Feb 12, 2025

What Is a Fake Vape? How to Spot Illegal Vapes

If you ever find yourself in a situation where you may need to know how to spot a fake or illegal vape, there can be telltale signs that a vape isn’t up to regulatory standards or is counterfeit. This guide explores some of the signs you might want to look out for. Read on to learn how to identify potentially fake and/or illegal vapes so you can avoid purchasing one in the future.

For clarity, throughout this article, ‘fake vapes’ or ‘fake disposable vapes’ will mean counterfeit versions of existing, genuine vape brands. It’s important to note that often only experts and/or state authorities can definitively determine whether a vape and/or vape-related product is fake or genuine. More generally, this article will explore some of the types of counterfeit vape products you might encounter.

How to Tell if a Vape is Fake

When it comes to spotting a potential counterfeit, there may be some symptoms of fake vape devices and/or products you could pinpoint. These could include characteristics that don’t meet the necessary regulatory or quality standards set by the country you’re in.

The packaging, e-liquid capacity, ingredients or even price of a vape could all be tell-tale signs of its authenticity.

Packaging

Low-quality packaging and/or incorrect branding could be a potential sign of fake vapes.

Typically, a product's packaging should meet certain labelling requirements. On that note, packaging and labelling regulations sometimes differ between countries. Keep this in mind before purchasing a vape or e-liquid and look for some of the signs that could indicate a product isn’t what it claims to be.

In the EU, for example, it’s mandatory for vapes to have messaging on their packaging that states the product contains nicotine, and should only be used for adult users. Other packaging requirements relevant to the EU include presenting a list of ingredients found in the vape, information on its nicotine content, as well as details on how to properly use the product.

Similar rules also apply to countries outside of the EU. In the UK, packaging for vapes should include a list of contained ingredients as well as details on its nicotine content.

For the US market, the FDA regulates the packaging and labelling of vapes, including those of e-liquids. Their guidance on vape and e-liquid packaging and labelling includes the need to feature appropriate nicotine warning labels, usage guides, as well as clear tamper-resistant packaging.

E-Liquid Capacity and Ingredients

The amount of e-liquid in a vape could also potentially suggest that a vape is fake.

Regulations on e-liquid capacity aren’t the same in every country. If you reside in an EU state, know that disposable vapes aren't allowed to exceed a volume of 2 ml in nicotine-containing e-liquids. What’s more, e-liquid sold in refill containers for rechargeable vapes shouldn’t exceed 10 ml in total volume. It’s good to note that regulations may differ between countries, for example, in the UK, all vapes should not have a tank capacity of more than 2 ml and e-liquid refill containers are restricted to a capacity of 10 ml.

Some countries also have their own regulations on what ingredients and/or flavours are usually allowed in an e-liquid. In China, for example, the sale of non-tobacco flavoured vapes is prohibited. For EU countries, the sale of nicotine-containing e-liquids with certain vitamins, caffeine, and taurine is strictly prohibited. In the UK, there are a number of banned ingredients, including colourings, caffeine and taurine.

If you’re interested in learning more about the ingredients typically found in vapes, our article ‘What are the Ingredients in Vapes and/or E-Cigarettes’ offers a more detailed explanation.

Pricing

If a vape is being sold at a significantly lower price than typically offered in your country, this could also be a potential tell-tale sign of a fake vape.

Now that we’ve outlined how you could spot a fake vape, remember that regulations around vapes and their accessories are important so you can make informed decisions about what you buy - especially when it comes to product safety standards.

One of the most effective ways to avoid potentially purchasing fake vapes or fake disposable vapes is to buy them through a reputable manufacturer or supplier. If you are unsure whether a vape or related product is authentic or not, it may be best to contact the relevant manufacturers for more support.

Smoke-free products are not risk-free and provide nicotine, which is addictive. The best decision any adult smoker can make is to quit tobacco and nicotine use altogether. Smoke-free products are not alternatives to quitting and are not designed as cessation aids.

This article is for general information and educational purposes. Some of the information in this article is based on external, third-party sources and we make no representations or warranties of any kind regarding the accuracy, validity or completeness of such information.