Fake or counterfeit Juul pods can be easily identified from the authentic product by certain features.
These include packaging, using Juul’s technology designed for verifying their products and reading reports from official agencies.
National authorities and Juul, the producer of the pods, have long been concerned about the sale of phony Juul products to teenagers and the environment in which counterfeits are manufactured.
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Juul and the Vaping Industry
Juul is a manufacturer of high-end vaping devices and e-liquid pods. Despite its small size, a Juul pod can be expensive.
Recent research sponsored by the FDA and other health institutions showed at least half of high-schoolers and eighth-graders who vape tended to use Juul.
Mango Juul pods are one of the brand’s most popular flavors among young e-cigarette users.
Juul labs actively investigates reports of counterfeit Juul items, along with federal authorities, in an effort to halt the sale of counterfeit Juul pods and accessories to underage consumers.
Their devices have caused concern on international levels as well.
In 2019, a large shipment of counterfeit Juul products originating from China was discovered in Philadelphia and confiscated by the U.S. Customs and the Border Patrol Agency.
When counterfeit Juul vapes originate from another country, the matter becomes a concern at the federal level.
How to Spot Counterfeit Juul Pods?
Here are a few things to look for when buying Juul products to be confident you’re purchasing the real thing.
Appearance
Discrepancies in appearance and packaging between real and phony Juul pods are one of the main ways to know if a retailer is selling counterfeit items.
A fake Juul kit will not be professionally packed.
Next, the box may contain a series of dots instead of the original Juul logo.
These fake vaping devices have been known for leakages of e-juice or vape juice. This is one reason phony Juul pods tend to be half the price of real ones.
Another characteristic of a potentially fake Juul pod is a burnt taste when vaping.
This is consistent with vape juice kept in poor storage conditions by producers of counterfeit products.
The production sites for inauthentic products often lack proper cleanliness standards.
Juul Retailers
Real Juul pods, kits, and other company products are sold on the company’s website or through authorized Juul vendors.
To buy a real Juul pod, consumers must register their date of birth and ID number on the official website to show that that they are at least twenty-one years of age.
Unauthorized vendors and providers of bogus Juul pods are very clever. Some teens report obtaining their pods through eBay, Amazon, family, and even friends.
Online vendors have also created multiple fake profiles to make it difficult to spot a counterfeit Juul kit and for authorities to track their illegal activities.
Juul Technology
Juul labs created a new design in the UK to deter the production of fake Juul devices called Juul 2. This new technology is designed to pair only with other Juul 2 products, thereby protecting the company and targeting counterfeit pods. Juul 2 products will entail a very rigorous process to verify age and ID, a development aimed at underage users and illegal pod markets.
In the past, Juul was accused of marketing products to teenagers due to research suggesting 25-34 year-olds are less likely to use Juul products than younger users aged 15-17. This is one reason Juul encourages consumers to check their Juul device code using the unique sequence assigned to real Juul pods. The code found on a counterfeit Juul item will yield the message “invalid” when entered on Juul’s website.
Agency Reports
Agencies specializing in drugs and public health report businesses involved in fake Juul packaging schemes and warn consumers to buy Juul pods directly from the manufacturer.
In late 2019, police in Indiana and Texas found counterfeit Juul pods sold in convenience stores by identifying cheap packaging.
Moreover, Juul labs and international officials actively investigate the production and sale of fake Juul pods online and in retail markets.
In late 2020, a producer of counterfeit Juul brand items was shut down in China by federal authorities after an exhaustive investigation conducted by Juul.
Keeping up with reports from governments and organizations has aided in the detection of mock Juul pods.
Conclusion
Consumers looking to purchase Juul pods can learn to identify an authentic Juul vape versus a fake Juul pod. This involves paying close attention to signs of e-juice scammers, faulty packaging, and discrepancies in ingredients.
Fake Juul pods have been marketed to underage users who cannot obtain the product directly through Juul’s verification process.
Now, Juul’s updated technology strives to combat illegal sales of inauthentic products by featuring a verifiable code assigned to each pod.
Fake Juul pods have alarmed federal and local officials in several countries. These officials warn about the dangers counterfeit Juul products pose to consumers.
The tracking of fake pods sends a message to the entire vaping industry of using care in marketing to their audience.