying counterfeit designer goods at reduced prices directly from the manufactures in China (e.g. buying from DHgate, Alibaba)?
| Yes, I have been | 12% |
| No, but I'm considering buying from there | 16% |
| No, and I'm not considering it | 73% |
| Source: Finder survey of 1,015 respondents, May 2025 |  |
Sources
Methodology
- Finder's Consumer Sentiment Tracker is a monthly recurring nationally representative survey of more than 60,000 respondents.
- Figures in this release are based on 1,015 respondents from May 2025.
- The Consumer Sentiment Tracker is owned by Finder and operated by Qualtrics.
- The survey has been running monthly since May 2019.
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