There is nothing new about bogus sporting merchandise. It is a criminal industry that takes billions a year from legitimate, authorized vendors. With the world's eyes on London this summer, UK regulators are urging vacationers to beware of supporting criminal behavior by purchasing knock-off items. Already, hundreds have been arrested for pushing phony products.
Counterfeiting is robbing
The sale of counterfeit merchandise is just as bad as bootlegging movies and music. It is still considered theft because it is taking advantage of someone to take their cash.
There was a huge Major League Baseball merchandise ring in Kansas City that Gilbert Trill and his team stopped. Trill is an assistant special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in the area. He explained:
"Selling counterfeit goods is stealing. Counterfeit goods steal U.S. jobs, create inferior and sometimes dangerous products, and support criminal organizations."
Just the beginning
ABC reported seizure of thousands of pounds of phony merchandise at Port of London on June 8 such as 400 vests, 500 cigarette lighters and 7,000 Olympic tote bags.
ABC News spoke with bill Bilan, the Trading Standards Institute's Olympic strategy group chairman, who said:
"We're really busy and getting busier."
Keep away from fake merchandise
The quality of counterfeit merchandise is not as good typically, and the items do not always cost less too. Interpol explained that the funds typically go to terrorist or criminal activities. Also, kid labor is typically used to be able to produce the items. It is almost never worth it to buy the counterfeit stuff.
Making sure you do not buy phonies
There is only one place to purchase legitimate Olympic mementos outside of Olympic Park. It is on Rotten Row in London's Hyde Park as a temporary structure. All legitimate mementos will also have a holographic tag that rotates on it. Even though it is hard to tell the phony stuff from the real now with all the technology out there, these are some guidelines to follow.
Daily Finances offered some tips to avoid ending up buying counterfeit merchandise that may well be seized by custom on your way home anyway. According to the personal finance site, watch for shoddy craftsmanship, poor stitching, uneven colors and misspelled names. Also, never buy merchandise sold anywhere but at the legitimate venues mentioned above.
Also, if the price seems too low to be real... you know the rest of the sentence.
Counterfeiting is robbing
The sale of counterfeit merchandise is just as bad as bootlegging movies and music. It is still considered theft because it is taking advantage of someone to take their cash.
There was a huge Major League Baseball merchandise ring in Kansas City that Gilbert Trill and his team stopped. Trill is an assistant special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in the area. He explained:
"Selling counterfeit goods is stealing. Counterfeit goods steal U.S. jobs, create inferior and sometimes dangerous products, and support criminal organizations."
Just the beginning
ABC reported seizure of thousands of pounds of phony merchandise at Port of London on June 8 such as 400 vests, 500 cigarette lighters and 7,000 Olympic tote bags.
ABC News spoke with bill Bilan, the Trading Standards Institute's Olympic strategy group chairman, who said:
"We're really busy and getting busier."
Keep away from fake merchandise
The quality of counterfeit merchandise is not as good typically, and the items do not always cost less too. Interpol explained that the funds typically go to terrorist or criminal activities. Also, kid labor is typically used to be able to produce the items. It is almost never worth it to buy the counterfeit stuff.
Making sure you do not buy phonies
There is only one place to purchase legitimate Olympic mementos outside of Olympic Park. It is on Rotten Row in London's Hyde Park as a temporary structure. All legitimate mementos will also have a holographic tag that rotates on it. Even though it is hard to tell the phony stuff from the real now with all the technology out there, these are some guidelines to follow.
Daily Finances offered some tips to avoid ending up buying counterfeit merchandise that may well be seized by custom on your way home anyway. According to the personal finance site, watch for shoddy craftsmanship, poor stitching, uneven colors and misspelled names. Also, never buy merchandise sold anywhere but at the legitimate venues mentioned above.
Also, if the price seems too low to be real... you know the rest of the sentence.
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