Homeland Security and anti-counterfeiting organizations are cracking down on bogus goods that steal the hard-won good will of legitimate band names. But for the first time these crusaders have decided to target the consumer. If they have their way, consumers who intentionally purchase phony goods could face fees or even prison time.
Sector makes a ton of cash
Knock-off counterfeit merchandise, like fake Prada shoes, Gucci bags and Rolex watches, routinely flood flea markets and bargain outlets across the country. In recent years, so-called rogue websites have popped up, and they have been ballooning the illegal industry into one that, according to Daily Finance, rakes in $650 billion a year globally.
Difficult fight
International Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition's Kristina Montanaro explained that stopping these sites is like playing "Whac-a-Mole" because every time one is found, it disappears and appears as something else. They are extremely difficult to trace and they look like they are the real thing.
Montanaro explained that there are many ways people try to stop the counterfeiters from working, including blocking them from running credit cards. This is done through credit card issuers and processors, according to Montanaro in her seminar called "Beyond Whac-a-Mole: New Initiatives in Intellectual Property Enforcement.
Watch out flea markets
According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, nation's flea markets have been raided a lot recently leading to millions of dollars in merchandise being taken. About 70 percent of all merchandise that claimed to be brand name was not real in these areas. The raids have found a lot of knock-offs being sold.
Let the public know
A brand new website named DesignsFauxReal.com is meant to show how significant it could be to purchase fake stuff with brand names on it. The site looks like a rogue site but actually has slogans such as "The timeless gift of charge card fraud," and "Free identity theft with every purchase," on it. The website was launched by the International Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition to show the dangers of it.
Montanaro explained that purchasing from the online websites could be dangerous. She said:
"A lot of people don't realize, you're handing your card information over to hardened criminals, so you're at the risk of identity theft."
Not legal
A lot of people in the U.S. hope to see laws against buying phony merchandise. It is against the law to do in Italy and France already. Buying it in New York City might be punishable in fees up to $1,000 and a year in prison soon too due to legislation proposed by City Councilwomen Margaret Chin.
Chin said:
"The bottom line is counterfeiters have to sell to do their job, and we need a law in place that punishes buyers for supporting this illegal trade."
Other cities in the U.S. will most likely pass comparable laws if the New York City law passes soon.
Sector makes a ton of cash
Knock-off counterfeit merchandise, like fake Prada shoes, Gucci bags and Rolex watches, routinely flood flea markets and bargain outlets across the country. In recent years, so-called rogue websites have popped up, and they have been ballooning the illegal industry into one that, according to Daily Finance, rakes in $650 billion a year globally.
Difficult fight
International Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition's Kristina Montanaro explained that stopping these sites is like playing "Whac-a-Mole" because every time one is found, it disappears and appears as something else. They are extremely difficult to trace and they look like they are the real thing.
Montanaro explained that there are many ways people try to stop the counterfeiters from working, including blocking them from running credit cards. This is done through credit card issuers and processors, according to Montanaro in her seminar called "Beyond Whac-a-Mole: New Initiatives in Intellectual Property Enforcement.
Watch out flea markets
According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, nation's flea markets have been raided a lot recently leading to millions of dollars in merchandise being taken. About 70 percent of all merchandise that claimed to be brand name was not real in these areas. The raids have found a lot of knock-offs being sold.
Let the public know
A brand new website named DesignsFauxReal.com is meant to show how significant it could be to purchase fake stuff with brand names on it. The site looks like a rogue site but actually has slogans such as "The timeless gift of charge card fraud," and "Free identity theft with every purchase," on it. The website was launched by the International Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition to show the dangers of it.
Montanaro explained that purchasing from the online websites could be dangerous. She said:
"A lot of people don't realize, you're handing your card information over to hardened criminals, so you're at the risk of identity theft."
Not legal
A lot of people in the U.S. hope to see laws against buying phony merchandise. It is against the law to do in Italy and France already. Buying it in New York City might be punishable in fees up to $1,000 and a year in prison soon too due to legislation proposed by City Councilwomen Margaret Chin.
Chin said:
"The bottom line is counterfeiters have to sell to do their job, and we need a law in place that punishes buyers for supporting this illegal trade."
Other cities in the U.S. will most likely pass comparable laws if the New York City law passes soon.
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