Blog

How Pawn Shops Are Using Artificial Intelligence To Tackle Counterfeit Goods

How Pawn Shops Are Using Artificial Intelligence To Tackle Counterfeit Goods

Fake goods can cause severe reputational and financial harm to pawn shops. Learn how technology is helping save the day.

Last updated November 17, 2022

Person using Entrupy to scan a pair of sneakers

Source: Entrupy.com

The counterfeit goods business is booming - in 2022 it is estimated that the global counterfeit goods market will exceed $3 trillion. Counterfeit products commonly affect designer goods such as luxury handbags, apparel, sneakers, jewelry, watches, and high-end shoes. Other industries affected by fake goods include music and DVD movies.

Trafficking in counterfeit goods is illegal in the United States. Individuals convicted of trafficking in counterfeit goods face penalties of up to $2,000,000 and 10 years in prison. Fake goods continue to thrive despite the steep penalties.

According to data from the OECD, counterfeit and pirated goods represent about 3.3% of global trade. The majority of fake goods picked and seized by customs checks originated in mainland China and Hong Kong. Other sources included the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Singapore, Thailand, and India.

Industries affected by counterfeit goods
Source: Statista

Footwear represents the largest segment of counterfeit goods at 22%. Footwear, clothing, leather goods, electrical equipment, and watches represent 70% of all counterfeit goods according to the OECD report.

Counterfeit Goods Harm Pawn Shops

You know, you just live and learn. That’s kinda how it works. You don’t have a pawnbroker school where they teach you that. It’s all trial and error. As many big scores that I've gotten, I've been burned a lot, too.

- Corey Harrison from Pawn Stars in an interview with When In Manilla

Pawn shops are not able to legally buy or sell counterfeit goods. Transacting fake goods can result in hefty fines or the loss of the pawn shop’s operating license. In addition, counterfeit goods can cause severe reputational damage to the pawn shop and pawn industry as a whole.

Pawn shops use a variety of methods to detect fake items. Some items like jewelry require a trained jeweler and special tools and machines. Other items a signed Babe Ruth bat may require an expert’s opinion on Babe Ruth and signatures.

Pawn shops could face a financial loss on transactions when they accept counterfeit goods unknowingly. Pawn shops must pull the item from their inventory when they discover it is counterfeit - this means that any money they paid for it is now a loss.

Several scams exist where people bring in high-quality fakes and replicas to pawn and sell at pawn shops. Pawnbrokers are good at filtering out most counterfeit items, but it is impossible to catch 100% of items. This is why many pawn shops are searching for technology solutions to help them tackle the growing fake goods issue.

Common merchandise categories that have fake items include:

  • Antiques
  • Collectibles
  • Handbags
  • Designer shoes and sneakers
  • Designer clothing
  • Electronics

There also have been rare reports of fake gold too.

Artificial Intelligence Is Helping Pawn Shops Identify Fakes

Many pawnbrokers use software services like Entrupy to identify fake designer goods. Entrupy provides scalable artificial intelligence solutions for product verification. Entrupy’s customers include pawn shops, sneaker resellers, online marketplaces, and online retailers. Entrupy specializes in:

  • Luxury authentication: A scientifically-proven approach that better protects buyers and sellers of frequently-counterfeited, high-value items.
  • Sneaker authentication: Entrupy protects the sneakerhead community from superfakes flooding the market. Many high-quality fake sneakers are difficult to detect and can fool many humans. Entrupy’s AI technology is capable of filtering out many superfakes.

Entrupy’s pawn shop services

Entrupy app scanning pair of sneakers
Source: Entrupy

Entrupy caters specifically to the pawn shop industry (read more here). Entrupy helps pawn shops transact in luxury and designer goods with confidence. Fake and counterfeit goods can become major reputational headaches and cause financial and legal problems for pawn shops.

Pawnbrokers are stretched thin and cannot become deep subject matter experts in all industries. The rise in superfakes is making it extremely difficult to detect counterfeit goods. Entrupy’s software helps streamline the authentication process.

