IGET GUIDE · 5 MIN READ
How to Tell if an IGET Bar Is Fake: The Australian Buyer's Check
Start with the authentication code on the box: it should verify once against the manufacturer record and report as unused. A code that comes back already checked has been copied off a genuine box. After that, look at print quality on the flavour name, the weight of the device in the hand, and whether the draw is even from the first puff. A counterfeit usually falls well short of its rated puffs and dies under 1000.
By IGET Bar Australia. Published 2026-09-01. Last updated 2026-09-01.
Start With the Authentication Code
Genuine IGET packaging carries a scratch panel with a verification code. Scratch it, check it against the manufacturer record, and read the response carefully. Unused is what you want. A code that reports as already verified is the classic counterfeit signature: the counterfeiter photographed a real box and printed the same code across a whole run, so the first buyer verified it and everyone after them sees it as used. A code that does not exist at all is equally damning. Do this before you use the device, not after.
Check the Print Quality on the Flavour Name
This is the cheapest check and it catches a lot. Genuine printing is crisp with clean edges and consistent colour density. Counterfeits are usually printed from a scanned original, so the type looks slightly soft, colours are a shade off, and small text such as the warning block or the batch line loses definition. If you have a genuine device to compare against, hold them side by side under good light; the difference is usually obvious within seconds.
Weigh It in Your Hand
A counterfeit almost always weighs less, because the liquid volume and the battery are both smaller than claimed. Seams that do not sit flush, a mouthpiece with any play in it, and a rattle when shaken are all signs of a cheaper build. On a rechargeable device, check the USB-C port sits square in its cutout rather than at a slight angle. None of these are conclusive alone, but two or three together usually settle it.
Judge the First Draw
A genuine device draws evenly from the first puff, with resistance that feels consistent. A counterfeit often draws too freely, tastes thin or harsh, or produces a burnt note straight away because the wick and coil are undersized. If the very first puff tastes burnt on a brand new device that has been left to stand upright for a few minutes, that is a real signal rather than user error.
Watch How Fast It Dies
This is the check you can only make after the fact, but it is the most conclusive. A fake rated at 3500 puffs commonly dies well under 1000. If a device you bought lasted a third of what it should have, that is your answer, and it is worth going back to the seller with it. Keep the packaging until the device is finished for exactly this reason. Genuine ratings are covered in the puff count guide.
Treat a Low Price as a Warning
An IGET advertised far below the going rate is old stock, a counterfeit, or a listing that will never ship. Nobody sells genuine current stock at a loss. Treat an unusually low price as the beginning of the check rather than a bargain, and be particularly careful with marketplace listings that have no return path. Buying from an established store with a contactable seller is the simplest protection, and the full IGET catalogue here lists stock state on every item.
Where Fakes Come From
Understanding the supply chain makes the checks make sense. Counterfeit stock is manufactured to resemble a device that already sells well, then packaged using artwork copied from a genuine box. Everything the counterfeiter can photograph gets reproduced convincingly, and everything they cannot see gets cheapened: the cell, the liquid volume, the coil and the wick. That is exactly why the visual checks catch some fakes and the performance checks catch the rest. It is also why a fake can look almost perfect in the hand and still die in two days.
What to Do if You Bought a Fake
Keep the device and the packaging, both of which you need. Photograph the box, the authentication panel, the code response and the device itself. Contact the seller first with those, since a legitimate retailer will replace genuine stock that underperforms and will want to know if counterfeit product reached them. If the seller is unreachable or refuses, escalate through the payment provider or marketplace rather than absorbing it, and stop buying from that source. Do not keep using a device you believe is counterfeit: the cell and coil in a fake are the parts most likely to fail unsafely.
Why Counterfeits Are So Common in Australia
Restricted supply is what creates a counterfeit market. When a product is in demand and legitimate channels are limited, the gap gets filled by whoever can fill it, and quality control disappears with the paperwork. That is the honest context behind the volume of fake IGET stock circulating here, and it is why buying from a source with a contactable seller and a return path matters more in this category than in most. It is also why the authentication code exists at all: the manufacturer added it precisely because the problem is widespread.
The Checks in Order
Run them in the order below rather than at random, because the first two cost nothing and catch the majority. The authentication code alone rules out most counterfeit runs, since copying a code across an entire batch is the cheapest thing a counterfeiter can do and the easiest thing for a buyer to detect. Only if the code checks out is it worth spending time on the physical inspection.
The 60 second check
- Authentication code verifies once and reports as unused
- Flavour name and warning text print crisply, with no soft edges
- Device feels solid rather than light, with flush seams and no rattle
- Mouthpiece has no play in it
- First draw is even, with no burnt note on a rested device
- Price sits in the normal range rather than far below it
Frequently asked
How do I check if an IGET Bar is real?
Scratch the authentication panel on the box and verify the code against the manufacturer record. It should report as unused. A code already marked as checked has been copied from a genuine box onto a counterfeit run.
What does a fake IGET Bar look like?
Softer print on the flavour name and warning text, colours slightly off, a lighter device, seams that do not sit flush, and a mouthpiece with play in it. Individually subtle, obvious side by side with a genuine unit.
How long does a fake IGET Bar last?
Usually well under 1000 puffs against a claimed 3500, because both the liquid volume and the battery are smaller than stated. Dying at roughly a third of the rating is the strongest single sign.
Are cheap IGET Bars fake?
Not always, but an unusually low price is worth treating as the start of a check rather than a bargain. Genuine current stock is not sold at a loss.