Scan, Verify, Trust: Inside The Tech That Turns Smartphones Into Weapons Against Fake Products
Checko, an IIT-Kanpur-incubated startup, has developed an AI-powered 3D signature technology to verify product authenticity and tackle India’s large-scale counterfeiting problem.
Published : July 12, 2025 at 5:32 PM IST
Hyderabad: Imagine walking into a store, picking up a product, and knowing instantly whether it is genuine—just with a quick smartphone scan. Counterfeiting isn’t just a nuisance; it’s a multi-billion-dollar crisis that endangers lives. For a farmer buying seeds that could ruin their crop or a parent choosing medicine for their child, a fake product can be devastating. In India, over 20 per cent of products in sectors like pharmaceuticals and FMCG are estimated to be counterfeit. While traditional markers like holograms and QR codes try to counter this problem, they are not too difficult to replicate.
When trust has become a gamble, a new technology is trying to tackle India’s counterfeiting problem, with a system so secure it's nearly impossible to fake—yet simple enough for anyone with a smartphone to verify on the spot.
Checko, an IIT Kanpur-incubated startup, has developed a cutting-edge 3D signature technology, which claims to be as unclonable as a human fingerprint, offering consumers a clearer sense of authenticity in each purchase. The company, legally known as Transpacks Technologies Private Limited, was founded in 2017 by Pranav Asthana and Satish Chandra.
In a conversation with ETV Bharat, Chandra shed light on the technology and how it aims to lessen the counterfeit problem. They use Physically Unclonable Functions (PUF), which create a random 3D fingerprint on every product, which is “as unique as a human fingerprint” and cannot be replicated, even by them.
To make it user-friendly, they combine the 3D feature with a QR code uniquely mapped to it. Chandra explains that consumers simply need to scan the pattern using the free Checko app on their smartphones, and within seconds, they can find out whether the product is genuine.
“This dual-layer—PUF + digital verification—not only ensures real-time authentication but also makes Checko a powerful tool for supply chain tracking and product lifecycle intelligence,” Chandra says, highlighting that the technology Checko bridges hardcore security with everyday usability, and “that’s what makes it truly different”.
Artificial Intelligence upgrades security tag to much more
The PUF technology also utilises artificial intelligence (AI), embedded into every layer from real-time authentication to proactive threat detection for brands. While their core system captures a unique 3D signature, the AI analyses, matches, and continuously learns from these signatures in real time.
When a consumer scans a product with their smartphone, the AI instantly compares the scanned 3D pattern with the original, detecting even microscopic differences that are impossible to fake, Chandra explains, emphasising that it also makes the technology fast, accurate, and secure.
Chandra adds that their use of AI extends far beyond mere verification. As millions of scans occur across various geographies and product lines, the system can detect emerging patterns, such as hotspots for counterfeits, vulnerable product batches, or changes in supply chain behaviour. This, he says, enables predictive alerts, geofencing of counterfeit goods, and real-time risk intelligence for brands.
In essence, he says, AI transforms the technology from a simple security tag into a living, learning, and responsive ecosystem.
Inspiration Behind the Anti-Counterfeit Technology
Talking about the inspiration behind the anti-counterfeit technology, Chandra recalls his graduation days when he was running a paint company where he witnessed the counterfeiting problem up close, affecting both businesses and consumers, pinching not only at the finances but also trust and safety.
While his paint venture didn’t succeed financially, it put him on the path to solve a much bigger problem. After graduating, Chandra joined a research project at IIT Kanpur, aimed at developing a new anti-counterfeiting technology—led by Professor Deepak Gupta from the Materials Science & Engineering Department.
“As we dug deeper, we realised that conventional anti-counterfeiting tools like QR codes and holograms were far from foolproof—most were easily replicable. More importantly, none of them truly empowered the end consumer,” Chandra says, highlighting that when someone walks into a store to buy a product, they’re largely dependent on the seller’s word since there is no reliable way to check authenticity in real time.
“That became our mission: to build a technology that empowers everyday consumers to verify products instantly and securely,” he adds. “By 2017, the core technology behind Checko had matured. That’s when we decided to spin it out of the lab and bring it to the real world. We incubated the company that year—and that’s how Checko was born."
Giving an example of a Rs 500 note, Chandra remarks that while the currency note has numerous security features, most people rely on simple cues like the texture or watermark because proper verification requires specialised tools like UV lights or microscopes. This is why they focused on making an effective anti-counterfeiting solution that is not only unclonable, but is also “checkable instantly by any consumer without any special equipment”.
Checko for consumers: Checking authenticity with an app
Talking about how Checko’s anti-counterfeiting technology empowers consumers, Chandra presents it as a practical tool that transforms everyday smartphones into a personal authenticity scanner.
“With just a smartphone and our free app, any consumer can scan the label on a product and instantly verify whether it’s genuine—no special tools, no guesswork, just a simple scan. It's as easy and familiar as scanning a QR code, but far more powerful underneath,” Chandra says.
However, the authenticity checkup mandatorily requires the Checko app and can’t be accessed via a smartphone’s built-in QR code scanner, hence limiting its adoption. Chandra explains the reason while pointing towards the limitations associated with generic QR scanners.
He says that QR codes can only read and redirect to URLs, and this basic mechanism is highly vulnerable to spoofing. Anyone can create a QR code that looks authentic but redirects to a fraudulent site. He also cites an example of URL spoofing using characters identical to the English alphabet, leading users to a completely different server. He emphasises that such deception is impossible to detect with the naked eye and can easily mislead consumers.
