From selecting the perfect (and authentic) Christmas gifts…to spotting fakes in the busiest online shopping season…to preventing identity thieves from "breaking into" your credit cards…BPCouncil's anti-counterfeit tips could be the best holiday present yet!

Christmas is just around the corner. And face it: Business is picking up, shoppers are clogging the stores, and counterfeiters and identity thieves are looking forward to their best season yet. Here are some ways to stop them in their tracks.

Credit card owners, keep your identity safe this season

A post by Max Anderson for identitytheftfixes.com provides surefire ways to keep ID thieves at bay:

• Keep the number of credit cards carried at a time to one or two. In this season of pickpockets, do not tempt fate.
• Keep track of personal information through credit monitoring services.
• Go the extra mile – take outgoing mail, including credit card statements to the post office instead of letting it sit in your mailbox.
• Review credit card statements closely – every single time.
• Online shopping? Think twice before storing credit card information in the retailer's website, convenient as it is.

Internet shoppers, learn to spot counterfeits online

Trends show that more and more people will be Christmas shopping online. GenuOne Inc, a provider of technology-based brand protection solutions that was acquired by OpSec Security, offers these tips:

• Beware of bargain prices - a price substantially lower than the Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) suggests the product is likely counterfeit.
• Make sure the site has a warranty or guarantee (especially for luxury brands) and a return policy. The absence of these is practically a fake alert.
• Stay away from sites that don't have a customer feedback section (and be sure to read this).
• Stay away from sites that don't have a formal "contact information" section, as well as online buyer protection policies.
• Stay away from sites that don't offer a secure payment option such as Pay Pal.
• Look for inconsistencies between product pictures from the site and from the brand owner's corporate website.

Gift-givers, avoid getting ripped off with unsafe toys and other counterfeit goods.

Gift-givers who want to buy the perfect (and genuine) toys for their children should check out this advice the Devon County Council Trading Standards in the UK:

• Always try to buy toys from a reputable source. They are more likely to ensure that the toys they sell are authentic and safe.
• Examine the toy for sharp or rough edges or points, hinges and small mechanisms that may trap fingers, and other small and unsafe parts that may choke a child.
• Check safety markings, including the name and address of the manufacturer or importer, the CE mark (which shows that the toy complies with European safety standards), or the British Lion Mark or the British Kitemark.

Other tips on how to spot a fake, from an article in Canada's city news, include:

• Check the look and feel of goods – counterfeit goods scream "cheap production" all around
• Look for certification marks that ensure the product has been tested and certified
• Be alert to misspellings and unclear printing on packaging, products, labels and instructions
• Know that counterfeit packaging is inferior and often has poor designs and illustrations
• Check for missing product information and discrepancies between the package contents and the item's description on the package

The countdown to Christmas has begun and, while this year's holiday season may be tempered by the economic crisis, people are still going to shop. With consumers increasing their awareness and following these tips, there's a big chance counterfeiters won't be having merry Christmas at their expense.