How to spot Counterfeits?

[Bungholi0]

I found this on reverb. I'd say anything branded ebmm coming out of China is most likely to be fake since ebmm don't sell parts to just anyone.

Ernie Ball Music Man 5 Holes Neck Plate in Gold | Reverb Australia

Ernie Ball Music Man 5 Holes Neck Plate in Gold

reverb.com

Things like this could be used to rebuild a trashed guitar.

Could someone give advice on how to avoid being caught out by counterfeits?

 

[DrKev]

That neck plate is bogus. The finish looks off and a real neck plate without a serial number would be rarer than hen's teeth.

The usual rule is to assume that EBMM only sell replacement parts for something faulty or broken which has to be returned as part of the sale and therefore any spare parts for sale online are to be viewed with suspicion. Occasionally someone will legitimately end up with a spare something-or-other and try to sell it, in which case you just have to do your best to check out the seller and their story.