46% consumers in Hyd bought counterfeit product at least once | Hyderabad News

Hyderabad: As many as 89 % Indian consumers have bought a counterfeit product at least once, according to the Authentication Solution Providers’ Association (ASPA)–CRISIL state of counterfeiting in India 2025 report, presented at the “Fake Free India” event in Hyderabad on Sunday.The nationwide study surveyed 1,639 consumers across nine cities and six sectors — apparel, FMCG, automotive parts, consumer durables, healthcare products and agro-products. It found that 35% of respondents had encountered a counterfeit product in the past year, while consumers estimated that nearly 29% of products in local markets could be fake.Hyderabad recorded the highest share of consumers (46%), who said they had encountered counterfeit products in the past 12 months, followed by Chennai at 39% and Bengaluru at 33%.Counterfeit goods were perceived to be most prevalent in apparel at 34%, followed by consumer electronics at 31%, healthcare products (28%), FMCG (25%), agrochemicals (23%) and automotive parts at 22%.While 62% consumers said they check a product’s authenticity before purchase, only 34% check holograms, 23% QR codes and 13% use digital identity tools. The report said many consumers still depend mainly on packaging and branding to judge whether a product is genuine.“Counterfeiting is deeply embedded in the everyday consumer experience across sectors, and that has to be a wake-up call for consumer awareness,” said ASPA president Ankit Gupta.Bejon Kumar Misra, international consumer policy expert and ASPA member, said counterfeiting was primarily a consumer-protection issue. He called for simple and accessible tools that enable buyers to identify, verify and report suspicious products.