Jan. 29 (UPI) — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials seized millions of dollars in knock-off jewelry items and advised American consumers as Valentines Day nears to be leery of fake products.
On Wednesday, the agency said that last week CBP officers in Indianapolis, on two separate occasions, seized shipments of thousands of counterfeit jewelry items via sketchy Chinese exporters, according to a release.
“This is just another example of the work our officers do to protect consumers and the U.S. economy,” LaFonda D. Sutton-Burke, director of operations at CBP’s Chicago Field Office, said Wednesday in the release.
Officials say at least 2,172 pieces of rings, brooches, bracelets, charms, necklaces and earrings that displayed legally protected trademarks of various luxury designers were confiscated.
The two shipments arrived from China on Jan. 21 and Jan. 23, respectively, and if genuine would have fetched at least $5.2 million in retail.
“As consumers increasingly purchase merchandise from online or third-party vendors, our officers are at the frontline guarding against violative individuals and entities expecting to make money by selling fake merchandise,” added Sutton-Burke.
The counterfeit items included iconic name brands such as Tiffany and Co., Van Cleef, Cartier and Chanel.
“If the item is priced well below fair market value, the likelihood is higher that the merchandise being considered for purchase is counterfeit,” the border agency added.
It recommends U.S. shoppers educate themselves as Valentine’s Day nears, to look for red flags, avoid websites not offering customer service or other contact info and only buy goods directly from a trademark holder, original manufacturer or authorized retailer.
“If a price seems too good to be true, then it probably is,” officials say.
Meanwhile, the CBP established a “Truth Behind Counterfeits” educational initiative to raise awareness of the dangers associated with the purchase of counterfeit and pirated goods.
