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Cyber Monday: Beware of Dangerous Fakes Online
WASHINGTON -- Once viewed by many as a problem limited to purveyors of high-end luxury goods, counterfeiting has become a multi-billion dollar criminal activity that affects almost every American industry.
On this Cyber Monday, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is issuing alert tips to help consumers avoid dangerous fakes as they shop online.
On Cyber Monday last year, consumer spending mushroomed to $1.5 billion in online sales, with experts forecasting even more growth in 2013, the chamber said.
Illicit websites that offer counterfeit goods often appear identical to the genuine products and their numbers are growing exponentially,the U.S. chamber says, duping holiday shoppers into buying shoddy and sometimes dangerous products.
The chamber's Global Intellectual Property Center offers these tips to avoid being scammed:
- If it’s too good to be true, it probably is.
- When doing business online, make sure your payments are submitted via websites that begin with “s” (the "s" stands for secure) and look for a lock symbol at the bottom of your browser.
- Businesses trading in counterfeit goods often do not report their sales to financial authorities -- a difference you may notice in the price you ultimately pay, particularly in states that collect sales taxes.
- Reputable and reliable resellers have comprehensive inspection and authentication procedures and technicians to inspect the equipment they sell.
- Reports suggest that 96% of online pharmacies do not meet safety or legal standards, so be particularly careful when buying medicines.
- When shopping on international websites, look for trusted vendors that use identifiable privacy and security safeguards and have legitimate addresses.
- If a movie is still in theaters (or has not had its premiere in theaters), beware of online streaming or download sites. Such sites often install malware that can steal your credit-card and other personal information without you being aware of the theft.
- Give scrutiny to labels, packaging and contents for missing or expired "use by" dates, broken or missing safety seals, missing warranty information, or otherwise unusual packaging.
Consumers can play an important role in keeping the market free of fakes, the chamber says. Report unsafe products to the Consumer Product Safety Commission at this website and spread the word by warning family and friends about illegitimate product sources.
Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
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