We move in our food fraud series to discuss the frauds that take place in the alcohol business. It was just a few weeks ago that there was a wine dealer from New York who was arrested for allegedly trying to sell a counterfeit wine bottle as a rare bottle of wine. Most frauds with wine will buy you a cheaper vintage and be a waste of your money. The adulterated spirits tend to be more harmful. There have been reports of fake vodka that contained contaminants such as anti-freeze and other dangerous chemicals. Most tampering will be done with labels and packaging. If you know a brand’s logo and/or bottle shape but the bottle in hand just doesn’t look right, find one that does. Keep to larger retailers for your purchases and if you are involved in a private sale, inspect your bottle thoroughly or pass on the offer.
Over and over in this series, we seem to go back to finding product and sellers that you trust to do business with. Same goes for any service you pay for. Ask lots of questions and use references before you make your final decision. Cash advance companies are the same in that you will find bad eggs in the bunch, so when you find one you can trust, stick with them. It is smart money sense.
