Counterfeit luxury goods have taken over eBay to the extent that Tiffany and LVMH have sued the website over knockoffs’ omnipresence.

Websites like iOffer.com enable the trade by connecting sellers with wholesalers of counterfeit products, from DVF dresses to Cartier watches.

People who buy fakes usually fall into one of two categories: those who like the look of the real thing and can’t afford it, and those who have purchased an inauthentic good unwittingly.

On the first count, we have no advice but to search for high-quality authentic goods in your budget, as there are stylish items at all price points.

For the second group, many bogus goods are now being sold with certifications (for example, see this wholesale lot of the uber-popular Chanel 5076H oversize sunglasses, complete with serial numbers and authenticity papers — all meticulously faked).

Your best bet to ensure authenticity is always to purchase a luxury item from the designer’s boutique, as for the most part luxury brands limit their online sales to a few authorized sites.

But most importantly, the conditions under which counterfeits are produced are typically awful. Often they are made in Chinese sweatshops by children who have been abused or sold into slavery, which is possibly the most compelling argument against fakes.

No matter how badly you want that bag that’s just out of your price range, are you willing to take the ethical risk?