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No matter whether you are giving, receiving or doing a bit of both this Holiday Season, one thing is for certain: the seasonal marketplace is awash with counterfeit and pirated goods. Those bargains may not be what you bargained for….

The prevalence of counterfeit goods was seen demonstrated once again last week when the LA County Sheriff’s Department seized more than $18 million worth of counterfeit designer goods in a raid that put 62 people behind bars. Believed to be the largest confiscation in LA history, the goods seized ranged from fake Viagra pills to designer handbags. The raids were the result of investigations conducted over the summer in Beaverton, Oregon.

Last week’s raid, although large in of themselves, represent only a small fraction of the counterfeit goods trade in the United States. In fiscal 2008, the value of goods seized in the United States increased 39% to $272.7 million. That’s just what was seized. You have to believe that a relatively small investment in anti-counterfeiting solutions would put a significant dent in the damage but also in the dollars spent on investigations taking place after the crimes are committed.

In LA this December there may be fewer designer knock-offs. And that’s a good start. But it’s a very small drop in a very big sea. Until deterrence is fully implemented at home and abroad, remember – if a holiday bargain seems too good to be true…. It’s probably not the real thing.

Sources:
"Knock-off Viagra Among Goods Seized in Raids" KNBC, Los Angeles

"Raid of LA counterfeit distributors stemmed from OR inquiry" The Oregonian

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