BANGKOK, Thailand – The Department of Intellectual Property is urging consumers to be cautious when shopping during the popular 8.8 sales festival, advising them to check four key areas before making a purchase — the seller, price, product details and reviews. Director-General Auramon Supthaweethum said the 8.8 shopping period brings increased activity both online and in physical stores, but consumers should not be tempted by unusually low prices or attractive promotions without checking whether sellers and products are genuine and reliable.
The department recommends buying from official or reputable stores with clear seller information, purchase records and return policies. Consumers should also be cautious of prices that appear unusually low compared with normal market prices. Product details should also be checked carefully, including the product name, ingredients, manufacturing and expiry dates, manufacturer, importer, seller, country of origin and relevant certification marks such as FDA or TIS approvals. Packaging should be intact and free from signs of tampering.
Consumers are also advised to examine reviews, ratings, the seller’s operating history and the number of purchases. Suspicious reviews, including large numbers of identical comments or reviews lacking genuine product-use details, should be treated with caution. Auramon warned that counterfeit and intellectual-property-infringing products may not meet safety or manufacturing standards and could pose risks to consumers. Buying genuine products from legitimate sellers also supports businesses, brand owners, creators and inventors who invest in developing new products and technology. The Department of Intellectual Property has continued working with law-enforcement agencies, rights holders, businesses and e-commerce platforms to combat intellectual-property violations both online and in physical markets.
During the first six months of 2026, authorities recorded 457 intellectual-property infringement cases, seized 1,655,231 items and reported damages valued at more than 787.1 million baht. Authorities also coordinated with online platforms to suspend sales of 1,405 infringing listings. The department has signed cooperation agreements with five major e-commerce platforms — Shopee, Lazada, TikTok Shop, LINE and Nex Gen Commerce — using a Notice and Takedown system to allow consumers and rights holders to report suspected infringing products directly to platforms.
Consumers who spot suspected intellectual-property infringement can report it to the Department of Intellectual Property’s Intellectual Property Rights Enforcement Division at 02-547-4702, the 1368 hotline, or through the Department of Intellectual Property website.
