One in three Indian consumers unknowingly purchased a counterfeit product in the past year, a sobering statistic that underscores how deeply fake goods have penetrated everyday life in the country. On World Anti-Counterfeiting Day, the Consumer Online Foundation calls for urgent action as digital marketplaces emerge as the new frontier for illicit trade.
That finding, from the State of Counterfeiting in India 2025 report by the Authentication Solution Providers’ Association (ASPA) in partnership with CRISIL, formed the centrepiece of warnings issued today by the Consumer Online Foundation (COF) on World Anti-Counterfeiting Day.
The fake goods problem is no longer confined to luxury handbags or pirated DVDs. Today, counterfeits show up in kitchen staples – adulterated paneer, ghee, spices and edible oils as well as medicines, cosmetics, electrical appliances, batteries, automotive parts and digital devices. Many of these products bypass quality control, safety testing and taxation entirely before reaching unsuspecting buyers.
Consumer Online Foundation (COF), a leading consumer rights advocacy organisation, has reinforced the spirit of “Jago Grahak Jago” by calling for stronger action against the growing menace of counterfeit and illicit products.
The Foundation warned that the issue is no longer limited to intellectual property violations but has emerged as a serious public health and economic challenge impacting both consumers and the nation.
The scale is staggering. A May 2025 report by the OECD and the EU Intellectual Property Office puts the global trade in counterfeit and pirated goods at USD 467 billion, equivalent to 2.3% of all global imports.
In India, the damage extends far beyond consumer safety. Counterfeit trade drains tax revenues, undercuts legitimate businesses, stifles innovation and erodes trust in markets. Enforcement agencies face mounting pressure as the channels for illicit trade multiply.
“Counterfeit and illicit products — from medicines and cosmetics to electrical goods — can expose consumers to serious quality, safety and health risks,” said Prof. Bejon Kumar Misra, Founder Trustee of COF and the consumer rights expert behind the iconic Jago Grahak Jago campaign. “The impact goes beyond consumers, affecting legitimate businesses, government revenues and the economy as a whole.”
Perhaps the most alarming trend is how rapidly the problem has migrated online. According to the ASPA-CRISIL report, online aggregator platforms now account for 53% of counterfeit purchases — making e-commerce and social media the primary channels through which fake goods reach Indian homes.
Informal digital marketplaces, where seller accountability is low and product verification is minimal, have become fertile ground for illicit trade. COF is calling for stronger digital monitoring systems and greater legal accountability for online platforms that allow such goods to be listed and sold.
COF’s prescription involves action on multiple fronts: tougher enforcement, better market surveillance, and greater consumer awareness. The Foundation emphasises that an informed public remains the most effective line of defence — a principle at the heart of Jago Grahak Jago, the government’s long-running consumer awareness initiative conceptualised under Prof. Misra’s leadership.
World Anti-Counterfeiting Day, observed annually on June 10, was established in 1999 by the Global Anti-Counterfeiting Group to mobilise governments, industry, enforcement agencies and civil society around exactly this challenge.
COF, the only ISO 9001:2015-certified voluntary consumer organisation in India for complaint redressal, has resolved grievances for over one million consumers since launching its online services in 2013.
The Consumer Online Foundation operates across Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Patna, Lucknow, Varanasi, Guwahati and Dimapur.
