CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Federal officials are warning holiday shoppers to be wary of counterfeit merchandise and advise you to shop from reputable sellers.
Shane Campbell, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection area port director, said nearly $8 million in counterfeit merchandise was seized coming into Chicago during the last one-year period, more than $21,000 in fake goods a day.
“Counterfeit goods are often made of inferior materials, manufactured in uncontrolled and unsanitary conditions. They’re labeled with false information and this can pose serious risk to the people who buy them,” Campbell told WBBM Newsradio.
Campbell continued, explaining, “The theft of intellectual property and the trade of counterfeit or pirated goods harms the American economy. It threatens the competitiveness of American businesses and the livelihoods of U.S. workers.”
He said about 750,000 jobs a year are lost through the sales of counterfeit goods.
Near O’Hare International Airport Tuesday morning, U.S. Customs and Border Protection laid out a number of fake products ranging from phony Gucci bags and fake HP device chargers to knock-off car key fobs and clothing.
Campbell said some brand name manufacturers are trying to thwart counterfeit sales.
“The companies come in and they teach our officers about certain things to look for. And, a lot of times, you can just feel the quality of a product. When you know it’s supposed to be leather and it feels like plastic, it’s a good indication that it’s a fake product,” he said.
Campbell said if the prices of an item seem too good to be true, it probably is too good to be true.
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