U.S. Customs Warns Against Buying Fake Designer Watches and Jewelry Ahead of Valentine’s Day: Tiffany & Co. and Chanel Among Top Targets
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection is warning consumers against fake gifts this Valentine’s Day. According to the federal law enforcement agency, CBP officers in Louisville, Ky., and Indianapolis, Ind., have seized about 30 shipments of counterfeit designer jewelry since January.
The shipments included rings, brooches, bracelets, charms, necklaces and watches that were deemed to be counterfeit by CBP’s Centers of Excellence and Expertise. Tiffany & Co., Cartier, Chanel and Van Cleef & Arpels were among the luxury brands targeted by criminals with the most falsified products.
More from WWD
Aupen and Chinese Authorities Crack Down on Counterfeit Operation, Seize $150K in Fake Goods
France's Ligne Roset Says It Has the First Blockchain Certificate for Furniture
To avoid buying a counterfeit product, CBP advises consumers to “purchase goods directly from the trademark holder or from authorized retailers,” “know the market value of the item you are purchasing” and “look for legitimate websites that offer customer service contact information and return policies.” The agency also published a guide for awareness of counterfeit goods in e-commerce that can be found at cbp.gov.
Although counterfeit shipments tend to increase ahead of special holidays such as Christmas and Valentine’s Day, the issue concerns CBP officers the entire year. In fiscal year 2024, the agency seized an average manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $1.6 billion in jewelry, $1.4 billion in watches and $1 billion in handbags and wallets.
According to CBP, jewelry, watches and handbags have been the top commodities seized for Intellectual Property Rights infringement for the last three years. The agency stated that 90 percent of the counterfeit shipments in fiscal year 2024 were from China and Hong Kong.
“Counterfeit goods are poor quality products that cost U.S. businesses billions of dollars a year while robbing our country of jobs and tax revenues,” said LaFonda D. Sutton-Burke, director, field operations, Chicago field office, via statement on Feb. 6. “CBP officers throughout my field offices remain committed to stopping counterfeit smuggling, taking profits from organized crime and helping protect our communities from potentially hazardous knockoffs.”
Counterfeits, knockoffs and replicas have been a longtime enemy of the luxury industry, with brands often fighting back with the help of law enforcement. In November, a counterfeit Chanel runway show was shut down by the Hong Kong Police Force, with two people charged with “obtaining property by deception.”
“Today, according the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation, counterfeiting represents 2.5 percent of the world’s trade, or $461 billion, and puts low-quality goods on the market, generating risks for health, well-being, security and safety,” said Hugo Garcia-Cotte, CEO of AI anti-counterfeit service provider Cypheme, in a statement reported by WWD in November.
Best of WWD
'SNL' Costumes Through the Years: From The Coneheads to Target Lady and More
Remembering Demi Moore's DIY Look at the 1989 Oscars: 'Worst Dressed' or Trendsetter?
Sign up for WWD's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
