What is a counterfeit HP cartridge?
Counterfeit HP cartridges look like HP cartridges. Counterfeit HP cartridges feel like HP cartridges. Counterfeit HP cartridges are illegally sold to unsuspecting customers as HP, when in fact they aren't HP cartridges at all. However, the sad truth is that even the best counterfeit HP print cartridges cheat you out of your money and provide you with performance that can't compare to that of genuine HP cartridges. The quality and performance of a genuine HP print cartridge simply can't be reproduced.
Counterfeit print cartridges, by definition, are predominantly refilled or remanufactured print cartridges packed in unauthorized or fake reproductions of HP packaging. By illegally using the HP trademark, counterfeit products mislead consumers into believing they are getting genuine HP.
© 2012 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
Genuine vs. Counterfeit
Easy-to-discern differences between genuine and counterfeit print cartridges
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| HP places a security seal on the packaging of many of its cartridges so that it's easy to distinguish between genuine HP versus fake. HP recommends you check that an HP security seal is on the packaging and also verify the seal performs as described on this website. Keep in mind that most counterfeit HP cartridges also contain a fake security seal on the packaging. Checking for a security seal is not enough. Make sure the security seal performs exactly as described to ensure that you are purchasing a genuine HP cartridge. |
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| All HP toner cartridge models sold throughout the world contain a security seal on the packaging. |
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| HP applies a security seal only to inkjet cartridges in select geographies. Most inkjet cartridges intended for sale in the United States and Canada do not have a security seal on the packaging. All HP cartridges intended for sale in Latin America countries contain an HP security seal on the packaging, with the exception of cartridges displaying the HP Designjet brand. |
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| In addition, the newest HP security seals make verification simple by incorporating QR codes you can scan with a camera-enabled smartphone to instantly verify authenticity. |
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Color switch seal |
| Turn the HP box from side to side. |
| The colors on the seal will change from light to dark. |
| When the background is dark, half of the lettering "ORIGINAL TONER" or "ORIGINAL INK" is light, and vice versa. |
Moving image seal |
| Tilt HP box front to back to see "OK" and "(check mark)" move in opposite directions. |
| Tilt box right to left to see "OK" and "(check mark)" move in the same direction. |
QR code seal |
| The Quick Response codes on the new HP security seals contain serial numbers to allow quick verification of product authenticity. |
| Here's how: |
| Download a QR code scanner app to your camera-enabled smartphone. |
| Scan the QR code on the security seal. |
| You'll receive instant verification from HP. |
| If your phone doesn't have a camera lens, you can validate HP security seals online by going to HP.com/go/ok and entering the serial number from the seal. |
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| HP doesn't offer heavily discounted genuine print cartridges, so suspiciously low prices may be an indication that the cartridges for sale are counterfeit. If the price seems too good to be true, the cartridge probably isn't genuine. HP recommends you only purchase HP cartridges from reputable and recognized retailers. |
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| All genuine HP print cartridges come packaged in a box bearing the HP name and logo. The packaging should be undamaged and previously unopened. HP doesn't sell individual cartridges without standard outer wrapping or packaging. In addition, all HP print cartridges should look clean and new before installation. Scratches or signs of previous use on the body of the print cartridge indicate a non-original product. |
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| HP prides itself in providing cartridges that are reliable and perform to the highest standards. Cartridges that provide low-quality performance or fail prematurely may indicate the print cartridge isn't genuine. The performance of genuine HP cartridges is guaranteed to provide sharp, clear, consistent printing throughout the entire life of the cartridge. Ink streaks, leaks, or toner dust are telltale signs that a cartridge may be counterfeit product. |
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© 2012 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
Printer Features That Protect You
The HP Cartridge Authentication feature offered for HP printers helps protect you by checking and verifying the authenticity of each print cartridge installed in your printer.
Here's how it works.
When a cartridge is installed into an HP printer, a pop-up appears on the computer screen indicating the cartridge status as genuine or not genuine.