Explaining further, Chandra says, “Checko’s system goes beyond just QR codes—it integrates a secure 3D physical signature (PUF) that’s verified through our app. This ensures authenticity at a level that generic scanners simply can't match.”
Commenting on the adoption of the application, he says that the public response has been very encouraging. “We’ve seen fast adoption, strong app engagement, and consistently high ratings and reviews. What excites us most is hearing directly from users—especially in rural areas—who now feel more informed and secure in their buying decisions,” he adds.
As of writing, the Checko app has over 1 lakh downloads on Google Play and close to 200 reviews. However, a majority of consumers have been asking why the application needs precise location, instead of an approximate location. Responding to this, Satish Chandra says that such permission is required for the detection of hotspots for counterfeits and other related activities.
“We understand the sensitivity around location data and fully respect our users’ privacy. The reason we request precise location during scanning is to accurately detect and respond to real-time threats, such as counterfeit hotspots, tampering in specific batches, or anomalies in supply chain behaviour that may be hyper-local. Approximate location often lacks the granularity required for such critical security insights,” Chandra says.
He adds that the application requests location only at the time of scan and does not track user movements or store continuous location data. Acknowledging user feedback, Chandra says that they are currently exploring options to reduce location precision without compromising on security. “We’re committed to evolving in a way that respects privacy and builds long-term trust,” he further says.
Checking authenticity without an app?
Even though the 3D physical signatures are too advanced for regular QR code scanners and require mandating the use of a dedicated application to check, it could still be a hassle for common people to install an application which they might not use on a daily basis, unlike someone like a brand supply chain manager or a retail shop owner who would constantly need to cross-check the PUF.
It could be solved if these 3D signatures had universal adaptability or if people could access a quick web-based interface. Luckily, Checko is working towards both goals. Talking to ETV Bharat, Chandra says, “At Checko, we’re actively working towards universal adaptability so that our 3D authentication technology can be widely adopted and create a strong defence against counterfeiting.”
“We are developing a secure web-based interface for product authentication,” he says.
However, Chandra also acknowledges the technical challenges involved with the project. Unlike regular QR codes or selfies that a smartphone’s camera can process with basic filters, the PUF system requires capturing a raw, uncompressed image to analyse the unique 3D physical signature embedded in the label, he explains, adding that the image is then processed by advanced algorithms that ensure authentication is precise and tamper-proof.
“Unfortunately, most browsers today apply automatic enhancements or compressions when accessing the camera, which can interfere with the raw data needed for accurate authentication,” he says. “Overcoming this limitation is not impossible, but it requires deep tech integration—something we are innovating around to make the process seamless in the future.”
Brands using Checko’s anti-counterfeiting solution
Checko already has a long list of brands utilising its anti-counterfeiting solution, spread across diverse sectors like dairy, e-commerce, and agro-chemicals. The customer list also includes some notable names, such as Ashok Leyland, Godrej, Flipkart, Amazon, Havells, Tata Wiron, Sanchi, Tata Agrico, Chambal Fertilisers, Dow, Goldiee, Red Chief, Shikhar, Shell, HP, Indian Oil, Delhi Excise, MP Seeds, and more.
When asked to mention instances where their anti-counterfeit technology made a significant impact for its clients, Chandra gives examples of Havells and Chambal Fertilisers.
“One of our most notable success stories is with Havells India, a trusted name in the electrical and consumer goods sector. They publicly shared how Checko helped them combat counterfeit products in the market, especially in categories where consumer safety is directly at stake,” he says.
Similarly, Chambal Fertilisers, one of India's leading players in the agrochemical sector, adopted the technology to secure its crop protection products. Sandeep Pal, Senior Manager CPC & SN at Chambal, emphasises the need for seed companies to combat counterfeiting. In his testimony, he highlighted positive results the company received with the Checko system, allowing their customers to easily recognise genuine products.
Checko co-founder Satish Chandra highlights the real-world impact of their technology, stating that for their clients, it not only addressed a security issue but also rebuilt trust with end users, particularly farmers, and strengthened brand credibility within the rural supply chain. However, he finds appreciation expressed by everyday people—a farmer in a remote village or a shopkeeper helping a customer verify a product—to be the most rewarding.
“Personally, one of the most fulfilling experiences is going to a market and seeing people actually use the Checko app to scan products. That’s when it hits me—this isn’t just a lab innovation anymore; it’s a real solution in the hands of everyday people,” he says. “Checko was created to serve a larger purpose in society, and every time we see that purpose being fulfilled, it feels like the biggest reward we could ask for."
The mission ahead
Chandra states that India faces a major counterfeiting issue, with over 20 per cent fake products in some sectors, and their technology aims to cut that by 30 per cent in five years. “To reach this goal, we're expanding into two major sectors where the impact is both urgent and far-reaching: pharmaceuticals and FMCG,” he says.
“These industries touch every household and every life, and ensuring authenticity here directly affects public health and trust. We’ve already secured major opportunities in both segments and are seeing very encouraging early results,” Chandra notes, adding that they are also extending Checko’s footprint internationally. They have completed successful pilots in the Middle East and Europe and are now moving toward full-scale implementation with partners in those regions.
Chandra highlights the vision of their anti-counterfeit technology: “Our long-term vision is clear: a world where every product—from seeds to syringes—can be trusted at the point of purchase, no matter where it’s sold or who buys it.”
