A popular Australian luxury retailer has been authorized by a government authority to sell “superfake” designer handbags.
An extensive investigation by NSW Fair Trading found there was no evidence to support the 1,000 claims that Cosette had been selling fake bags.
The company, founded in 2015, operates as an online multi-brand design store and has a physical flagship store in The Rocks in Sydney’s CBD.
NSW Fair Trading was inundated with hundreds of unhappy Cosette customers who claimed they had been sold “superfake” designer bags, the Daily Telegraph information.
Cosette has consistently denied allegations that she sold fake designer products.
NSW Fair Trading has confirmed that more than 1,000 complaints have been dismissed after working directly with European luxury brands to test the authenticity of items.
Those brands include Prada, Saint Laurent, Gucci, Burberry and Balenciaga.
“Our investigation found no evidence to support allegations that designer bags sold by Cosette are fake – each item was tested and verified as authentic by the brand,” a NSW Fair Trading spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia.
Cosette was accused of selling “super fake” bags from luxury brands such as Prada
“In some cases, the luxury brand confirmed the authenticity of bags that several online authenticators had warned customers were fake.”
The regulator has warned customers to be wary of online authenticators.
“The investigation highlights that there are significant issues with the accuracy and reliability of online authenticators, which use artificial intelligence and algorithms to provide authentications,” the spokesperson said.
In August 2023, it was reported that NSW Fair Trading had received more than 550 complaints about Cosette regarding luxury items valued at more than $1 million.
The clearing of Cosette’s name comes as a customer’s lawsuit against the company was dismissed in a separate court.
Cosette was taken to the New South Wales Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) by customer Yi Feng Percival, who was awarded a refund for a Saint Laurent Lou camera bag.
NSW Fair Trading has confirmed more than 1,000 complaints against Cosette have been dismissed, including claims they sold “superfake” Gucci bags (pictured)
The NCAT had initially ruled that an authenticator had deemed the bag, which sells for $2,550, in Australia to be fake.
Cosette successfully appealed the decision and the customer was ordered to return the refund to the luxury brand.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Cosette and NCAT for comment.