Answer first
A fake Burberry bag copies a Burberry trademark: the Equestrian Knight Device, the Thomas Burberry monogram, the Haymarket check, or the BURBERRY word mark. Burberry licenses none of these marks to outside bag makers. A bag that carries the marks without Burberry authorization is counterfeit. Selling it in the US is a federal crime under 18 U.S.C. 2320. Buying one personal item is not a federal crime, but US Customs and Border Protection treats counterfeit goods as prohibited merchandise and can seize them.
Marks that counterfeiters copy
- Equestrian Knight Device: a knight on horseback with a spear and a banner reading "Prorsum".
- Haymarket check: beige ground with black, white, and red lines. Burberry cut back its use of this check in mainline products after 2018.
- TB monogram: interlocking T and B letters, introduced in 2018.
- Word mark: BURBERRY in capital letters.
How to check a Burberry bag
- Country of origin tag: leather styles are made in Italy. The tag sits inside a seam, not on a loose card in the box.
- Check alignment: on a genuine Haymarket check, the lines run straight across seams and pocket flaps.
- Hardware: zippers and clasps have weight and a finish that matches the bag. Fakes use light, plated parts that flake.
- Stitching: even spacing with no loose thread.
- Serial number: some styles carry a number on the back of the "Made in" tag. Many do not, so a missing number proves nothing.
- Price: new Burberry leather bags list from about $1,000. Counterfeit listings ask $40 to $300.
What US law says
18 U.S.C. 2320 covers trafficking in counterfeit goods. A first offense by an individual carries up to 10 years in prison and a $2,000,000 fine. The Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. 1114 and 1117, lets a brand owner sue, with statutory damages of up to $2,000,000 per counterfeit mark when the use is willful. Customs can seize shipments at the border. The gray-market personal-use exemption under 19 CFR 133.23 covers genuine goods, not counterfeits.
Where fakes show up
Street markets, flea markets, social apps, and marketplace listings. Common flags: stock photos instead of the item, payment by wire transfer or gift card, no return policy, "replica" or "inspired" in the title, and a seller who ships from a country the listing does not mention.
Costs of a counterfeit bag
- No manufacturer warranty and no repair service.
- Resale value near zero. Resellers and authentication services reject counterfeits.
- Payment fraud risk. Sellers who take bank transfers or gift cards often do not ship.
- Counterfeit trade funds organized crime, per OECD and UNODC reporting.
If you already bought one
Credit card chargebacks and payment disputes cover items that are not as described. A counterfeit bag sold as genuine qualifies. Report the listing to the platform and to Burberry's brand protection team. Customs takes reports of counterfeit imports through its e-Allegations system.