During the holidays, customs and border protection operations (CBP) of the United States in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands reiterated today, Tuesday, their consumer warning about counterfeit and pirated products purchased on the Internet.
“Branded products that are incredibly cheap online may not be a bargainsaid Leida colón, Deputy director of field operations in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands see written notice.
“If the price of the product seems too good to be true, it probably is; and that can cause real problems for you, your family and legitimate businesses, ”he added.
He explained that, amid the pandemic, a recent fiscal year comparison shows that CBP officials and import specialists have witnessed a significant statistical increase in product seizures (IPRs).
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The San Juan Office of Field Operations, which is responsible for multiple ports of entry in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, has seen a 175 percent growth in IPR seizures in fiscal 2021 so far with the same period in fiscal 2020.
There are several steps consumers can take to protect themselves when shopping online. It is recommended to buy products only from reputable retailers and to exercise caution with outside suppliers. Please check the seller’s reviews and comments and make sure there is a working phone number and address for the merchant in case you have any questions about the legitimacy of a product.
“Bad actors are still taking advantage of the dramatic growth of e-commerce to sell counterfeit and other illegal goods through online platforms, especially during the holiday season when shoppers are looking for bargains,” said Deputy Mayra Claudio, Deputy Director. director of the port of San Juan. “If the price of the product seems too good to be true, it probably is, and it could cause real problems for you, your family and legitimate businesses.”
Nationally, for fiscal year 2020, CBP seized 26,503 shipments containing property that infringed intellectual property rights. The total estimated value of the assets seized, if they had been real, was nearly $ 1.3 billion.
CBP’s Office of Field Operations in San Juan seized 2,443 shipments containing goods that violate intellectual property rights with an estimated MSRP of $ 46 million.
To address such violations, the San Juan Commerce Law Enforcement Team was established in October 2016. Since its inception, the team has seized a total of 1,064,098 items with an estimated value of $ 163,477,809. The main items seized in fiscal year 2020 are in order:
- Wallets / purses
- Jewelery
- Shoes
- electronics
- Alcoholic drinks
- Clocks
- Clothes
- Other counterfeit products
- Cigarettes
- Prescribed medicines
The Dutch DPA has also launched an educational initiative to educate consumers about the consequences and dangers associated with buying counterfeit and illegal products online or in stores. More information about this initiative is available on the following page www.cbp.gov/fakegoodsrealdangers
If you have information about suspected fraud or illegal business activities, please report the trade violation to the trade violation reporting system on the e-Allegations Online trade violation portal. Reporting system or call 1-800-BE-ALERT. Intellectual property rights violations can also be reported to the National Center for the Coordination of Intellectual Property Rights at https://www.iprcenter.gov/referral/ or by phone at 1-866-IPR-2060.
For more information, you can also visit the following link https://www.stopfakes.gov/.