FAKE PRODUCTS WERE SOLD TO INNOCENT GIRLS
A few months back, I was at the bus station waiting for a friend when I overheard a conversation that stuck with me. A young girl, maybe 19 or 20, was on the phone with someone—probably her mom—trying her best to hold back tears. She had just realized the “original†hair product she’d spent all her savings on was fake. And not just fake—it had burned her scalp.
I remember thinking, That could’ve been my sister. Or me, a few years ago. I mean, let’s be real: we’ve all fallen for something that looked too good to be true. I once bought “Nike†sneakers off a random guy on Instagram. They showed up looking like they were stitched together during a power outage. But while my loss was annoying, this girl’s situation was painful. Physically and emotionally.
She said she bought the product at a small shop in town—one of those stores with shelves packed so tight you can’t breathe without knocking something over. The vendor had sworn it was imported, even pulled out some laminated flyer with celebrity endorsements (which now I’m sure was Photoshopped to death). The girl had saved up for weeks, hoping to treat her hair after a harsh relaxer gone wrong. Instead, she ended up with chemical burns and a heart full of regret.
And here’s the worst part—she wasn’t even angry at the vendor. She blamed herself. Said she should’ve known better, should’ve “done more research.†I hate how that happens. How we start turning the blame inward just because someone else decided to be dishonest.
In my experience, that’s the thing about scams or fake products. They don’t just rob you of your money—they chip away at your trust. Not just in people, but in yourself. You start second-guessing every decision after that. You stare at every price tag a little longer. You start wondering if that serum or phone or pair of jeans is the real deal or another lesson in disappointment.
Now, I’m not trying to sound all dramatic, but these things add up. And it happens a lot more than people realize. Especially to young girls who are just trying to look good, feel confident, and maybe post a cute selfie without worrying if their skin will break out or their hair will fall off.
I think what bothered me the most about that day was how normal it felt. Like everyone around her just kept walking. No one asked if she was okay. No one even flinched. And maybe that’s the scariest part—we’re so used to these things happening, we don’t even blink anymore.
There has to be a better way. Maybe stricter product checks. Maybe holding these small vendors more accountable. Or maybe—just maybe—teaching young people that it’s okay to ask questions, to doubt a deal, to walk away when something feels off.
Because that innocent girl? She deserved better. We all do.
And yeah, next time you see someone checking out a “miracle†product with a too-smooth-talking seller? Maybe just give them a quiet heads-up. A little “Hey, you sure about that?†can go a long way.