A woman who has sold over £50m worth of designer bags has revealed how people can spot if they’ve been scammed as purchasing on social media becomes more popular than ever.
Emily Abraham is well-known for being the co-owner of a luxury pre-loved fashion boutique.
The 45-year-old, along with her husband, Adam, 38, hit television screens with their expertise on the ITV show, Million Pound Pawns, which sparked their popularity online.
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Now, they boast over 4.3m followers on TikTok, where they sell exclusive items – including the world’s rarest designer handbags.
But with ‘knock-offs’ becoming more frequent, especially on social media sites, how can you tell if your item is the real deal?
“Counterfeit designer goods are increasingly becoming more sophisticated and harder to spot,” Emily, who lives between Dubai and London, told Founder Insights.
“The only way to check if something is 100% genuine is to take it to a trusted professional.
“It’s not something you can learn on YouTube.
“And when purchasing such a high value item, it’s important to be sure it’s the real deal.
“But there are some ways in which self-assessment can be possible.
“If the seller is too eager, or the price is suspiciously low, then think again.
“Is it from a trusted store that you can visit in person? If not, and it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is.”
Emily also advises to check the smell, as there should be no odour of glue or plastic, which a lot of fakes have.
She said: “Check the shine of the hardware and the font.
“Is there accuracy of the stitching? As there should be no out of line stitches or anything that doesn’t look of the most high quality perfection.
“Even the packaging can be a tell-tale sign.
“There’s a huge amount that is scrutinised when authenticating a designer product.
“I have come across so many people who have been scammed and there’s unfortunately a lot of people who are making a lot of money in doing so.”
Emily says learning to authenticate an item can’t be taught in a few sentences – it requires years of hands-on training.
For a seasoned professional, it’s “easy” to spot a fake.
To purchase successfully on the booming secondary market, she advises to avoid items that are trending.
She said: “I’m seeing accessories that were once only accessible to the rich and connected through years of building portfolios available to the general public scrolling on social media.
“Trends can really impact the value of an item – but this can also mean that fakes will be circulating – so hold off until the phase has passed.
“You’ll be more likely to find an authentic version; and for less.”
Emily, who is known for her luxurious lifestyle, didn’t have the best start in life after finding herself in and out of foster care at a young age.
Today, she works with some of the richest people in the world, selling and sourcing high-end designer items, through her company, Love Luxury.
Her most expensive sale? A Richard Mille Rm88 smiley face watch for an eye-watering £2.2m.
She added: “We have, on occasion, had to close the shop for VIP customers and even open up on days we would normally have been shut.
“Clients come in their private jets just to collect bags and watches.
“I have kept a few items clients have brought in to sell back to us.
“Sometimes, there’s items that are so hard to get a hold of.
“And when they come along, if we really like it, we tend to keep it.
“It’s hard to resist.
“I think my younger self would look at me today and think: ‘Wow, she’s fancy ain’t she.’
“I’ve always known that I would do better than the hand that I was dealt.
“I think a part of me always knew that this was where I was going to be.”
