One in eight Australians getting swindled by Chinese manufacturers claiming to sell luxury goods on social media
As many as one in eight Australians have bought counterfeit designer goods from China, new research from Finder has revealed.
The data comes as a social media trend has surged on TikTok, where Chinese manufacturers have been using the platform to advertise their products to Aussie consumers.
The manufacturers claim to sell items belonging to luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton and Lululemon direct from the factory at much lower price than retail.
In Finder's survey of 1005 respondents, 12 per cent admitted to buying counterfeit goods from manufacturers in China such as DHgate and Alibaba - making it an estimated 2.6 million Aussies purchasing these items which range from activewear to luxury handbags among other products.
The majority (73 per cent) said they had not and were not considering it, while the other 16 per cent said they had not, but were considering purchasing the knock-off items.
Research also found women (15 per cent) were almost twice as likely to have purchased counterfeit designer goods directly from China than men (eight per cent).
Chinese manufacturers' move to market cheaper versions of designer goods has come off the back of United States President Donald Trump's decision to impose sweeping taxes on foreign products.
Personal finance expert at Finder, Sarah Megginson, said social media users were attracted to the bargain offers which had gone viral.
'Chinese manufacturers claim to be giving consumers the inside scoop on where luxury brands are really made,' she said.
'These Chinese e-commerce sites are trying to convince consumers to buy direct at lower prices."
Ms Megginson warned if an offer looks "too good to be true" that "it usually is".
'What might seem like a savvy shopping hack could end up costing consumers more if the goods don't turn up," she said.
'The rise of counterfeit culture on social media is putting Aussies at financial risk — with many losing money to parcels that never arrive or dodgy sellers that disappear overnight.'
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