From $150k Lost to Fake to Luxury Authenticator Lead: Joyce's Fight Against Counterfeits

Meet Joyce: The Veteran Eye Spotting Luxury Fakes

From $150k Lost to Fake to Luxury Authenticator Lead: Joyce's Fight Against Counterfeits

2025-06-10 08:25

Joyce is the head of LEGIT APP’s luxury authentication team. With over 8 years of hands-on experience across all major luxury brands, Joyce is known for his sharp eye and no-compromise attitude when it comes to fighting fakes. Now, he’s here to talk about his journey in luxury goods authentication. Let’s dive into his story together!

Q: How did your journey in authentication begin?

Joyce: Before this, I owned a secondhand luxury store. Back then, I didn’t have reliable authentication tools and ended up getting slammed with over $150,000 in fakes. This mess lit a fire under me to figure out what separates the genuine from the counterfeit, and I started building my own system to spot the differences — comparing fakes with real products, looking for patterns, hardware, etc.

When I stumbled across LEGIT APP’s tutorials, they blew me away with details I’d never even thought about. Then I applied, passed the test, and joined the team.

Q: What skills does a good authenticator need?

Joyce: Very first, sharp observation. You have to catch the smallest differences in materials, shapes, or fonts. Second, patience — you need time and experience with real items to build good instincts. And most importantly, you have to keep learning. Fakes get better, so you have to stay one step ahead.

Q: What does a LEGIT APP luxury authenticator usually check?

Joyce: We focus on three main areas:

1. Overall appearance – Shape, leather texture, and materials.

2. Tags and labels – Font style, embossing, tag material, and whether the model info matches the item.

3. Hardware – Details like engraving, finish, and weight of the metal parts.

Q: What do you look for when hiring new authenticators?

Joyce: Character is key. We want people who care about protecting consumers, not just doing a job. Anyone with a background in counterfeiting? Immediate no. Also, this job requires non-stop learning — fakes evolve fast, and you have to keep up.

Q: How long does it take to train a new authenticator?

Joyce: On average, it takes about 18 months of focused learning and hands-on practice to reach our standards.

Q: Any advice for people who want to learn authentication?

Joyce: You have to love it — this is a career of lifelong learning. Second, you need to dig into lots of real products. And if you're serious about luxury authentication, I highly recommend AuthClass, the online luxury authentication course powered by LEGIT APP. It’s structured, taught by real pros, and saves you a lot of time and money.

High-Risk Bags: What Makes Them Tough?

Q: Which bag styles are the hardest to check?

Joyce: Hot styles like the LV Carryall, YSL Niki, and Chanel CF. The more popular the bag, the better the fakes. For these, we look at small hidden details — things like the studs on the Carryall or the round buckle on the Niki’s strap. These hard-to-replicate areas are key.

Q: What if even you can’t tell right away?

Joyce: Then we buy both the highest-quality fake and the real one. We study them side-by-side, run material tests if needed, and write up a detailed internal report. This way, our entire team stays informed and can make fast, accurate calls in the future.

Q: How do you keep your knowledge up to date?

Joyce: Every time a brand updates its designs or materials, we buy the latest versions and update our system. We also monitor new fake trends — if a new super fake hits the market, we break it down immediately and update our internal guides. Real-time updates are a must in this job.

Final Words

Joyce and his team at LEGIT APP don’t just catch fakes — they’re constantly leveling up, adapting, and pushing the standard for luxury authentication. Because at the end of the day, it’s not just about the product — it’s about trust.