WASHINGTON: The holiday season is nearly here, and with Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals in sight, U.S. Customs and Border Protection is warning consumers about a recent increase in counterfeit goods.
The CBP’s goal is to protect consumers by seizing counterfeit or otherwise unsafe items from cargo ships and other shipping hubs. The agency works with the Consumer Products Safety Commission and Homeland Security Investigations teams to seize items that violate import requirements, safety standards and intellectual property rights.
Savannah is home to the second busiest container port on the East Coast, and CBP officer Mark Varga said his organization has seen a significant increase in counterfeit seizures here from fiscal year 2015. In 2015, the CBP’s nationwide count for seizures topped out above 28,000. If these goods would have been sold at face value, the estimated net value would’ve reached $1.3 billion. The CBP showcased a number of examples of commonly seized items at their Office of Field Operations at the Area Port of Savannah on Tuesday.
Two tables showcased counterfeit NFL Jerseys, backpacks for children containing high amounts of lead, cell phone cases, baby rattles, tablet cases, counterfeit speakers and headsets, designer handbags and many more items, all seized by CBP. Area Port Director Lisa Beth Brown said the best defense against accidentally purchasing these frequently counterfeited items is consumer vigilance.
“It pays to be an informed consumer. I would suggest researching the product before you purchase it,” Brown said. “Look at the quality. Counterfeit items are often of inferior quality. On things like apparel, you’ll notice that the stitching is not even or uniform and may even be coming apart.”
Brown said her agency’s goal was to prevent the counterfeit goods from every reaching shelves. “While the holiday season may be a focus point or a time when people are more inclined to be out shopping, rest assured, we’re here 24/7,” Brown said.
