Texas Seizure: How to Spot Counterfeit Goods After $2 Million Bust

Texas law enforcement has taken the opportunity after a massive counterfeit merchandise bust to teach the public how to protect their wallets from fake goods.

Knock It Off with Fake Knock-Offs

On April 2, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), along with the Houston Police Department, targeted a Houston business believed to have been selling counterfeit sports goods to unsuspecting customers. The effort was a success after over 12,000 items were seized totaling an estimated $1.95 million.

As large as this haul of illegal goods was, it's nothing compared to last year's total of counterfeit sports items nationwide: 276,392 with a total price tag of $33.4 million.

Read More: Top Cybercrimes in Texas You Need to Watch Out For

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Houston Director of Field Operations Jud Murdock had this to say following the massive bust:

[Trade in counterfeit consumer goods] threatens the health and safety of American consumers, steals revenues from trademark holders and tax revenues from the government, and it funds transnational criminal organizations.

How to Spot Counterfeit Goods

Texans can protect themselves from falling victim to counterfeit goods by remembering the following tips:

• Avoid street vendors and flea markets and instead shop at authorized retail locations when it comes to high-quality name-brand goods
• Never buy clothes with poor stitching, misspelled words, or ripped tags
• Watch out for cheaply made products with no label identifying the licensee
• Always keep the receipt and regularly check bank accounts to report any discrepancies
• If an online or in-person deal seems too good to be true, it often is

Always remember that, if you are purchasing an item through an online shopping site, criminals often post legitimate product photos when the item itself is a cheap knock-off.

The bottom line is that it's important to use your best judgement when making purchases. If there are any red flags present, evaluate the situation and determine if moving forward with the purchase is actually the right thing to do.