Top 10 Most Commonly Counterfeited Items
Counterfeit goods pose significant challenges to global economies, brand integrity, and consumer safety. The top 10 most commonly counterfeited items include:
Footwear: Fake shoes, especially popular brands, are super common in counterfeit markets all over the world in places like the Philippines, Colombia, Bahamas, Mexico, Aruba and more. In past reports, footwear accounted for 22% of the total value of counterfeit goods seized globally.
Apparel and Accessories: Clothing items and accessories, such as belts, handbags and wallets, are often counterfeited. Apparel and accessories topped the list of the United States most counterfeited items, with over 5,000 seizures
Watches and Jewelry: Luxury watches and jewelry are prime targets for counterfeiters. Counterfeit watches and jewelry typically have the highest market value among seized items, with over hundreds of millions worth of fake goods intercepted.
Consumer Electronics: Devices like smartphones, tablets, are commonly counterfeited, leading to significant economic losses and potential safety hazards. In a previous year, consumer electronics accounted for over 12% of total seizures in the U.S. alone.
Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products: Counterfeit medications and personal care items pose serious health risks. In a previous years, there were over 2,200 seizures of such counterfeit products, valued at over $60 million.
Optical Media: Pirated CDs, DVDs, and Blu-ray discs remain prevalent, despite the rise of digital media. Thousands of shipments of counterfeit optical media are seized year after year.
Computers and Accessories: Counterfeit computer hardware and peripherals can lead to system failures and security vulnerabilities. This can include printer cartridges from major manufactures like HP, which are highly counterfeited worldwide.
Toys: Fake toys not only infringe on intellectual property but can also be unsafe for children as they don't adhere to the strict safety standards. This could be the way they are built or even the unsafe chemicals used while being manufactured.
Automotive and Aerospace Parts: Counterfeit parts in vehicles and aircraft can lead to severe safety issues. The parts are not manufactured to the strict safety standards.
Food and Beverages: Items like olive oil, honey, and alcoholic beverages are often counterfeited, posing health risks to consumers. Olive oil is considered one of the most frequently counterfeited food products, with some products labeled as "extra-virgin olive oil" actually containing up to 90% soybean oil. Top 5 products are: Olive oil, fish, honey, fruit juice, and spices.
Counterfeit goods not only result in economic losses but also pose significant risks to consumer health and safety. It's essential to purchase products from reputable sources and remain vigilant against counterfeit items. If you are in need of a counterfeit goods investigation, contact us now!
Top 10 Countries for Counterfeit Goods
China In 2023, US CBP reported that almost 70% of seizures were from China.
Hong Kong
United Arab Emirates
Singapore
Turkey
United States
Mexico
Japan
Germany
