The True Cost of Counterfeit

DỌC ZONE with Ann-Morie MocDonald THE TRUE COST OF COUNTERFEIT producer/design: Olena Sullivan If it can be made, it can be faked. From toothpaste to electronics, counterfeit goods are the most lucrative industry worldwide. Imitation may not be the sincerest form of flattery, but it definitely is big business. $1200b $600b $20-30b +260. 7m Estimated economic Domestic value impact of faked of seizures of goods in Canada fake goods in 2009 11-כ 2015 7% of all global trade is in counterfeit goods worldwide value of counterfeit goods So what counterfeit goods are people buying? That seems to depend on the location - the popular products seem vary from country to country. Even though the consumers know they're bogus, they still buy them. BULGARIA CANADA CUBA FRANCE tobacco cigarette cigars fashion cartons wear MALTA ROMANIA SLOVENIA SPAIN consumer sports equipment electronics pirated films perfume Chinese counterfeiters create extremely convincing copies of existing products - the city of Yiwu itself is home up to 40,000 wholesale shops that sell about 100,000 products that are up to 90% fake. 79% of the 14,841 seizures of counterfeit goods by US Oustoms and Border Protection were from China (2009) LIBERTY S74 73% of all counterfeit articles seized at Customs in the European Union were from China (2011) EURO TOP COUNTERFEIT GOODS MICROCHIPS COSMETICS FOOTWEAR VIAGRA Viagra is one of the include Nike, Adidas, world's most faked drugs and can contain printer ink, drywall, and amphetamines. Knock-off brands Fake parts such as microchips flood the US military Procter & Gamble estimates that counterfeit goods in China cost it more than 10% Puma and Reebok networks, sometimes with secrets stripped from '80s stolen from nearby computers. in lost revenue. factories. What you don't know can kill you. 13% of America's food supply passes through 300 ports of entry into the US, but the FDA only inspects 2% before it hits your table. What's in your food? VANILLA FISH OLIVE OIL MAPLE SYRUP COFFEE VANILLA Up to 69% of restaurants imported European the real thing Watch out for Fakers dilute Fake civet Cheap extract coffee beans can from Mexico & selling Red Snapper as it may be cheaper adulterated with Tilapia. olive oil in the with cheaper contain chocolate, Latin America United States is isolated enzymes, is frequently sugars like cane sugar and artificial made with lower grade oils syrup fragrances. toxic coumarin The World Health Organization estimates that 10-15% of medicines around the world are fake. due to low overhead costs, lack of anti-counterfeiting infrastructure, high value and demand for affordable medicines. NIGER 3000 deaths in 1996 from fake meningitis inoculation EU Customs blocked 3200 attempts to import fake medicine in 2008 UNITED STATES 149 deaths in 2007-2008 from fake blood thinner heparin In 2006, individuals linked to Hezbollah were involved with trafficking bogus Viagra into the US SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA & SOUTHEAST ASIA 650,000 deaths occur each year from fake or poor quality malaria drugs 10% of all high-tech products worldwide are fakes. If you're not purchasing from authorized retailers, you may be helping fund organized cerime or putting your health at risk with knock-offs that aren't up to safety standards. 98 Respondents to a 2005 Neilson Interactive Entertainment Study 77 that admitted to buying pirated video games Bogus consumer 34% 172 electronics 2010 2011 such as cell danadians phones can contain faulty batteries, which may explode! number of seizures by RCMP of fake Americans electronics and electrical products ways to ensure you’re buying the real deal! Be suspicious about great bargains. If a price looks too good to be true, it most likely is. 2 Look for spelling errors on the packaging or labels. Make sure to check the manufacturing information for errors. Oheck the business' Better Business Bureau Review at bbb.org before making a purchase to see their status and if there have been any complaints against them. If buying online, research your seller. Find out their payment and return policy, shipping, and their money-back guarantee on fake goods. Trust your gut! If you see things wrong with the item that set your alarm off, walk away. You can always buy the item somewhere else. Test your knowledge of counterfeit goods a CBC -CA/DOCZONE © 2012 CBC Radio-Canada. Sources: Better Business Bureau (bbb.org). Shine from Yahoo! (http://shine.yahoo.com/fashion/5-ways-avoid-buying-counterfeit-goods-online- 18410076I.html), openclipart.org, wikimedia commons.