If the cartridge is genuine HP, you will receive a thank you message from HP indicating the cartridge is genuine.
If any non-HP cartridges are detected while being inserted into the printer, you will receive an immediate alert informing you that the cartridges being inserted are not genuine HP cartridges even if they were sold to you as genuine.
For HP inkjet printers and All-in-Ones, the authentication feature is already included with the printer. For HP LaserJet printers and MFPs, this feature is available via a free software upgrade from HP.
To see if your Laserjet printer is compatible with this upgrade and to install it, click here.
© 2012 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
Why choose Original HP?
Why buy Original HP print cartridges? Other than the most obvious reason (because counterfeit cartridges are illegal), the list of benefits makes loyality seem obvious.
Outstanding Value
They deliver exceptional value and reliable performance, along with lower total cost of printing. Counterfeits drain productivity and increase printing costs with reprints and poor-quality results.
Exceptional Quality
HP print cartridges enable fast, efficient printing and impressive results. HP printing is backed by 20 years of research and development. Counterfeit cartridges provide no assurances of quality.
Proven Reliability
Original HP print cartridges deliver guaranteed performance—no toner/ink leakage and messy prints. HP provides a warranty that ensures trouble-free printing.
Award-winning HP Support and Warranty
All Original HP print cartridges are backed by our award-winning support, service, and quality. Use only Original HP print cartridges to receive full HP printer warranty benefits.
© 2012 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
FAQ
The most common questions about counterfeit print cartridges are answered here.
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| Counterfeiting in the printing supplies business means the manufacturing, refilling or remanufacturing ("reman") of a print cartridge with the intention to market it in a way that suggests it is an original brand name product when this is not the case. This usually involves putting a reman/refill into a box that closely resembles genuine HP packaging, which can deceive customers into paying a higher price, believing the print cartridge to be a legitimate, original HP product. |
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| Fraud is an act of deceiving or misrepresenting, presenting an intentional perversion of the truth intended to induce a person to part with something of value, usually money. While fraud can occur without the presence of counterfeit products, counterfeiting by nature is itself a form of fraud. |
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Consistent, high quality prints |
| When you purchase genuine HP supplies, you get quality and proven reliability that offers consistently clear and sharp output. |
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Trouble-free printing |
| HP print cartridges deliver guaranteed performance--no fuss or frustration from unwanted leakage or messy printouts. Backed by reliable warranty, HP ensures your printing experience is always hassle free and enjoyable. |
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Technology behind perfect printouts |
| With 70% of the printing system's critical components in the print cartridge, you can be sure that if you're not using HP printing supplies, you're not getting HP printing. |
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Peace of mind |
| Dedicated to quality in design and manufacturing, HP stands behind our products with a continued commitment to customer satisfaction that has lasted over 60 years. |
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Packaging |
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• | Check if the HP logo is present and genuine. | |
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• | Check for signs of reproduction and flush surfaces on the outer images. | |
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• | Test that the security seal is genuine. | |
Quality |
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• | Poor, inconsistent print quality indicates that you may have obtained non-original HP print cartridges. | |
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• | Counterfeit products fail prematurely. With a failure rate of less than one in every hundred, HP print cartridges remain some of the most reliable around the world. | |
Price |
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• | HP does not sell customers heavily discounted print supplies or conduct factory surplus sales. | |
Deceptive marketing |
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• | HP does not market print supplies by phone. Beware if people call you claiming that they are HP employees or affiliates, and try to sell you their products. | |
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• | Watch out for 'free' product offers or evaluations provided by some vendors. They may oblige you to purchase later, which can cost you more in the end. | |
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• | Think twice before engaging with vendors that are unwilling to provide customer references on the products they are selling. | |
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Be wary of the following offers: |
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• | Better prices than those offered by recognized HP distributors. |
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• | Limited part-number availability. |
