Can you tell a fake designer handbag from a real one? Undercover investigation exposes $500 billion black market industry - and reveals how to tell if you've been duped

  • Crime Watch Daily reveals how the industry of counterfeit products works
  • Authentication expert Fei Deyle immediately recognizes a fake Herve Leger dress sold to show anchor Andrea Isom on eBay
  • Fraudulent items come into the US on container ships from China

By Emily James For Dailymail.com

Published: 17:49 EST, 16 September 2015 | Updated: 14:05 EST, 17 September 2015

You may consider yourself a fashionista, but are you really able to tell the difference between designer products and counterfeit ones?

On the latest episode of Crime Watch Daily, the investigative news show delves into the $500 billion black market fashion industry in an effort to determine which bags, shoes and clothing are the real deal, and which are just convincing fakes.

In a promo for the show, anchor Andrea Isom consults professional authenticator Fei Deyle, CEO and co-founder of the Internet re-sale website Lollipuff.com, to learn whether she's being duped by an eBay seller who sold her a 'real' Herve Leger dress.

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Faking it: Investigative news show Crime Watch Daily reveals how the $500 billion black market fashion industry works on its latest episode

Faking it: Investigative news show Crime Watch Daily reveals how the $500 billion black market fashion industry works on its latest episode

So wrong: Authentication expert Fei Deyle immediately recognizes a fake Herve Leger dress sold to the show's anchor Andrea Isom on eBay. The fake version on the left has five black lines in the border, while on the right the authentic dress has three lines

So wrong: Authentication expert Fei Deyle immediately recognizes a fake Herve Leger dress sold to the show's anchor Andrea Isom on eBay. The fake version on the left has five black lines in the border, while on the right the authentic dress has three lines

Fei, of California, closely examines the popular bandage dress style and immediately spots a number of serious flaws.

'The Made in China [logo] is in the wrong direction,' says the fashion expert as she points to the price-tag which is written facing the wrong direction. The words 'Made in China' should face outwards reading away from the dress and not, in this instance inwards, written towards the dress.

Fei, whose website individually authenticates every designer product it sells, goes on to point out that the part number on the tag is also incorrect, and that the serial number is also sewn in wrongly.

A dead giveaway is the Herve Leger logo which has a border made up of five black lines on the fake version, while originals will only have three lines.

'There are a lot of things that are not good about this dress,' reveals the design professional, who calls it an 'okay fake.'

However, Fei says she would 'absolutely' be able to tell the piece was fake if she spotted someone wearing it on the street. 

Explaining that authentication expertise is brand-specific, the design professional shows just how difficult it is for re-sale stores and websites to determine which products are the real thing and which are knock-offs. 

Busted: Fei points out that the Made in China tag on this Herve Leger dress is facing the wrong direction, left, while it should read outwards

Busted: Fei points out that the Made in China tag on this Herve Leger dress is facing the wrong direction, left, while it should read outwards

Real fake: It can be difficult to determine real designer products vs. counterfeit ones because every brand is so different

Real fake: It can be difficult to determine real designer products vs. counterfeit ones because every brand is so different

Passing the test: Fei, whose designer re-sale website Lollipuff only sells authenticated goods, can instantly spot a fake - but knock-offs are tougher to see if you don't have proper training

Passing the test: Fei, whose designer re-sale website Lollipuff only sells authenticated goods, can instantly spot a fake - but knock-offs are tougher to see if you don't have proper training

As for where all these fake designer products come from, the show goes on to reveal that the fraudulent merchandise is brought in from China on container ships.

With 11,000 containers coming in to the port of Los Angeles every day, it's up to the police to inspect the containers and determine whether counterfeit products are being smuggled in to the city.

'It's incredible, sometimes, to see what they try to bring in,' one detective shares.

Common target: Chanel bags, like this one pictured, are frequently knocked-off because of their popularity and price

Common target: Chanel bags, like this one pictured, are frequently knocked-off because of their popularity and price

How it works: The Crime Watch Daily team says fraudulent products enter the US from China on massive container ships

How it works: The Crime Watch Daily team says fraudulent products enter the US from China on massive container ships

Check the Crime Watch Daily website to see when the show is on in your hometown

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