According to CNN Money, over 25,000 shipments of counterfeit goods were being shipped into the country last year. All these shipments totaled to a whopping $178.9 million. Here are the first five most common counterfeit goods, and some ways to avoid being tricked into buying them:
1. Electronics – This category is as broad as it sounds. Everything from music players, smart phones, and even headphones are falsely sold under popular brand names. The best way to avoid this is to only buy the brand’s products from authorized sellers.
2. Shoes – Counterfeit shoes can also come in all brands and styles. Whether it’s athletic shoes or dressy high-heels, no shoe is off limits. Once again, it’s recommended to only buy from trusted outlets, but if you’re a connoisseur, you might be able to tell just from trying it on.
3. Drugs – With the high price of pharmaceuticals in the United States, some people are turning to cheaper, online ordering. Many of these counterfeits contain ingredients that could do even more damage than the malady they’re supposed to cure.
4. CDs and DVDs – Since movies, music, and software can be copied digitally, it can easily be transferred to a disc. From there, the packaging can look stunningly close to the real thing. These counterfeits are usually new releases, so be particularly wary of ordering new products online.
5. Clothing – Counterfeit clothing is often made in foreign countries, and they do a good job of making them look like the original. Logos are easy enough to replicate, but where the counterfeiters usually have trouble is not being able to match the feel of the clothing, since they use cheaper material.
Be sure to come back later this week when we post part two, or see it on Twitter and Facebook.
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