How to avoid counterfeit and unsafe products online

In this episode of NPR's Life Kit, host Marielle Segarra interviews Kari Kammel, director of the Center for Anti-Counterfeiting and Product Protection at Michigan State University, about how to avoid buying counterfeit products online and in stores. Kari provides tips such as buying directly from trusted brands or authorized pharmacies, carefully vetting third-party sellers on e-commerce platforms, being wary of steep discounts, and reporting suspected counterfeits to the platform, the brand, or government agencies. The discussion covers various commonly counterfeited items, the dangers of fake products, and the importance of protecting oneself from illegitimate and unsafe goods.