Two ‘branded’ shoes sent to Russia turned out fake: How can shoppers spot counterfeits?

A pair of shoes bought in Nha Trang only revealed its true identity after customers sent it to Russia. The discovery prompted Khanh Hoa market inspectors to inspect shoe and clothing shops across the tourist city, especially along busy streets popular with visitors.

Trần Kiều Hưng, head of the Khanh Hoa Market Surveillance Department, said inspectors had earlier fined a business in Nha Trang ward 50 million Vietnamese dong and ordered 180 fake Nike and Adidas shoes destroyed. The case began when customers bought two pairs from the shop and reported them after finding they were counterfeit in Russia.

Inspectors also found goods showing signs of fake Crocs, Nike, Gucci and Burberry trademarks, which are protected in Vietnam. Hưng said authorities gather sufficient evidence before inspecting a business. The process also includes public education and commitments from sellers aimed at preventing repeat violations.

Tourist-heavy streets such as Tô Hiến Thành, Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai, Trần Phú, Hồng Bàng, Hùng Vương and Nguyễn Thiện Thuật contain many clothing and footwear shops aimed at visitors. Sellers of fake goods often rely on shoppers’ preference for products that are “good, useful and cheap,” offering prices far below those of genuine brands.

Consumers should check packaging, labels, product origins and QR codes. Warning signs include blurred printing, spelling mistakes, faded or inaccurate colors, and damaged or poorly made holograms and authentication labels. Authorities also urged shoppers to use official barcode or QR-code scanners, including iCheck, and to verify seller information, tax codes and business addresses. Counterfeit shoes and clothing are often difficult to strip of infringing logos or images without damaging the products, so authorities may order them destroyed.

“

If the product’s infringing elements cannot be removed, it must be destroyed.