Recordz
How do you spot counterfeit vinyl?
The most reliable way to spot counterfeit vinyl is to compare the runout groove with a documented genuine copy: counterfeiters rarely have the original metal parts, so matrix numbers and stamps often differ or are hand-scratched where the original was machine-stamped. Then check the printing, labels and jacket construction against reference photos. No single clue is conclusive; fakes are identified by several mismatches together.
Bootlegs, counterfeits and unofficial releases
Collectors use these words loosely, so it helps to start with definitions. The Discogs database guidelines, which many collectors follow, separate three kinds of release made without the rights holder's consent:
| Term | Discogs definition | Pretends to be the original? |
|---|---|---|
| Bootleg | Unauthorized recordings of live performances or broadcasts | No |
| Counterfeit | Copied without authority and packaged to resemble the original as closely as possible | Yes |
| Pirate | Copied without authority, usually packaged differently | No |
Discogs groups all three, plus releases with unlicensed tracks, under the format tag "Unofficial Release". Not every release with that tag was made to deceive. The tag also covers records made legally under local copyright law but without the rights holder's approval, and records from places that didn't regulate copyright at the time.
Outside Discogs, usage varies. What Hi-Fi, for example, uses "bootleg" for unreleased live recordings and outtakes, and "counterfeit" or "pirate" for copies posing as official releases. When a seller says "bootleg", ask which they mean.
Start with the dead wax
The smooth area between the last groove and the label carries the matrix number and often stamps from the cutting engineer and pressing plant. Counterfeiters usually have to cut a new master, so these markings tend to differ from the original.
- Compare the full runout string with the variants on the Discogs release page, both sides, character by character.
- Look at how it was made. A hand-scratched matrix where genuine copies have a machine-stamped one is a classic counterfeit sign. Dealers interviewed by What Hi-Fi go further and say counterfeits don't have machine-stamped matrices at all. But hand-etching alone proves nothing, because many genuine records, especially from small labels, are hand-etched.
- Check for expected marks. Classic Blue Note records, for example, typically carry Rudy Van Gelder's "RVG" stamp. If a known mark is missing, look closer.
- Measure the runout area. On some well-documented fakes the run-out area is noticeably wider than on the original.
Our matrix number guide explains what each part of a runout means.
Printing, labels and jacket
Counterfeit artwork is usually reproduced from scans of an original, and it shows:
- Soft or pixelated text, and barcodes with jagged lines
- Colors that look flat or washed out next to a genuine copy
- Ring wear that is printed rather than worn; real ring wear feels textured
- A single sleeve where the original was a gatefold, or thinner card
- Center labels in the wrong shade, font or layout, or printed off-center
Shop owners quoted by What Hi-Fi add that a supposedly new record without shrink-wrap is a red flag, and that a price far below what the record usually sells for is a warning sign.
Don't rely on your ears
Many counterfeits are mastered from CDs or other digital sources and can sound thin. But modern equipment means some sound fine, so good sound is no proof of authenticity, and bad sound alone can come from a worn genuine copy.
Buying safely
Ask online sellers for clear photos of both runouts, the labels and the back cover, and walk away if they won't send them. Discogs blocks counterfeits, unauthorized bootlegs and releases with unlicensed tracks from its marketplace, but blocks often follow a rights holder's notice or Discogs' own review. A live listing doesn't prove a record is genuine.
Counterfeit vinyl FAQ
Is a hand-etched matrix number a sign of a fake?
Not on its own. Many legitimate records are hand-etched. It becomes a warning sign when documented genuine copies of that release are machine-stamped and yours is scratched by hand.
What is the difference between a bootleg and a counterfeit?
On Discogs, a bootleg is an unauthorized recording of a live performance or broadcast, while a counterfeit copies an existing release and imitates its packaging. Collectors often use "bootleg" for any unofficial record, so ask what a seller means.
Can you sell counterfeit records on Discogs?
No. Discogs says it blocks counterfeit items from sale, along with unauthorized bootlegs and releases containing unlicensed tracks. The database still catalogs many of them under "Unofficial Release" for identification.
Are colored vinyl records more likely to be fake?
What Hi-Fi reports that counterfeiters sometimes use colored vinyl to make a copy look like a limited edition or to pass it off as an import. Check that the color matches a documented release before paying a premium for it.
What should I do if I bought a counterfeit?
Contact the seller and ask for a refund, and use the payment provider's dispute process if they refuse. In the UK, Trading Standards and the BPI's content protection unit take reports.
Last updated September 30, 2026.
Sources: Discogs Database Guidelines 6: Format, section 6.15; Why Are Some Items Blocked In The Discogs Marketplace?; What Hi-Fi: How to spot fake records; DavidBowie.com: Watch out for Liza Jane counterfeits; Discogs forum: How to tell if a record is a bootleg.
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