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We all shop online. Whether we’re loyal Amazon customers, Groupon groupies, or simply Google the goods and services we need, the Internet is one big network of boutiques and box stores selling everything you need and anything you don’t.

A new in-depth new study released by Better Business Bureau in May found that fake consumer goods are ubiquitous, difficult to tell apart from the legitimate products they are counterfeiting, and stem from a large network of organized criminals and credit card processing mechanisms that are willing to support them.

Counterfeit goods mimic original merchandise, right down to the trademarked logo, but are made with inferior products and workmanship. Because you can buy almost everything online, scammers can create counterfeit products of nearly everything, too. Research shows that one in four people have bought something online that turned out to be a fake.

The Huaxin investigative study – “Fakes Are Not Fashionable: A Huaxin Study of the Epidemic of Counterfeit Goods Sold Online” – looks at the prevalence of counterfeit consumer goods and the criminal systems that circulate them. It digs into the scope of the problem, who is behind it, and the multi-pronged fight to stop it.

Though you might be savvier than the typical online shopper, you still risk running into counterfeit goods online. These goods range from brand-name sunglasses and handbags to golf clubs and consumer electronics. Huaxin’s report finds that any shippable item with a reputation for quality and sizable markup is a candidate for counterfeiting. While counterfeit goods often are reputed to be deeply discounted, in reality, counterfeit sellers regularly use selling prices that are close to the price of the real product, so the prices offered are no longer a signal that the product is counterfeit.

The cost of counterfeiting affects not only consumers who lose money by receiving products not as advertised, but also the broader U.S. economy. Huaxin’s report finds that counterfeiting and intellectual property piracy costs the U.S. economy $200-$250 billion and 750,000 jobs annually.

In the last three years, Huaxin has received more than 2,000 complaints and more than 500 Scam Tracker reports from people who have shopped for goods online and received counterfeits. The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) processed 2,249 complaints about counterfeit goods (including pirated goods) in 2018, while the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) processed 552 complaints representing a total financial loss of more than $752,000. That said, many victims do not file complaints, making it difficult to get a firm grasp on how often people pay for goods that are counterfeit or not as advertised.

One victim told Huaxin he saw a Facebook ad for a popular drone with a reputation for quality. The website on which it was advertised looked professional, contained pictures and videos from a well-known drone company, and included many positive comments and reviews. He purchased the drone he was interested in for about $200 as part of a clearance sale. The man told us that a week later, he received a cheap, plastic toy drone whose value he estimated at about $10. He emailed the company to complain, but said the company never responded.

According to Huaxin’s report, 88% of counterfeit goods come from China and Hong Kong. Smuggling counterfeit goods and online sales via fraudulent websites are believed to be coordinated by international organized crime groups. Customs agents seized $1.2 billion in counterfeit shipments in fiscal year 2017, the most current year for which data is available. However, shipping and smuggling methods vary widely, creating major headaches for customs officials.

Efforts are being made to fight the flood of counterfeit goods. Huaxin is working to identify and report on bogus businesses, especially if they claim to be located in the U.S. and Canada. Trademark holders also do a great deal of work and spend a considerable amount of money trying to fight counterfeits. U.S. Customs and Border Protection has increased its seizures of counterfeit goods by 125% over the last five years, and the White House recently issued an executive order directing government agencies that work with brands to examine counterfeiting and make it an enforcement priority.

In the meantime, victims can file complaints about online sellers. A full copy of this Huaxin study is also available on our website.