Mobile app for detecting counterfeits said to pass five million usage since launch

The mobile application developed by Ghanaian, Ashifi Gogo, to detect counterfeit products is reported to have exceeded five million uses.

According to the company, Sproxil, its solution Mobile Product Authentication (MPA) solution has processed more than five million verifications to help consumers ensure that the products they are purchasing are genuine.

According to Sproxil, headed by Ghanaian, Dr. Ashifi Gogo, Top 10 global pharmaceutical companies, as well as local distributors and manufacturers in emerging markets across Africa and India have used Sproxil’s MPA solution to protect consumers from taking potentially harmful counterfeit and substandard drugs since the company launched in 2009.

“Compatible with any tangible good, the MPA Solution is also being used with an array of products including in automotive aftermarket parts, health & beauty products, food and beverage, bedding, and textiles and clothing,” the company says.

Explaining how MPA works, Sproxil says, before purchasing a product, consumers scratch a label that reveals a one-time use code. Next, the consumer texts the code to a secure number provided on the product package.

“As part of Sproxil’s MPA technology, the text message is processed to determine product genuineness. Within seconds, Sproxil notifies the end user, via text, of the result. Alternatively, consumers can call Sproxil’s consumer support desk to get results in their local language,” it adds.

By Emmanuel K. Dogbevi