US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) officials notified holiday shoppers about counterfeit goods on Black Friday on November 24, especially with low prices that risk customer safety.
The officials warned shoppers that the counterfeit goods may result in significant losses for American businesses, workers, and customers.
US Officials Notify Shoppers About Counterfeit Goods
BURBANK, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 14: People shop near televisions displayed ahead of Black Friday at a Walmart Supercenter on November 14, 2023 in Burbank, California. Some early Black Friday deals are already in place at Walmart and other retailers ahead of Thanksgiving and the traditional holiday shopping season.
Federal authorities recently captured counterfeit handbags, backpacks, wallets, beanies, shoes, watches, and sunglasses decorated with logos from famous brands like Louis Vuitton, Burberry, Chanel, Christian Dior, and Fendi on November 22 at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport.
The counterfeit goods also included knockoff toys, bicycle helmets, makeup, iPhones, and fake Oscar statues. Francis Russo, the director of the CBP's New York field office, said that most goods were 70 and 80 percent from China and Hong Kong and noted that the goods impose a threat to the customers and the citizens because they are unsafe, and they fund criminal organizations, so they encourage customers not to buy counterfeit goods.
Marina Vitaz, an assistant special agent-in-charge of HSI, also warned shoppers to stay alert about the temptingly low deals. She said, "If the deal seems too good to be true, it probably is!"
The officials said that most customers were not unaware of the negative impact of counterfeit goods. The goods found could affect customer health and safety in personal care, pharmaceuticals, and consumer electronics.
They found fake prescription medicines sold online from other countries that may contain unregulated components that could result in heart disease or even death. They also noted that some knockoff toys that contain toxic substances or heavy metals may endanger toddlers.
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Rise of Counterfeit Goods Worldwide
US authorities confiscated over 25 million counterfeit goods, with more than 30 percent coming from New York customs yearly. The officials reported that the number of packages that entered the US through New York and New Jersey customers increased approximately 10-fold from 20 million in 2019 to 210 million in 2022, noting that 1 to 2% of the products could be fake.
The counterfeit goods could have an estimated retail value of over $2.98 billion. Countries like Thailand, Turkey, the Philippines, and India also have counterfeit goods.
Furthermore, the authorities said that the rise of counterfeit goods could drain billions of dollars from the global economy, which could divert revenue from legal businesses and job losses over time.
Federal authorities in New York reported that they seized over $1 billion of counterfeit designer products, recognized as the largest-ever confiscation of counterfeit goods in US history. Two men were charged with trafficking these goods from storage units in Manhattan.
The US government said the Chinese government is leading the world in creating counterfeit and pirated goods.
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