Counterfeit Dark Labs Products Are Circulating Worldwide, Especially Across Europe
Customers are contacting Dark Labs with tubs that carry outdated logos, impossible ingredient claims and packaging that does not match our current production. On many counterfeits, the first warning is visible immediately: the old logo looks grey, flat and noticeably less detailed than the current Dark Labs mark. Here is what to check before you buy.
We built products people remembered. Counterfeiters noticed.
Dark Labs became known for products with a distinctive identity. As demand grew, counterfeit versions began appearing under our name.
Most cases reported to us still come from the European Union, particularly Slovakia, Poland, the Czech Republic, Germany, France and Austria. Based on the products and sellers customers have asked us to review in these markets, we estimate that about 99% were counterfeit. This figure applies only to the cases reviewed by Dark Labs, not to every retailer in those countries. We have also begun receiving reports from outside Europe.
Customers started sending us photographs of tubs bought from third-party sellers. At first glance, the labels looked familiar. Under closer inspection, the details did not match: an old logo, weak printing, flat label finishes, missing protective film, different containers and formula panels claiming substances Dark Labs does not use.
Every counterfeit shown below comes from a case sent to Dark Labs for review. We have kept the original proportions so you can inspect the same details our team checked.
The warning signs customers can verify themselves
No single visual check replaces traceable sourcing. In the confirmed examples sent to Dark Labs, these are the strongest recurring red flags.
DMAA, Geranium or DMBA
Dark Labs produces no products containing DMAA, Geranium Extract or DMBA. Any such claim is decisive.
The old logo
Counterfeits frequently use a Dark Labs mark that was retired several years ago. On confirmed fakes it is usually greyer, softer at the edges and visibly less detailed than our current logo.
Open the current logo reference
Poor print quality
Look for blurry fine text, rough edges, muddy colours, weak contrast and misalignment.
No raised print
Key elements on genuine current labels have a raised finish that can be clearly felt under a fingertip.
No film on the lid
For the last two years, our standard-size products have used protective lid film. Large tubs are the stated exception.
The wrong container
Dark Labs uses USA-made tubs. Fakes show differences in size, proportion, moulding and base markings.
The raised finish is visible in the official reference gallery below
In the authentic close-up photographs, selected lettering and artwork catch the light and sit proud of the label surface. On the tub, this finish can be clearly felt under a fingertip.
Crack Purple: if it says “120 mg DMAA”, it is counterfeit
Any Crack Purple offered with a “120 mg DMAA” label is counterfeit. The confirmed examples shown here also use the retired grey, low-detail logo and lack the protective film expected on current standard-size tubs.
Crack Gold: the label gives it away
This counterfeit shows several warning signs at once: a different tub size, lower-quality reproduction, a greyer and less detailed retired logo, and a Supplement Facts panel that lists “Geranium Extract”. Dark Labs does not sell products containing Geranium Extract.
Crack Primal: compare size, logo and finish
In this side-by-side photograph, the genuine tub is on the left and the counterfeit is on the right. The fake uses a smaller container; its retired logo looks greyer, flatter and much less detailed, and the label finish is visibly weaker.
Herolean: packaging details that do not match ours
This confirmed counterfeit Herolean combines an outdated logo with weak label reproduction and a container that does not match the USA-made tubs used by Dark Labs.
Buy Original Dark Labs Pre-Workouts
Skip the uncertainty. Shop the current range directly from Dark Labs and know exactly who stands behind the product in your tub.
A photograph can reveal warning signs. The seller reveals the chain of trust.
| Ingredient claim | DMAA, Geranium Extract or DMBA on a Dark Labs product is conclusive: it is not an authentic Dark Labs formula. |
|---|---|
| Packaging checks | Old logo, weak print, flat label details, missing lid film and a non-US tub are serious warning signs. Assess them together. |
| Batch information | A printed lot or expiry code is not proof by itself. Counterfeiters can copy codes. |
| Strongest protection | Buy directly from darklabsofficial.com or from a seller explicitly confirmed by Dark Labs. |
Customers keep asking one urgent question: “Is this real?”
This confirmed example shows why a familiar colour scheme is not enough. The warning signs are visible before the tub is opened.
If we did not make it, we cannot stand behind it.
A counterfeit is not a cheaper version of the same product. Its actual ingredients, dosage, storage history and manufacturing conditions are unknown. If you suspect a fake, stop using it.
Keep the tub and proof of purchase. Photograph the front, back, lid film, bottom, batch details and seller information. Contact official Dark Labs support with clear photographs.
Now put your tub beside ours.
Before you trust the label, compare your product with the official high-resolution photographs below. Start with the complete front, then inspect the current logo, raised print, protective lid film, panel typography and container.
Check the whole product
Packaging can evolve between production runs, and counterfeiters can copy visible details. A photograph is a comparison aid, not a substitute for traceable sourcing. The strongest protection is buying from darklabsofficial.com or a seller explicitly confirmed by Dark Labs.
Five details to check first
Click any photograph to open the original file and inspect the print closely.
Crack OG
Compare the current Dark Labs wordmark, high-definition multi-colour artwork, tactile metallic and raised finishes, illustrated protective lid film and the USA-made container base. A lot or expiry code is useful for comparison but does not prove authenticity on its own.
Crack Purple
Genuine Crack Purple does not claim DMAA, Geranium Extract or DMBA. Compare the current Dark Labs logo, large CRACK lettering, tactile front details, protective lid film and the official Supplement Facts panel.
Crack Barbarian
Compare the current logo, crisp full-colour artwork, tactile and holographic details, illustrated protective film and clearly printed label edges.
Maniaco
Genuine Maniaco uses dense, high-definition colour work, the current Dark Labs wordmark, tactile label details and illustrated protective film covering the lid and neck.
Crack Primal
Compare the current Dark Labs wordmark, holographic PRIMAL lettering, raised label effects, crisp full-colour artwork and illustrated protective film around the lid.
Still unsure?
Do not use a product you suspect is counterfeit. Keep the tub and proof of purchase, photograph the front, back, lid, bottom and seller information, then contact Dark Labs through an official channel.
Choose the original. Skip the lookalike.
You have seen the current logo, raised print, protective film and genuine container details. The safest next step is buying from the official Dark Labs collection.
Authenticity FAQ
Does Dark Labs make products with DMAA, Geranium Extract or DMBA?
No. Dark Labs does not manufacture any product containing DMAA, Geranium Extract or DMBA. A product using our name and listing any of them is counterfeit.
Does every genuine product have protective film around the lid?
For the last two years, our standard-size products have been supplied with protective lid film. Large tubs are the stated exception.
How should a genuine current label feel?
Key printed elements have a raised finish that can be clearly felt under a fingertip. Confirmed counterfeits use flat printing.
Is the old logo proof that a product is fake?
It is a major warning sign because Dark Labs stopped using it several years ago. Assess it together with the formula, print quality, film, container and seller.
Can a batch code prove authenticity?
No. Codes can be copied. Purchase origin and the full set of packaging details matter more than one printed code.
What should I do if I suspect a counterfeit?
Stop using it, keep the packaging and proof of purchase, document the product and seller, and contact Dark Labs through an official channel.
Know what you are buying. Know who it came from.
The simplest way to avoid uncertainty is to buy directly from Dark Labs. The official store gives you current product information, a traceable source and support from the team behind the brand.