ONEWING GROUP LIMITED › RELX HERC 12000 › How to Spot a Fake IGET or RELX: Authenticity Checks That Work (2026)

How to Spot a Fake IGET or RELX: Authenticity Checks That Work

By ONEWING GROUP LIMITED · Updated 2026 · Reading time: 8 min

Counterfeits in this category rarely reach the end user first. They reach the distributor, the wholesaler or the shop, because trade buyers are the ones ordering cartons and paying invoices — and because a fake carton looks like margin right up until the returns start. These seven checks are ordered so that the fastest eliminations come first.

Counterfeits are a trade problem before a consumer problem

A counterfeit device carries three commercial risks that a cheap price never covers. It can fail at a rate that turns into a returns cycle. It can contain a nicotine level that does not match its label, which in the Australian framework is a compliance problem rather than a quality one. And it damages the brand equity of the authentic product, which is the asset you are actually selling.

Every check below can be run before you pay an invoice. That is the point of the order they are in.

Seven checks, in the order to run them

1. Price sanity first. If a quote for authentic branded stock lands well below the wholesale floor for that model, the question is not whether it is a bargain but what has been removed to create it. Counterfeits are priced to be irresistible.
2. Verification codes and scratch panels. Genuine IGET and RELX products carry authentication codes that resolve on the brand’s official verification channel. Check that a code resolves, and then check that the same code does not resolve repeatedly across cartons — cloned codes are the most common counterfeit trick.
3. Print quality and typography. Look for inconsistent font weights, kerning that changes mid-sentence, spelling errors, low-resolution brand marks and misaligned colour separation. Genuine packaging is printed to a fixed standard on every batch.
4. Batch codes and serials. Genuine production is batch-controlled and the code is printed, embossed or laser-etched consistently. Missing, duplicated or inkjet-looking batch codes on a premium product are a decisive signal.
5. Physical build quality. Weight is the hardest thing to fake cheaply. Compare against a known authentic device: counterfeit housings are usually lighter, with rough seams, loose fitment and visibly cheaper finishes.
6. Charging port and controls. On rechargeable models, check the port alignment and the tactile behaviour of the button. A USB-C port that sits crooked in its cutout is a manufacturing standard you will not find on authentic stock.
7. Display and performance behaviour. Where a device has a display or indicator, check that it behaves exactly as documented. Counterfeit firmware often shows the wrong sequence, fails to update, or reports percentages that do not track actual use.

Verify the source, not just the device

The checks above catch a fake in your hands. Supplier verification is what stops it arriving at all, and it is the more economical habit.

Ask directly: where is the product manufactured, who is the authorised distributor for your market, and can they provide traceability from the batch code on the carton back to a production lot? A manufacturer or its authorised wholesale partner answers these without hesitating, because the documentation already exists. A reseller has to invent the answer.

ONEWING GROUP LIMITED manufactures and supplies the RELX HERC range directly, which means batch documentation and specification sheets are part of the supply conversation rather than an escal request. That is the practical difference between buying hardware and buying someone else’s remainder stock.

Documentation a real supplier provides without being asked

• Product specification sheet with actual capacity, cell rating, coil construction and housing material
• Batch code, and a lot reference you can trace
• Certificates of Analysis from an independent laboratory, including nicotine content verification for anything labelled zero-nicotine
• Safety data for the battery cell and the e-liquid
• Clear statement of the defects policy and how claims are processed

If two or three of those are unavailable, the price is irrelevant — you are accepting the liability for whatever is on the pallet.

What to do when you find fakes in a delivery

1. Stop the stock. Do not put it on a shelf, do not resell it, and do not mix it with verified inventory.
2. Document everything — photograph the cartons, the batch codes, the verification codes that failed or duplicated, and the packaging defects.
3. Report to the brand owner. Authentic manufacturers want counterfeit supply channels closed, and they can act on batch data in a way an individual buyer cannot.
4. Open the claim with your supplier in writing, referencing the invoice and the batch. Behaviour at this stage tells you whether to keep the supplier at all.
5. Check your other deliveries from the same source. A counterfeit carton rarely arrives alone.

Counterfeiting is a quality problem, a compliance problem and a margin problem at the same time. The cheapest insurance is a supplier you can verify — and a specification sheet you can compare against the product in your hand.

Genuine versus counterfeit, side by side

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I tell if an IGET or RELX vape is fake?

Start with price sanity and the verification code, then check print quality, batch codes, physical weight and build quality. Duplicated verification codes across cartons and missing batch codes are the strongest single indicators.

Do genuine vapes have verification codes?

Genuine branded devices typically carry an authentication code that resolves on the brand’s official channel. The important test is not only that a code works, but that different devices carry different codes.

What should I do if I received counterfeit vapes?

Quarantine the stock immediately, document the batch codes and packaging defects, report the supply to the brand owner, and open a written claim with your supplier referencing the invoice and batch.

How do I avoid buying fake vapes wholesale?

Buy from the manufacturer or an authorised distributor, require batch-level documentation before payment, and verify the supplier’s business credentials independently. A supplier who cannot provide traceability should be treated as high risk.