Counterfeit Cosmetics, Fragrances-Hazardous to Your Health
You see what appears to be your favorite brand name eye shadow, eye liner, or fragrance for sale at a flea market or on an unfamiliar website. You notice the price is lower than what you normally pay at your favorite retail store or through an authorized online dealer. Before you hand over your hard-earned money, though, keep this in mind: It could be counterfeit, and—in addition to buying something that’s not the real deal—you are also risking your health by buying and using products that may contain substandard or even dangerous substances.
The National Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Center—of which the FBI is a partner—wants you to know that the volume of all sorts of counterfeit cosmetics and fragrances coming into the U.S. is definitely on the rise…that’s according to our industry partners as well as law enforcement. Why is this happening? Because the Internet has given counterfeiters widespread access to customers, and because criminals increasingly view dealing in counterfeit personal care products—as well as other knock-off consumer goods as well—as a relatively low-risk crime since many of the perpetrators are located outside of the U.S.
Related Posts
Amazon not liable for copyright infringement, US court rules
A US court has rejected an appeal from the owner of sandybeachgifts.com, Sandy...
Counties told to enforce rules on fake products
County governments have been asked to customise the Anti-Counterfeit Act to fight...
Custom deploys 11 gunboats to fight piracy, smuggling
The Nigerian Custom Service (NCS) said it has deployed 11 gunboats to fight...
The secret lives of Thailand’s counterfeiters
On streets in Bangkok and in some of its glistening air-conditioned malls,...