As Christmas approaches, consumers are being warned to be wary of cheap imitation iPads that may crop up on Internet shopping sites and online auction marketplaces, such as eBay.

Having discovered 18,000 iPad clones on sale across a number of Internet retail sites earlier this year, brand protection company MarkMonitor also tracked down more than 5,000 sellers, mostly based in China, and 15 manufacturers of fake iPad devices.

Look out for the official Apple logo

Scammers are likely to ramp up their efforts to con people scouring internet shopping sites for a good deal over the Christmas period. Some of the warning signs to look out for include fake logos, an overseas retailer and a price that sounds too good to be true. MarkMonitor warns that you should only ever buy an iPad from a trusted seller.

“It’s very important for consumers to understand as they go into the holiday season, there’s a very high likelihood there are scammers out there,” said Fred Felman, chief marketing officer of MarkMonitor.

The Apple iPad was released in 2010 with an upgraded device launching earlier this year. Apple’s latest fourth-quarter earnings revealed the company has sold over 32 million units since launch. Be very wary, folks, you don't want to end up with a dull piece of wood instead of a shiny Apple tablet like this lady.