  • Verify before intake - Pawn shops can use Entrupy to check goods before buying them or accepting them as loan collateral.
  • Showcase certifications - Instill confidence in buyers by showcasing Certificates of Authenticity.
  • Provide authentication-as-a-service - Expand your customer base by offering on-demand authentication to customers.
  • Join the sneakerhead economy - Join the multi-billion dollar industry with confidence.

Tips On How To Spot Fake Goods

Spotting fake goods can be difficult because each counterfeiter uses different styles and methods. Below are some tips to spot counterfeit goods:

  • Price is too good to be true: Often fake goods are much cheaper than the real thing. Be aware that a very low price could be an indicator that the item is counterfeit.
  • Low quality or missing packaging: Counterfeiters often cut corners to save costs - usually this is in the form of lower quality packaging. Inspect the box and documentation. Verify that they look similar to the real thing.
  • Look at the seller’s reputation and feedback: Read reviews online and see what others have to say. Social networks often do a good job of identifying fake goods.
  • Inspect the materials: Often the materials used do not match the original - look for tell-tail signs like color, quality, shape, size, etc.
  • Analyze the details: Pay attention to the details of the item. For instance, with designer goods and sneakers, look at the stitching. Often counterfeits have lower-quality stitching.
  • Ask the seller: Look the seller in the eye and ask them if the product is real. Look for any odd body language and listen for verbal cues.

List of counterfeit goods examples:

Counterfeit Callaway Golf Club Comparison

Counterfeit Callaway golf club comparison
Source: golfclubbrokers.com

Counterfeit Rolex Comparison

Counterfeit Rolex watch comparison
Source: Youtube

Counterfeit Louis Vuitton Handbag Comparison

Counterfeit Louis Vuitton handbag comparison
Source: handbagholic.co.uk

Counterfeit Air Jordans Sneakers Comparison

Counterfeit Air Jordans sneakers comparison
Source: Youtube

New Posts

Pawn Shop Map
Selling DVDs & DVD Players To Pawn Shops
Many pawn shops still buy and sell DVDs and DVD players. Learn how much money pawn shops will offer.

December 23, 2022

Pawn Shop Map
Guide To Start A Successful Pawn Shop: Learn What It Takes To Open A Pawn Shop
Pawn shops are an essential part of the economy. Learn how you can start a profitable pawn shop in your local region.

December 23, 2022

Pawn Shop Map
Oculus Pawn Shop Guide: Buying, Pawning & Selling Oculus VR Headsets
Pawn shops buy and sell Oculus virtual reality headsets. Learn how to get the most money when you sell or pawn your Oculus.

December 23, 2022

Pawn Shop Map
Selling Silver To Pawn Shops: Learn How Pawn Shops Value Silver
Use our silver value calculator to estimate how much pawn shops will pay for your silver.

December 23, 2022

Pawn Shop Map
Selling Gift Cards To Pawn Shops: Convert Your Gift Cards To Cash
Pawn shops often buy gift cards from large retailers like Amazon, Walmart, Target, and other stores.

December 22, 2022

Pawn Shop Map
Selling Tattoo Machines To Pawn Shops: Learn About Which Tattoo Guns Pawn Shops Buy
Tattoo machines can be worth up to several hundred dollars at pawn shops.

December 22, 2022

Pawn Shop Map
Pawn Shops Featured In Movies, TV Shows, Music & Games
Popular media often feature the pawn industry. Read why pawn shops are a popular topic.

December 22, 2022

Pawn Shop Map
Data Privacy & Information Protection At Pawn Shops
Learn how pawn shops protect your identity when you sell and pawn your items.

December 22, 2022

Pawn Shop Map
Xbox Pawn Shop Guide: Buying, Pawning & Selling Xbox Consoles
Pawn shops buy and sell Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Xbox 360, and Xbox games.

December 21, 2022

Pawn Shop Map
Selling Weights & Exercise Equipment To Pawn Shops: Learn Which Equipment Pawn Shops Buy
Weights and exercise equipment can be worth several hundred dollars at pawn shops.

December 21, 2022

Comments

💬 Be the first to leave a comment


Pawn Shop Map logo

Find Local Pawn Shops & Deals

Resources

© 2023 PawnShopMap.com