Test Purchase & Trap Purchase Planning

A Checklist for Physical Counterfeit Evidence

Physical evidence of a counterfeit product is evidence no screenshot can replicate.

Plan the purchase before you execute — objectives, identity, entrapment assessment
Capture the listing before purchase — timestamped, hashed, complete
Document the purchase flow — cart, checkout, confirmation, shipping
Document receipt and opening — video or photographic sequence
Document the product in detail — all sides, trademark elements, defects
Prepare a test purchase witness statement — chain of custody confirmation

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Pre-buy

Listing capture timing

The listing capture must precede the purchase. This establishes what was offered for sale at the moment of the transaction — a distinct and important evidential point from what was received.

Product documentation angles

All four sides of the product, plus close-up photographs of trademark elements, authentication features, and any quality defects — the minimum required for a comprehensive product exhibit.

100%

Packaging retention required

Every element of the shipment — outer packaging, inner packaging, inserts, invoices, customs declarations, and void fill — must be retained as a physical exhibit and logged.

Key Principle

The evidentiary record of a test purchase begins before the first click — with a timestamped capture of the listing in its pre-purchase state. Evidence of what was offered for sale at the moment of purchase is as important as the product received.

What's Inside

7 steps for defensible test purchases.

I Plan the Purchase Before You Execute — objectives, identity, entrapment assessment

II Capture the Listing Before Purchase — timestamped, hashed, complete

III Document the Purchase Flow — cart, checkout, confirmation, shipping

IV Document Receipt and Opening — video or photographic sequence

V Document the Product in Detail — all sides, trademark elements, defects

VI Retain All Packaging and Documentation — every element as a physical exhibit

VII Prepare a Test Purchase Witness Statement — chain of custody confirmation