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• | Cash-on-delivery requirements. |
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• | Stories of fire sales, auctions, etc. |
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• | Repackaged products |
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| HP is committed to our customers and will vigorously defend the trust invested in HP quality and reliability. We will protect our customers and investigate any reports of fraudulent products with appropriate legal action. |
| Click here to report any questionable activities related to counterfeit cartridges. |
| Report counterfeit › |
| Any personal information provided to HP is considered confidential and will not be shared externally during our investigations. HP will only respond to your submission if additional information is needed to conduct an investigation. HP does not provide warranty support or product replacement for counterfeit cartridges. |
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| HP places security labels on the packaging of its inkjet and toner cartridges in many parts of the world to assist customers in selecting and purchasing an Original HP cartridge and avoid purchasing a counterfeit. These security labels contain sophisticated visual features that are hard for counterfeiters to copy, allowing customers familiar with the features to confidently purchase Original HP cartridges. And now, with HP Mobile Authentication, customers can easily authenticate the newest security label by validating the code on the label using their smartphone or a special HP website. |
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| For many years, HP has placed a security label on cartridge packaging to assist customers in differentiating Original HP cartridges from counterfeits. By their nature, counterfeit products are intended to deceive customers into believing that a product is genuine. HP security labels are designed with unique visual differentiations that are nearly impossible to reproduce in counterfeit. |
| HP's most recent version of the security label for ink and toner products features HP Mobile Authentication, which allows customers to either capture a unique serial number on the label using a Quick Response (QR) code reader on their smartphone or enter the serial number into the HP Mobile Authentication website before they purchase or open the cartridge. In either case, customers receive an immediate online response from HP regarding the label's validity. |
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| In addition to comparing the visual properties of the label on HP cartridge packaging to the descriptions provided by HP, HP Mobile Authentication allows customers to capture a unique code on the label. The code can be validated by HP either by using the QR code reader on a smartphone or by accessing the HP Mobile Authentication website from any computing device that has a web browser and an active Internet connection. To use HP Mobile Authentication, first scan the QR code with your smartphone. If the label is valid, you'll receive immediate confirmation from HP that the cartridge is safe for purchase. Invalid labels generate a warning message and a link to HP's anti-counterfeit information website for more information. |
| If you don't have the ability to scan QR codes, you can still validate the label before you open the box. Just enter the serial number listed on the security label at the HP Mobile Authentication website: www.hp.com/go/ok. |
| In order to avoid buying counterfeits, it is most effective to use HP Mobile Authentication prior to purchasing a cartridge, but HP Mobile Authentication can be used after the purchase with any device with a web browser or QR code reader that is connected to the Internet. NOTE: The HP Mobile Authentication program is available only with security labels that feature the QR code. |
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| Customers can validate security labels with QR codes using any Internet-connected device with a web browser or QR code reader, including smartphones or desktop or notebook computers. To read the QR code, customers can use any QR code reader application available for smartphone or tablet devices. Customers can also download the HP eSupplies app, which is optimized for HP QR codes and HP Mobile Authentication and available for iPad®, iPhone®, and iPod touch® from the iTunes App Store. |
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| HP does not charge customers to check security labels on cartridge packaging using HP Mobile Authentication. Since HP Mobile Authentication transfers information using the Internet connection on a smartphone or PC, the standard Internet connection rate per your wireless carrier or Internet provider does apply. HP Mobile Authentication requires a minimal amount of data usage to validate a cartridge. Users with a pay-per-use data plan should expect charges similar to visiting other websites |
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© 2012 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
Links and Downloads
Helpful resources are just a click away.
HP Toner Cartridge Authentication software:
www.hp.com/go/TonerCheck
For the latest list of supported HP LaserJet printers or MFPs:
www.hp.com/go/learnaboutsupplies
Anticounterfeit organizations:
http://www.iacc.org/
http://www.theglobalipcenter.com
HP eSupplies app:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/hp-esupplies/id333204263?mt=8
© 2012 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
