Top 5 Counterfeited Products

Consumers get visual help to avoid counterfeit products.

August 5, 2013, Los Angeles, CA – Counterfeiting is a $700 billion a year global enterprise, but only $1.3 billion worth of counterfeit goods entering the US from overseas were seized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) efforts in 2012. The popular counterfeits seized in 2012 were electronics, pharmaceuticals and fashion accessories and apparel. Counterfeiters are involved in the illegal production of knock-offs in virtually every area – apparel, toys, food, pet supplies, pharmaceuticals, electronics, auto parts, event tickets, alcohol, cigarettes, cosmetics and much, much more. Counterfeiting affects what you eat, wear, drive, and give as gifts.

Think you can spot a fake, think again says Craig Crosby, publisher of The Counterfeit Report website ( www.theCounterfeitReport.com), a free consumer resource offering consumers a visual guide to detecting counterfeit products, while providing manufacturers brand protection. "The Counterfeit Report actually shows consumers the sophistication of counterfeiters and their ability to create almost visually identical counterfeit products and packaging. "If it's manufactured, it's probably counterfeited and it will likely fool you" says Crosby. The website features products from over 200 global brands and actual photos of real and counterfeit products, providing consumer help in identifying counterfeit products.

While the temptation for consumers can be too strong to resist in purchasing a fake Rolex or fake handbag, most consumers don't understand the enormity, diversity and risk attached to the illegal industry. Counterfeit products may simply appear to be an inexpensive way to wear the latest fashion goods, however, little thought is given to the money that ultimately ends up in the hands of organized crime groups or how the industries that rely on legitimate sales suffer. The production and sale of counterfeit goods has serious economic and health ramifications for consumers, jobs, and businesses.

Electronics
When it comes to total dollar value, consumer electronics make up the bulk of counterfeit goods imported into the U.S., according to US Customs and Border Protection. Among the hottest items: smart phones, tablet computers, computer hardware and DVD or music players. 22% of CBP seizures were electronics with a retail value $101 million. While some products are clearly fakes, even techies may have a hard time identifying a phony iPhone from the authentic product. "Some products look and feel very, very similar," said Therese Randazzo, director of IPR policy and programs for the CBP. "Subtle differences will escape the majority of most consumers, and when the product breaks, the consumer has no protection or recourse." Best bet; purchase the electronics from authorized retailers or you may get a product that will not last, or not work at all.

Pharmaceuticals
Counterfeit pharmaceuticals highlight the enormity of consumer risk: there are numerous examples of disability and death caused by tainted or inert medications that result in over 500,000 deaths a year. Buying counterfeit drugs, from prescription pills to over-the-counter medications, can potentially be very dangerous, and sometimes deadly. Counterfeit medications are not manufactured according to the FDA's standards and may not contain the proper amount of active ingredients, if any at all. Counterfeit medicines containing questionable or highly toxic substances such as rat poison have been reported. The most popular counterfeit drug, Viagra, could contain brick powder, flour and gypsum wall powder, says John Clark, chief security officer of Pfizer, which makes Viagra.

Recently, 33 million doses of counterfeit malaria drugs made their way from China to West Africa where approximately 1 million people died from malaria 2009. It's unknown how many deaths can be attributed to counterfeit anti-malarial drugs, but counterfeit drugs often contain little or no amount of the required active ingredient. Sick patients would continue to suffer and many may die.

Purses and Wallets

Fake purses and wallets are also at the top of the popular and seized counterfeit list. However, there was a drastic jump in the value of fake handbags in 2012. Forty percent of the total value of fake items seized was handbags and wallets in 2012, a jump from 19 percent the previous year. Many of the fakes are now actually made with leather as opposed to the typical plastic, which used to be an easy giveaway. However, the better plastic products are often embossed with a veiny pattern to mimic the calfskin veins on leather bags to further deceive buyers.

Shoes
Counterfeit shoes, originally limited to knock-offs of popular athletic shoes, now include high-end fashion designer and luxury items like the Christian Louboutin, Jimmy Choo, and the Gucci shoes featured on The Counterfeit Report website. The popular $200 Ugg boots displayed on the website show counterfeiters sophistication in producing both deceptive products and packaging. Good counterfeits include a counterfeit replica shoebox, dust bag and retail labeling and brochures found with the authentic product.

Fragrances
Counterfeiters spend more time copying the packaging detail and little time on the fragrance. Consumers should heed the warning of Valerie Salembier, senior vice president and publisher of Harper's Bazaar; "Active ingredients found in counterfeit fragrance include things like urine, bacteria, antifreeze." Not only will the fragrance be different from the authentic perfume, but will be lacking in quality standards and controls. Counterfeit fragrances can cause rashes, reactions and infection. Deceived buyers often unknowingly give these counterfeit fragrances as gifts to unsuspecting recipients.

Consumers should be aware that internet sites and online auction sites including Amazon Marketplace and eBay are swamped with real-looking counterfeit or "knock-off" merchandise. These online sellers often disguise counterfeit products by showing the manufacturer's authentic advertisement photos in their listing, with a claim of "genuine" or "100% authentic," then send you a fake and disappear after the sale. It's buyer beware, and you are going to get duped.

Website: www.theCounterfeitReport.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Counterfeit-Report/131568053660579

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