Q: What can consumers do to protect themselves from counterfeit purchases?

A: From in-store purchases to online shopping, American consumers can take steps to protect themselves from getting swindled by counterfeit merchandise. During the holiday shopping season, it’s especially important to be wary of sales that sound too good to be true. Don’t get duped by aggressive discounts that can lure unwary consumers into purchasing fake and harmful products. One red flag to be vigilant for is missing sales tax charges. Online merchants who sell counterfeit goods may not report sales or collect sales tax charges. Trust your gut instinct and stick to smart shopping 101: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Don’t throw away hard-earned money on fake luxury items or imposter health and beauty brands that might carry health and safety risks. Searching for a good bargain makes sense, but don’t let a ridiculously good deal blind you to warning signs. Check labels, packaging and contents for clues that might reveal if the product is a true bargain or a raw deal. For perishable items, including food, cosmetics and perfumes, look for expiration dates. Other red flags: loose or missing safety seals; missing warranty and safety information; or, packaging that doesn’t match the contents inside.

Be mindful when shopping from social media accounts. If a well-known brand or influencer lacks a verification badge, this may indicate the account is not legitimate. Authenticate the seller by visiting the brand’s website directly, instead of accessing it via a link. When making an online payment to purchase an item, always confirm the URL begins with https:// and look for the padlock icon to protect your financial information.

Know that criminals exploit the internet to rip off unsuspecting customers with counterfeit or stolen goods. That’s bad for consumers and harms legitimate businesses. Word of mouth is one of the best ways to shut down purveyors of fake, stolen or defective products. If you fall prey to a counterfeit sales scam, be sure to spread the word. Don’t sweep your experience under the rug, be proactive to help shut down bad actors by alerting friends and neighbors.

As a co-chair of the Congressional Trademark Caucus, I’m joining my colleagues in a briefing on Capitol Hill in December with retail stakeholders and law enforcement officials to help raise public awareness and provide consumers with tips to protect their money and ensure they purchase gifts from reputable retailers this holiday season. Protecting intellectual property and upholding the rule of law underpin the U.S. marketplace. Policymakers and the American public must work together to shut down intellectual property theft and strengthen the entrepreneurial spirit that grows the U.S. economy, creates jobs and boosts prosperity from one generation to the next.

Q: How can consumers report questionable sales and products?

A: In our consumer-driven economy, Americans can protect their pocketbooks and help keep fakes out of their shopping carts by serving as eyes and ears for businesses and law enforcement. Staying vigilant can help boost consumer confidence by knocking out knock-offs from being manufactured, imported and sold to unsuspecting buyers. From clothing to jewelry and footwear to baby formula, medications and auto parts, criminal enterprises pocket profits by deceiving consumers. If suspicions arise about a potentially counterfeit product or stolen merchandise, alert the owner of the brand in question and contact the online retailer or bricks and mortar storefront for an exchange or reimbursement. Report specific concerns about intellectual property crime to local law enforcement or by using online portals at U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CPB) at https://www.cbp.gov/trade/e-allegations or the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center at https://www.iprcenter.gov/referral/report-ip-theft-form. Or call CPB toll-free at (800) BE-ALERT.

I’ll continue working to crack down on counterfeits and build on transparency measures I helped secure into law last year with passage of the INFORM Act. I’m also working on legislation to enhance the authority of CPB to share information about merchandise suspected of violating intellectual property rights. The bottom line for shoppers is simple: Buyer Beware. Consumers are in the driver’s seat with their purchasing power and can help stop counterfeit sales by carefully checking their merchandise and reporting suspicious activity to authorities. During this season of gift-giving, spending your money wisely can help put rip-off artists out of business.

For more holiday shopping tips, check out the Top 5 Tips to avoid online shopping scams released by Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird. U.S. shoppers lost $8.8 billion to fraud in 2022. Learn more here. To report a scam, contact the Consumer Protection Division at (888) 777-4590.

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