You’re an intelligent consumer. You look for bargains, but you also know to avoid scams, such as fake rent-to-own property ads on social media or knockoff video game consoles being sold as the real thing.
But did you know that the infant car seat you’re looking at, on clearance at what appears to be a major retailer’s website, could be counterfeit and lack the safety features that protect your baby?
It’s one of the latest scams, and it could be too late by the time you catch it.
Where Are You Shopping?
We all know that buying a second-hand car seat can be risky. In some states, it may even be illegal to resell one, and even where it’s legal, many thrift shops, consignment shops, and other secondhand resellers won’t consider offering them because of potential liability issues.
So, we turn to major, trusted retailers, the big box stores, and online warehouses we’ve all learned are our best bet for buying the same goods at lower prices — especially when you do it online. I just scrolled the site of one of the most popular big box stores in America. While most of their top search results for infant car seats run in the neighborhood of $120-$280, I also found a belt-positioning booster from a major name brand for under $50 and a basic infant seat for under $80.
There are legit options for these prices, but this site also hosts sales from third-party sellers. If you’re not paying attention, it would be easy to accidentally purchase from one while thinking you’re buying from a big box store known to be pretty friendly with returns.
The Big Scam: Fake Car Seat & False Appearances
It looks like you’re buying from a well-known retailer. Still, if you’re purchasing from a third-party seller, you may be buying a counterfeit car seat (this applies to other products as well, so it pays to be cautious).
In fact, US News reported that one mom was preparing to take her newborn home from the hospital just this summer when a sharp-eyed nurse warned her that the car seat she’d received as a gift from a relative who thought they were purchasing from a trusted retailer wasn’t safe.
Typically, when you realize your mistake, the scammer has made their money and disappeared.
How Can You Tell What You’re Buying?
Making your purchase in-store is one simple way to reduce your risks. The obvious drawbacks are some of the same things that send parents running to online retail options, to begin with — it’s not always convenient, sometimes things are out of stock in-store that are available online, and sometimes there are good bargains online. However, if you’re not confident in your ability to spot a fake, it may be the most straightforward answer.
If you buy online, check for information about who is selling the item. There may be a notation near the “add to cart” button or directly under the product description, which may say something like “fulfilled by” or “sold and shipped by.”
If the seller isn’t the company whose website you’re on, you may want to consider skipping it. If the seller is not the retailer but a major brand, look closely to make sure that it really is that company — scammers are notorious for using a recognizable name but adding a period, a misspelling, or, for example, swapping an uppercase “I” with a lowercase “L” in the name. If you’re not sure, click the seller’s name for more information and keep an eye out for anything that looks shady.
What To Look For After Purchasing
So, you’ve got your new infant seat in your house, and something is giving you bad vibes. Maybe it arrived with less packaging than you expected or feels flimsy. How can you tell if things are right?
Step one can be to look for languages. Safe Kids explains that the safety warnings on the side of the car seat should be in English and Spanish in the U.S. If they aren’t there at all or are in another language, that should set off warning bells.
Then look for a manual and registration card. Register your car seat immediately so that you are alerted if the registration number—and therefore the seat—is not legitimate. This approach will also ensure that you’re notified if there’s a recall.
Make Sure The System Is Complete
Your infant seat should not arrive missing parts. If parts are missing, you should contact the manufacturer immediately, but SafeKids warns that it could also be a sign of a counterfeit. What should be in the box?
A 5-point harness with straps that go over the hips and shoulders
A chest clip
A splitter plate behind the seat
Labeling with specific weight and height limits
Manufacturing label with name, model number, date of manufacture and/or expiration dates
Registration card and manual
What If You Are Not Sure?
Every state has professionals who will be happy to check your car seat for its safety and correct installation.
Start with the National Child Passenger Safety Certification program’s safety technician finder. Their directory will locate all options near you.
You can also ask at the hospital before leaving — there is typically someone there who can make sure your infant seat is safe and correctly installed, and they are dedicated. Once I had a hospital employee climb into the vehicle and put her own weight into forcing the vehicle’s belt tight enough to prevent the infant seat from moving!
If you’re a AAA member, the organization also offers car seat inspections; in some states, local fire departments will also.
What If You Do End Up With A Counterfeit Seat?
First, don’t use it!
Contact the retailer through which you bought it. They may refund or replace it even if it was through a third-party seller. You can also contact your bank or credit card issuer and attempt to dispute the charge if a refund isn’t available.
In the meantime, if you can’t afford to replace the car seat, check with local organizations, including the hospital, health departments, Social Services (especially if you receive or are eligible for Medicaid), and police departments. Kid Travel has a more comprehensive list of organizations across every state to look for help.
