35 Of The Strangest Knock-Off Designs That Were Rightfully Shamed By This Twitter Account

Thanks to the growth of technology and improvements in manufacturing, counterfeit goods are now more accessible and affordable than ever. And it’s hardly surprising that encountering totally shameless and absolutely shoddy knock-offs that don’t even bother hiding it can be a pure form of entertainment.

However, these bad off-brands are actually a bigger problem than many realize. While the vast majority of consumers know what to expect when shopping under the counter for fake Ray-Ban sunglasses or Rolex watches at a fraction of the price, it is often believed to be a "victimless crime" that only hurts the biggest names in the market.

But according to Jay Kennedy, an Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice at Michigan State University, it harms countless individuals too. Whether it’s sweatshop workers who toil for hours on end without any legal protections, underpaid employees dealing with horrible conditions, or consumers themselves who face health issues due to fraudulent goods.

Turns out, Kennedy has spent over five years delving deeper into the issue of product counterfeiting and witnessed firsthand how consumers play a major role in the growth of the counterfeiting business.

See, the Global Brand Counterfeiting Report found that counterfeiters sold an estimated $1.2 trillion of fake goods globally in 2017 — a figure that was expected to reach past $1.8 trillion by 2020. The report stated that the losses businesses suffered amounted to $323 billion in 2017. Today, some estimates report that the trade in fake products is worth $600 billion per year.