Fake hookahs: the business with counterfeit water pipes
Updated April 29, 2025 3 min 
- Why brands like Moze and AMOTION are increasingly affected by product counterfeiting and what that says about their popularity.
- Which health and quality risks come with fake hookahs, from toxic materials to rusting components.
- Why you have no claim to support or replacement with counterfeit products and what that means for you if something goes wrong.
- How product piracy affects real manufacturers, financially and emotionally.
- How you can tell whether you have bought a fake product, e.g. an unrealistically low price or copied product images.
- How to best protect yourself, by buying directly from the manufacturer or authorised retailers.
Moze and AMOTION are two brands that emerged through hard work and a lot of love for the subject. We are proud that our hookahs are popular with retailers and customers all over the world. And precisely because our products enjoy great popularity, it is no wonder that reports of counterfeits keep reaching us.
You could almost see it as flattery when counterfeits of your own brand suddenly appear around the globe, because it also means that the products you conceived, designed, produced and marketed over months of work are so successful that someone thinks it is worthwhile to make counterfeits of them.
The truth, however, is that counterfeits and the associated product piracy are very problematic for buyers and manufacturers, and in the end only organised crime benefits from them.
Risks of counterfeits: why are fake hookahs a problem for you?
Faked Moze or AMOTION hookahs can be problematic for various reasons. We make every effort to produce and distribute high-quality products worldwide. The materials we use are all food-safe, rust-free and of high purity.
Fake products can be made from the cheapest materials; they can be toxic or trigger allergic reactions, and depending on what material the downstem and smoke column are made of, they can also rust. None of these are desirable properties when enjoying a hookah.
Your personal disadvantage with counterfeit products
With Moze and AMOTION you are not only in good hands in terms of quality. We also offer our customers very good support. Both in an advisory role and in support, it is important to us to be there for our customers. If a product does not work flawlessly, we assist you with advice and action to solve the problem as quickly and easily as possible. And if there should be problems with the function of a product despite proper use, we are of course ready to provide replacement without hesitation.
If you buy a fake product and it does not work, you are left alone with your problem, because there is no one behind it who takes responsibility for it working properly. It has happened several times that customers wanted to make a complaint to us about a counterfeit product they had bought from a cheap provider. But that does not work. The buyer should always first turn to the place where they bought the product, and the retailer then turns to us. You are welcome to contact us if you bought a product from us. If you bought it elsewhere, please always turn to the retailer you trust first.
The consequences of counterfeits for us
We are still a fairly young company that is anchored in the heart of the hookah scene and has a great passion for style and the hookah lifestyle. The products we produce are based on our preferences and the question of what we would like to buy or smoke ourselves. That is why we put a lot of time and money into developing our products.
Over the years we have built up a broad range that delights hookah fans all over the world. So if you want a product from us, you should not only be after our logo on the box, but appreciate the quality and features that come with our products. It is therefore important for you and for us that you do not get involved in buying cheap imitations and make sure to buy an original Moze product. On the one hand because our products really are something special, and on the other so that we can continue to bring exciting new products to market for you.
How do you notice that you have bought a fake product?
Counterfeits can look deceptively real, and especially in photos online it is not easy to tell the original from the fake. To make things worse, even product images from our hookah shop are often copied and used to sell the counterfeit goods. A sure sign of fake products, however, is for example the price that is too low.
A rule of thumb for shopping: if it is too good to be true, then it is not true.
How can you be sure not to buy counterfeits?
The easiest way is to buy products directly from the producer or retailer. In our shop there are no fakes. And if you are unsure whether the shop of your choice offers fake products, you can contact us by email or phone at any time.
We are in contact with all retailers who buy products from us and can, if necessary, confirm for you whether the hookah you have seen at a retailer really comes from us. Thank you for your support.
FAQ: fake hookahs, what you need to know
Why are counterfeit hookahs a problem?
Fake hookahs can be made from harmful materials, rust or trigger allergic reactions. They offer no reliable product safety and additionally support illegal structures.
What is the disadvantage of buying a fake hookah?
With counterfeits you have no claim to support or replacement. If the product is faulty, you are left alone with the problem, unlike when buying from the original manufacturer or an authorised retailer.
How do I recognise a counterfeit hookah?
Warning signs are extremely low prices, copied product images and missing information about the retailer. If an offer sounds too good to be true, that is usually exactly what it is.
How can I make sure I buy an original product?
Buy directly from the manufacturer or from authorised retailers. When it comes to hookahs from Moze and Amotion, you can turn to our Moze team if in doubt. We can tell you whether a particular shop is officially supplied.
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