Back-to-school season is upon us. That’s good news for parents and shoppers who want to find great deals on clothes, shoes, and electronics. Unfortunately, it’s also the time of year when sophisticated counterfeiters prey on hurried shoppers and pass off fake goods as genuine items.
- More shoppers are finding themselves victims of counterfeit goods.
- Counterfeits and piracy impact every sector of the economy from toys, medicines, and electronics to automotive parts and even the military supply chain.
- The National Crime Prevention Council estimates that more than 750,000 jobs are lost each year as a result of the production of fake goods.
- Globally, the counterfeit trade has nearly doubled in value since 2008, amounting to $461 billion annually. That’s more than double the 2014 profits of the world’s top ten companies, combined.
- Additionally, counterfeits pose real dangers– electronics that catch fire and harm consumers and fake medicines that make people sick.
- Customs authorities around the world are only seizing as little as 2.5 percent of the value of total estimated counterfeits- just a drop in the bucket of the fakes being trafficked across borders.
Here are 5 quick tips on how to avoid purchasing fake items this back-to-school season:
- Shop at reputable and reliable retailers. Online or in stores, many companies will only sell their products through authorized retailers. Check reviews and look for the sellers’ contact information before placing your order.
- Shop ‘s’ for secure. When shopping online, make sure your payments are submitted via websites beginning with https:// (the “s” stands for secure) and look for a lock symbol at the top of your browser.
- Trust your gut instincts. If a product or sale seems too good to be true, there is a chance that it is. Make sure to scrutinize the labels, packaging, and contents to ensure the bargain is not a fake. Look for missing or expired “use by” dates, broken or missing safety seals, and unusual packaging. For online shoppers, look for poor website quality, spelling mistakes, and missing sale terms and conditions.
- Report questionable or faulty products. The government catches a large portion of counterfeit items, but many still make it to the market. Consumers can play an important role in combatting counterfeits by contacting the National IPR Center or the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
- Spread the word. Share the dangers of counterfeit products with your kids, family, and friends.
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