Counterfeit toner is a real business, and the boxes have got convincing. If you bought cartridges from a marketplace seller at a price that seemed unusually good, it's worth checking before you try to sell them — and worth checking before you put them in a printer, since poor-quality toner can damage a drum.
1. The Security Hologram
Most major manufacturers apply a security label with a hologram. Tilt the box under a light: a real hologram shifts colour or pattern as the angle changes. A printed imitation stays flat no matter how you turn it. Some manufacturers also include a scratch-off code you can verify on their website.
A missing hologram doesn't automatically mean counterfeit — some older stock predates them, and some regions differ — but it's the first thing to look at.
2. Matching Part Numbers
The part number on the outside of the box should match the one printed on the cartridge inside, exactly. Counterfeiters often get the box right and the cartridge wrong, because the box is what sells the product. If you can see the cartridge through a window or without breaking the seal, compare them.
3. The Factory Seal
Genuine cartridges are sealed by machine: even, tight, consistent from box to box. Look for tape that's been added, glue residue, a seal that's been cut and re-stuck, or shrink wrap that's loose and baggy. Any of those mean the box has been open, whatever the seller said.
4. Print Quality on the Packaging
Manufacturers print their own packaging to a high standard. Fuzzy text, colours that look slightly off, misaligned printing, spelling mistakes, and cheap flimsy cardboard are all signs. If you have a cartridge you know is genuine, compare them side by side — the difference is usually obvious once you have something to compare against.
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Send us a photo of the box. We look at these every day and we'll tell you what you have.
Send a Photo →Other Warning Signs
- The price was far below everyone else. Genuine surplus is discounted, not free.
- The listing photo was generic rather than the actual item.
- The box has no country of manufacture or no manufacturer contact details.
- The weight feels wrong. Counterfeits are often underfilled and noticeably lighter.
What Happens If You Send Us One
We check every cartridge that arrives. If something turns out not to be genuine, we'll tell you, and it simply comes off the offer — we're not going to quietly pay you less and say nothing. Most people who send us a counterfeit had no idea; they bought it in good faith and it sat in a cupboard.
It's also worth reporting to the manufacturer. Most run brand-protection programmes and want to know where counterfeits are being sold.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Some older stock predates the security labels and packaging varies by region. Treat it as a reason to check the other three things, not a verdict.
Usually yes. The hologram, the seal, and the print quality of the packaging are all visible from the outside — and opening it would cost you value anyway.
We tell you, and it comes off the offer. We don't quietly reduce a payment without explaining why.
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