Consumer Protection app to Verify Product authenticity

Verify is a consumer protection mobile app designed to help people confirm if products are authentic before purchase or use. The app allows consumers to scan a Consumer Protection Code (CPC) or QR code on a product, verify its authenticity, learn their rights, understand their responsibilities, and file complaints when something goes wrong.

The goal was to make product verification simple, fast, and trustworthy for everyday consumers.

The Problem

Consumers often buy products without knowing whether they are genuine, properly registered, expired, unsafe, or approved for sale. Many people also do not know what actions to take when they buy a bad or suspicious product.

This creates major issues such as:

• Fake or unverified products in the market

• Low consumer confidence

• Poor access to complaint channels

• Limited awareness of consumer rights

• Brands losing trust due to counterfeit products

The Goal

To design a mobile app that helps consumers:

• Verify product authenticity before use

• Scan products using CPC or QR codes

• Understand their rights and responsibilities

• Report suspicious, fake, or harmful products

• Make safer and more informed purchase decisions

Key Features

Product Verification

Users can verify a product by scanning the QR code or entering the Consumer Protection Code (CPC) printed on the product.

What users can see after verification:

• Product name

• Brand/manufacturer

• Verification status

• Product category

• Batch or code details

• Safety or authenticity confirmation

Product Authenticity Status

After scanning, the app clearly tells the user whether the product is:

• Verified

• Unverified

• Flagged

• Invalid

• Previously reported

This helps users make quick decisions before buying or using the product.

KYR — Know Your Rights

The app includes a simple education section that teaches users their rights as consumers.

The content was written in simple language so everyday users can understand it easily.

Consumer Responsibilities

Verify also teaches users that consumer protection is not only about rights, but also responsibility.

This helps users become active participants in product safety.

Complaints

Users can file complaints directly from the app when they experience issues with a product.

Complaint types may include:

• Fake product

• Damaged product

• Expired product

• Wrong product information

• Poor product quality

• Harmful or unsafe product

• Other consumer issues

The complaint flow was designed to be simple, guided, and easy to complete.

Design Approach

The app needed to feel trustworthy, official, and easy to use. Since many users may only open the app when they are unsure about a product, the experience had to be fast and direct.

The design focused on:

• Clear scan-first experience

• Simple verification results

• Easy-to-understand status messages

• Minimal steps for complaints

• Educational content written in plain language

• A calm and trustworthy visual style

User Flow

Main Verification Flow

Open app → Scan QR/CPC → View product status → Decide whether to trust product → Report if needed

Complaint Flow

Select issue → Add product details → Add description/media → Submit complaint → Track complaint status

KYR Flow

Open KYR → Choose topic → Read rights/responsibilities → Take informed action

Estimated Impact

The Verify app could help:

• Increase consumer confidence when buying products

• Reduce the spread of fake and unsafe products

• Make product complaints easier to submit

• Improve awareness of consumer rights

• Help regulators and brands receive better market feedback

• Encourage safer buying habits among consumers

What I Learned

Designing Verify showed the importance of creating products that solve real-world trust problems. I learned that verification apps must be fast, clear, and reassuring because users need immediate answers.

The project also highlighted that consumer protection is not just about reporting problems. It also involves education, awareness, and helping people understand both their rights and responsibilities.

Final Outcome

Verify was designed as a practical tool for safer shopping, stronger consumer awareness, and better product accountability. By combining product verification, rights education, and complaints in one platform, the app gives consumers more confidence and control when interacting with products in the market.