How to Spot a Fake Louis Vuitton Wallet

Louis Vuitton wallets are highly sought-after accessories for any fashionista. Learn how to spot the telltale signs of counterfeit LV wallets with these five methods.


Nicolle Monico
Updated 27 April 2022
How to Spot a Fake Louis Vuitton Wallet

United States Counterfeit Goods Statistics


$1.3 billion in counterfeit items seized each year
$200 billion yearly loss to businesses

$959 billion (estimated value of the counterfeit market by 2022)

Source: Library of U.S. Congress

Sections on this page
  1. Where Are Fake Louis Wallets Sold?
  2. Red Flags of Fake Louis Wallets: The Listing
  3. Red Flags of Fake Louis Wallets: The Product 
  4. Where Can You Buy an Authentic Louis Vuitton Wallet? 
  5. What to Do If You Buy a Fake Louis Wallet 

As one of the biggest names in fashion, Louis Vuitton (LV) wallets have remained a hot ticket item over the years. But for those who want to avoid their hefty price tags, searching online marketplaces, vintage retailers, and third-party resellers can mean potentially ending up with a fake Louis wallet.

Scammers are always on the hunt for their next victim—and in the world of luxury goods—selling counterfeit items is a common way they hope to trick unsuspecting consumers. Learn more about how to spot a fake Louis Vuitton wallet and what to do if you buy a counterfeit. 

Where Are Fake Louis Wallets Sold?

Unfortunately, there are thousands of e-commerce platforms that sell counterfeit products, both via established sites such as eBay and Amazon, or through fake websites setup to con buyers into buying phony items.

You may also find fake Louis wallets in second-hand retailers or in other countries where counterfeit products are regularly sold.  

Red Flags of Fake Louis Wallets: The Listing

When using online marketplaces such as Facebook, Craigslist, or eBay, your first defense against fake products is by looking at the listing itself.

Typically, scammers will give themselves away via the listing by including:

  • Poor- or low-quality photos
  • Unusual spacing between words
  • Spelling and grammatical errors
  • Mismatched product descriptions

If you notice any of these details, you may be dealing with a counterfeit product.

Also be on the lookout for prices that are too good to be true. If the model of wallet you’re looking at on LV’s website is $720, but it’s being listed on a third-party site for much, much less, it’s a fake.

Red Flags of Fake Louis Wallets: The Product 

If you know the signs to look for, you can easily spot the difference between a real and fake Louis wallet. Check out some of our telltale signs of a counterfeit product below:

The Exterior 

Louis Vuitton uses real leather on their products, so the first thing to do is check the quality of its exterior.

Touch and smell the wallet, it should smell like real leather, which is dry and not sticky or oily. It should also be free of foreign odors such as plastic or chemicals and have a sturdy feel to it.

Fake Louis wallets also have a different coloring than the authentic product, showcasing a more orange pattern versus brownish grey.

The stitching should also be impeccable, both on its exterior and interior. The stitches should be in a straight line, and the distance between each stitch should be equal distance from the next.  

Real vs. fake Louis wallet

Also, take a look at the font and placement of the LV monogram and compare it to the picture on the brand's website. A fake may have a different placement of it or show thicker fonts instead of thin lines for “Louis Vuitton Paris.”

The Interior 

Louis Vuitton is meticulous about the details, so one way you can spot a fake Louis wallet is by looking at its interior. A replica won’t be as spacious as a real one and the cardholders should be close together.

Real vs. fake Louis wallet

Additionally, replicas have more pockets inside than a real Louis Vuitton wallet and the pockets tend to be looser. Fakes may also have a fabric or cheaper materials on the inside whereas real LV wallets have leather throughout.

Be sure to look at the font and spacing of the monogram inside as well. Counterfeits tend to have more distortion of the letters and may be tilted or stretched out. 

The Hardware 

Now, onto the hardware. Take a look at the zipper; the teeth should be perfectly straight so that you’re not struggling each time you zip it up. If you’re experiencing the latter, it’s likely a replica.

You can also inspect the slider attached to the zipper. A fake LV wallet may have a more muted gold coloring and will be larger than on the authentic wallet.

fake Louis wallet

The font on the slider is also different from the original. The letters are deeply engraved into the metal on authentic LV wallets while they are either poorly stamped or written on top of the slider.

The Font

The font, whether on its exterior or interior should be consistent with Louis Vuitton’s fonts and spacing. For example, the “O’s” in its name are almost perfect circles rather than an oval. 

Here are some other things to look for when inspecting the monogram:

  • The lettering should be crisp, thin, and evenly spaced
  • The stamp should be horizontally level
  • The letters are very close together but there is a small space between Louis and Vuitton
  • The L has a short leg
  • The tops of the T’s should look like they are touching
  • The O’s should appear bigger than the L
  • The letters of the “Made In” stamp should be all lowercase other than the first letter of the country

The Manufacturing Country

Louis Vuitton’s leather products are made either in Spain, France, or the U.S with a small amount also be produced in Switzerland or Italy.

Though your wallet may say “made in France,” be sure to check the brand’s website to make sure that is where this particular model was made.

They sometimes release special lines or partner with other companies to make limited edition products. If this is the case, the manufacturing country may not match what’s on the fake wallet.

Where Can You Buy an Authentic Louis Vuitton Wallet? 

The best way to buy an authentic Louis Vuitton wallet is by visiting the brand’s official website. If you do want to shop online for a real Louis wallet, you can visit high-end retailers (e.g., Bloomingdales or Saks Fifth Avenue), authorized retailers, or well-known resellers.

Some of the most reputable resellers in the luxury goods market include:

  • The RealReal
  • The Luxury Closet
  • Collector Square
  • Vestiaire Collective
  • StockX
  • The Outnet
  • Fashionphile
  • Luxury Garage Sale
  • Rebag 

What to Do If You Buy a Fake Louis Wallet 

If you find that your wallet is a replica and bought it off a site such as Craigslist or eBay, you should notify the website. Let the know as much detail about the transaction as possible and include photos of the fake Louis Vuitton wallet.

While they typically won’t be able to get your money back, they can stop the seller from tricking other buyers with fake products.

You may also want to contact your credit card company if you used your card to pay for the wallet. If you explain the situation and have details surrounding your dispute, they may be able to give you a full refund.

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