fakes

A fake is an imitation or counterfeit presented as the genuine article in order to deceive about origin, authorship, or quality. Fakes can involve physical objects, documents, media, or individuals, and may aim to defraud, mislead, or undermine the value of authentic items.

Common categories include counterfeit goods such as clothing or electronics, forged documents like passports or diplomas, fake news and misinformation, counterfeit currencies, forged artworks, fake profiles and bots, and digital fakes such as deepfakes. The term covers a broad range of deceptive artifacts and claims.

Detection and prevention rely on provenance and authentication, expert examination, and forensic analysis. In digital contexts, tools include watermarking, tamper-evident marks, cryptographic signatures, and blockchain-based provenance. Fact-checking, media verification, and platform moderation also play important roles in limiting the spread of fakes.

Impacts of fakes can be economic and reputational, causing losses for consumers and brands, undermining trust in markets, and introducing safety risks when counterfeit products are used. Legal frameworks and enforcement efforts aim to deter fraudulent activity, while consumer protection measures, industry standards, and public education seek to reduce exposure to deception.

In modern environments, the spread of fakes is facilitated by online marketplaces, social media, and complex supply chains. Challenges include deepfakes in audio and video, fake reviews, and phishing schemes that leverage the perception of authenticity to mislead individuals and organizations. See also fake news, forgery, counterfeit, deepfake, and hoax.