Beware! These anti-counterfeiting measures are easiest to forge

The anti-counterfeiting labels on the market are not absolutely secure, and some types are at risk of malicious tampering.The event exposed the vulnerabilities of QR codes, holographic anti-counterfeiting stickers, and bar codes, and provided practical solutions such as upgraded coatings and dynamic verification systems to help consumers and merchants quickly identify genuine products, and to improve the reliability of anti-counterfeiting technology.

These anti-counterfeiting measures are weaker than you might imagine.

Many people think that if they use anti-counterfeiting labels they can sleep soundly, but in reality, some labels are like paper tigers--scary to look at, but easy to poke holes in.For example, the QR codes most commonly used by street-side workshops are not even encrypted, so counterfeiters can easily use a generator to make hundreds of copies.Even more outrageous is that some holographic labels are made by pressing a cheap plastic film, so that with a little effort in the sunlight one can get a copy that is 90 % accurate.

High-risk anti-counterfeiting marks list.

The QR code is printed in a single layer.

The most dangerous are the black-and-white QR codes printed directly onto packaging.Last year, a well-known snack brand fell victim to this kind of scam. The counterfeiters collected the original packaging, used a heat gun to peel off the label, and replaced the QR code with their own. The packaging was then resealed. Even the distributors were fooled.

Static holographic stickers.

Don't assume that all reflective products are high-tech.The designs on these stickers are produced in bulk using a fixed mold, and counterfeiters can even buy the same mold.One liquor store owner told me about a batch of fake goods they received, and the "anti-counterfeiting" stickers affixed to the bottles were actually made from refrigerator magnets.

The basic barcode.

You can even create them with apps on your smartphone.A certain brand of baby formula was victimized in this manner. Counterfeiters copied its bar codes, slapped them on old, nearly-expired product, and sold it as new. If not for the fact that a mother noticed the batch number was wrong, there could have been a big scandal.

Giving anti-counterfeiting labels a bullet-proof vest.

Coating destruction technology.

Why not try making the labels "one-time use"?For example, a major cosmetics company is using a label with a layered ink that leaves a broken pattern when it is peeled off, like tearing a receipt.This means that even if the label is completely torn off, when it is reattached, a clear tear will be visible.

Dynamic validation system

Don ’ t leave consumers with the same page for a thousand years! ” There is a client who imports health foods that has a “ changing face QR code. ” Each time the QR code is scanned, the number of times it has been verified and the date of the last verification are updated. You can also see the records of the previous five verifications.If we find that the same serial number has been scanned ten times, we know for sure that it's a fake.

Composite materials.

It's a combination of two or three anti-counterfeiting technologies.For example, the popular "thermochromic + QR code" combination tag is a normal QR code at room temperature, but when rubbed with the hand a hidden pattern will appear.The special materials and techniques required to make this type of label are simply unavailable to small workshops, which means that the cost of producing a fake is three times that of the original.

Anti-counterfeiting tips for daily use.

I suggest that people not just look at whether a product has a label, but also look at how they got it.For instance, the edges of the anti-counterfeiting labels on genuine products are usually rough and uneven because they are cut by machine. Counterfeiters often save costs by cutting the edges with scissors.Another trick is to scratch the surface of the label with your fingernail. The surface of the real label should feel gritty, while the fake one is smooth.When you next go shopping, bring a UV pen. Many brands have secret fluorescent markers in hidden places that can help you tell the real from the fake. This trick has tripped up many professional counterfeiters.