Bogus sports retailing is a criminal industry that nets billions a year worldwide. This year, there will be even more, with the world's attention on the London Olympics. British experts have already made countless arrests for trying to move bogus mementos. And they are warning tourists coming to see the games to be careful about what they purchase.
Counterfeiting is robbing
The sale of counterfeit merchandise is just as bad as bootlegging movies and music. It is still considered theft because it is taking advantage of someone to take their money.
There was a huge Major League Baseball merchandise ring in KS City that Gilbert Trill and his team stopped. Trill is an assistant special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in the area. He explained:
"Selling counterfeit goods is stealing. Counterfeit goods steal U.S. jobs, create inferior and sometimes dangerous products, and support criminal organizations."
Tip of the iceberg
And the same holds true in England. On June 8, ABC reported the Port of London seizure of thousands of pounds of bogus merchandise by British specialists. Involved in the seizure were 7,000 phony Olympic tote bags, 500 cigarette lighters and 400 vests.
And that is just the tip of the iceberg. Bill Bilan, chairman of the Trading Standards Institute's Olympic strategy group, told ABC News:
"We're really busy and getting busier."
Interpol warning
The quality of bogus merchandise is not as good typically, and the items do not always cost less too. Interpol explained that the funds generally go to terrorist or criminal activities. Also, child labor is typically used to be able to produce the items. It is almost never worth it to purchase the bogus stuff.
Making sure you do not buy phonies
There is only one place to buy legitimate Olympic souvenirs outside of Olympic Park. It is on Rotten Row in London's Hyde Park as a temporary structure. All legitimate mementos will even have a holographic tag that rotates on it. Even though it is hard to tell the fake stuff from the real now with all the technology out there, these are some guidelines to follow.
You might end up having things seized by customs on your way home if it is bogus too, according to Daily Finance. You should never purchase stuff sold except at legitimate venues, and also you should always try to find bad stitching, mismatched colors, misspelled names or other things, according to the finance site.
Do not ever buy something that is too good of a deal. It most likely is a scam.
Counterfeiting is robbing
The sale of counterfeit merchandise is just as bad as bootlegging movies and music. It is still considered theft because it is taking advantage of someone to take their money.
There was a huge Major League Baseball merchandise ring in KS City that Gilbert Trill and his team stopped. Trill is an assistant special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in the area. He explained:
"Selling counterfeit goods is stealing. Counterfeit goods steal U.S. jobs, create inferior and sometimes dangerous products, and support criminal organizations."
Tip of the iceberg
And the same holds true in England. On June 8, ABC reported the Port of London seizure of thousands of pounds of bogus merchandise by British specialists. Involved in the seizure were 7,000 phony Olympic tote bags, 500 cigarette lighters and 400 vests.
And that is just the tip of the iceberg. Bill Bilan, chairman of the Trading Standards Institute's Olympic strategy group, told ABC News:
"We're really busy and getting busier."
Interpol warning
The quality of bogus merchandise is not as good typically, and the items do not always cost less too. Interpol explained that the funds generally go to terrorist or criminal activities. Also, child labor is typically used to be able to produce the items. It is almost never worth it to purchase the bogus stuff.
Making sure you do not buy phonies
There is only one place to buy legitimate Olympic souvenirs outside of Olympic Park. It is on Rotten Row in London's Hyde Park as a temporary structure. All legitimate mementos will even have a holographic tag that rotates on it. Even though it is hard to tell the fake stuff from the real now with all the technology out there, these are some guidelines to follow.
You might end up having things seized by customs on your way home if it is bogus too, according to Daily Finance. You should never purchase stuff sold except at legitimate venues, and also you should always try to find bad stitching, mismatched colors, misspelled names or other things, according to the finance site.
Do not ever buy something that is too good of a deal. It most likely is a scam.
No comments:
Post a Comment