Buyer check

How to spot AI product photos before buying

A perfect product photo does not prove the seller owns the item. Check three questions separately: does the gallery stay internally consistent, can you trace the image source, and can the seller provide fresh evidence? A detector helps only with the first question and remains a warning signal, not proof of fraud.

Direct answer: check this in 60 seconds

1. Compare every photo. Confirm that logos, seams, buttons, damage, reflections and backgrounds stay consistent across the gallery.
2. Reverse-search one image. This can find stolen brand, stock or listing photos. No match does not prove the image is new or authentic.
3. Request fresh proof of possession. Ask for one unedited photo containing a detail you choose, such as the serial number beside a handwritten code, or a short continuous video.
4. Check seller and payment. Compare recent reviews, price, returns and account history. Keep payment inside the marketplace's protected system.

The FTC advises buyers to check whether a listing shows several photos of the actual item rather than only stock photos, because otherwise you cannot inspect its condition or know the seller has it. Fresh seller evidence therefore matters more than one detector score.

Signals inside the image

Zoom into small text, brand names, labels, stitching, fasteners, repeated patterns and reflections. Look especially for details that change between photos. One odd letter or soft edge may be compression; several contradictory details justify follow-up.

Metadata and provenance

Check Content Credentials and metadata before taking a screenshot. Google Merchant Center requires fully AI-generated product images to preserve the IPTC TrainedAlgorithmicMedia code. Present provenance can add useful context; absence proves nothing because platforms and exports may strip metadata.

Use a detector for triage

Upload the best available file to the AI image detector. A strong warning means further checking is sensible. A quiet result does not prove the photo is authentic or that the seller owns the item.

Decide from the follow-up

If the gallery agrees, the seller supplies the exact fresh evidence requested and payment stays protected, you have several independent signals. If the seller refuses specific evidence or pushes you off-platform, do not buy. Use the marketplace checkers for a platform-specific review or the Vinted product-photo checker for a concrete listing workflow.

Frequently asked questions

Does a high score prove the listing is fraudulent?

No. The score says nothing about possession, delivery or intent. Request fresh evidence and check the seller.

Is a real photo automatically safe?

No. A real image can be stolen from another seller, manufacturer or earlier listing.

What is the strongest quick check?

A new photo containing a detail you choose or a short continuous video, combined with payment inside the platform.