The 10 most counterfeited products — and how to spot them
Most of us want a great bargain. But are we willing to steal or hurt someone for it? What about die or get sick from it?
Choosing counterfeit products, whether you buy them knowingly or not, comes with risks.
“The dangers of buying counterfeit products aren’t always obvious,” notes U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), which seizes all manner of such goods in its role as an agency of the Department of Homeland Security. “There are economic impacts, legal implications, and health and safety risks that are important for you to know before you buy.”
In 2016, counterfeiting was a $460 billion industry worldwide, AdWeek reported, citing the International Trademark Association.
You probably know that buying counterfeit goods is stealing intellectual property. But did you know it also fuels terrorism, organized crime and sweatshops?
Even if you don’t stop to buy those purported “designer goods” from street vendors offering bargain prices, you might acquire phony goods and not even know it. The Wall Street Journal reported on instances of counterfeit items (including mundane items such as knives and ice cube trays) offered by third-party sellers through Amazon. That’s a problem for legitimate sellers and should be cause for customers to be concerned as well.
The best way to fight back is to educate yourself about some of the most commonly counterfeited products. There are a good number of seized counterfeit products — about 14 percent — that don’t fall into easily definable categories, reported the CBP. But there are 10 types of products that are consistently counterfeited. Take note of them and learn how to detect them:
Have you encountered counterfeits among your purchases or intentionally sought out cheap knock-offs? Share your experience in comments below or on our Facebook page.
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