CBP and HSI at JFK warn public about counterfeiting ahead of Black Friday

JAMAICA, NY – On November 18, 2021, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in New York City hosted a joint media event highlighting counterfeit goods. Just in time for Black Friday, Cyber ​​Monday and the rest of the holiday shopping craze, HSI and CBP offered a presentation on counterfeit products and how consumers can protect themselves from buying. “counterfeit” branded items.

“CBP’s primary mission is to protect our nation while facilitating legitimate travel and commerce. This includes protecting consumers from dangerous goods. We carry out this mission by partnering with industry, HSI, other federal agencies and foreign governments to detect and intercept the cross-border trade of these noxious and dangerous illicit goods, ”said Frank Russo, director of the office. exterior of CBP in New York. “The risks associated with buying counterfeit products are significant. The lower prices you pay can come at a high cost to you and your family.

“This holiday season, shoppers should be on the lookout for potentially unsafe products while researching an offer online. Besides the potential danger of faulty electronics or dirty personal care products, you’ll also be wasting your hard-earned money on fake brands. Buying from questionable websites can also put your personal and financial information at risk, ”said Deputy Special Agent in Charge Erik Rosenblatt of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York. “HSI has made a global commitment to dismantle the transnational criminal organizations that exploit the legitimate online marketplace and ultimately endanger our communities.”

CBP and HSI protect businesses and consumers on a daily basis through an aggressive Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) enforcement program, and IPR enforcement remains a priority business issue for CBP.

Each year, CBP seizes a wide variety of counterfeit products from around the world. In FY2020, CBP seized over 26,000 shipments of counterfeit IPR-infringing goods worth over $ 1.3 billion, if the goods were genuine.

Intellectual property theft and the trade in substandard and often dangerous goods threaten the U.S. economy, stifle innovation, and pose a threat to the health and safety of consumers. In addition, these illicit activities finance criminal activities and support transnational organized crime. CBP has implemented the Truth About Counterfeit educational campaign to educate consumers about the health and safety, legal and economic consequences of purchasing counterfeit products. For more information, visit www.cbp.gov/fakegoodsrealdangers.

If you have any information regarding suspected fraud or illegal business activity, please contact CBP through E-Allegations Online Commerce Violation Reporting System or by calling 1-800-BE-ALERT. IPR violations can also be reported to the National Center for the Coordination of Intellectual Property Rights at https://www.iprcenter.gov/referral/ or by phone at 1-866-IPR-2060.