Holiday Shopping Tips
NOW THAT THE HOLIDAY SHOPPING SEASON IS UNDERWAY,
The National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center (IPRCenter) wants to remind everyone that all consumers should have an enjoyable shopping experience free from counterfeit or stolen goods or pirated streaming content. Keep reading to learn online shopping best practices, ways to protect financial and banking information, general information to help spot and report fake or stolen merchandise, and why digital streaming from unauthorized sites is unsafe.
Counterfeit Items
What’s the risk of buying counterfeit products?
Every year, the United States government seizes millions of counterfeit goods as part of its mission to protect U.S. consumers and businesses. Counterfeit goods cheat consumers with substandard and potentially hazardous products. For example, counterfeit electronics can overheat and explode, bicycle helmets can break upon impact, phony cosmetics and health care products can be with dangerous or unsanitary ingredients, and seasonal items for the home, like holiday lights, can be poorly wired and cause fires.
Additionally, some of the websites used to sell counterfeit goods put shoppers
at risk of having their personal and financial data stolen. Online shopping at
unknown or unverified sites makes consumers particularly vulnerable to scams
that trick them into buying counterfeit and pirated goods.
Holiday Shopping DO’S
Use one credit card for online purchases
Consider opening a credit card account for online use only. Keep a minimum credit line on the account to limit the amount of charges an attacker can accumulate.
Use good password practices
- Use a different password for each account.
- Use the longest password or passphrase each system permits.
- Develop mnemonics, or memory aids, to remember complex passwords.
- Consider using a password manager program to keep track of your passwords.
Be on the lookout for counterfeit, pirated, or stolen goods
Criminals try to trick holiday shoppers into buying substandard (and often hazardous) counterfeit goods. Look for poor quality, sloppy stitching, missing security labels, and irregular markings on apparel. Be vigilant.
Pay attention to other items an individual or seller is offering
If a person or seller has multiples of the same items, particularly those that are listed as “new with tags,” that could be an indication they are stolen. Also, look for prices that appear way below what you expect to pay.
Holiday Shopping DON’TS
Don’t use a debit card for online purchases
Debit cards do not offer protection against identity theft. Because banks immediately deduct charges from your account, an attacker who obtains your account information may empty your bank account before you even realize it.
Don’t forget security basics
- Keep your operating system, browser, and software up to date.
- Use and maintain antivirus software and a firewall.
- Use caution with email attachments and untrusted links.
- Watch for suspicious activity on your accounts
Digital Piracy
What’s the risk of buying stolen products? Digital piracy is the illegal copying, downloading, viewing, or distribution of copyrighted material via the Internet. It is not a victimless crime. Modern-day pirates steal from the artistic talent who create the songs, shows, and movies
we enjoy. Plus, streaming from unauthorized sites exposes consumers to malware, malicious pop-ups, hacking, and other hazards that could allow bad actors access to sensitive personal and financial information. The best way for consumers to protect themselves is to use only legitimate websites and streaming platforms for their digital entertainment. The IPR Center recently launched a series of holiday anti-piracy PSAs to inform consumers about the many harms they face when viewing pirated movies and television shows.
Stolen Goods
What’s the risk of buying stolen products?
Organized Retail Crime (ORC) is not shoplifting- it is much bigger, and these crimes are not victimless. In addition to the growing number of thefts that turn violent, consumers, local communities and businesses bear the costs of rising prices. These thefts are detrimental to small and large businesses alike, as well as the overall economy as they pose societal and health risks to the community.
It is estimated that the average American family will pay more than $500 annually in rising retail costs due to the impact of ORC. ORC is a low-risk, high-reward income stream for domestic and transnational criminal organizations that greatly impacts inter-state and international commerce and the overall economic security of the United States.
Organized theft groups (OTGs) that engage in organized retail crime systematically target retail establishments utilizing professional thieves known as “boosters.” Often, boosters travel throughout the country utilizing aliases, rental vehicles, and tools such as illegally acquired security keys to steal high-value merchandise.
Although some boosters may sell the stolen goods on their own, most of the time the stolen items are sold to a middleman known as a fence. The fence then sells the stolen goods to unsuspecting consumers on e-commerce websites, social media, or through wholesale/trading/distribution companies. Often, the fence attempts to make the items appear legitimately obtained by removing retailer anti-theft stickers and other indicators that the goods may be stolen.
Operation Boiling Point 2.0
Operation Boiling Point 2.0 is HSI’s response to organized theft groups (OTG) profiting from ORC, cargo theft and similar theft-related crimes that threaten the economy and security of the United States. HSI’s strong partnership with private industry groups and others, are critical to these efforts.
How can consumers protect themselves online?
There are several steps consumers can take to protect themselves when shopping online:
- Purchase goods only from reputable retailers and be wary of third-party vendors.
- Read product reviews on websites and research companies and sellers they are unfamiliar with.
- Don’t buy expensive items from third-party websites.
- Take advantage of security features. Passwords and other security features add layers of protection if used appropriately.
- Take precautions when providing information and check published privacy policies to see how a company will use or distribute personal information.
- Check your statements. Keep a record of purchases and copies of confirmation pages and compare them to bank statements. If there is a discrepancy, report it immediately.
- Be careful about the information shared online and avoid posting personal data in public forums. Scammers piece together information from a variety of sources.
Remember: If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. Criminals use legitimate product photos on their websites, despite selling fraudulent or stolen products. Often, consumers pay full price for subpar items that don't last long. Yet, one of the biggest dangers illegitimate products pose is that they aren’t manufactured or stored properly according to U.S. standards and codes.
How Can Consumers Protect Themselves Online?
There are several steps consumers can take to protect themselves when shopping online
- Purchase goods only from reputable retailers and be wary of third-party vendors.
- Read product reviews on websites and research companies and sellers they are unfamiliar with.
- Don’t buy expensive items from third-party websites.
- Take advantage of security features. Passwords and other security features add layers of protection if used appropriately.
- Take precautions when providing information and check published privacy policies to see how a company will use or distribute personal information.
- Check your statements. Keep a record of purchases and copies of confirmation pages
Remember
If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. Criminals use legitimate product photos on their websites, despite selling fraudulent or stolen products. Often, consumers pay full price for subpar items that don’t last long. Yet, one of the biggest dangers illegitimate products pose is that they aren’t manufactured or stored properly according to U.S. standards and codes.
How Consumers Can Help
Individuals who believe they have purchased a counterfeit, stolen or pirated item can report it by calling the toll-free tip line at 866-347-2423,
24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year, or reporting it online at the HSI Tip Line.
About Us
The IPR Center, working collaboratively with its many public and private sector partners, leads the U.S. response to combat intellectual property theft, counterfeit merchandise, and digital piracy. The IPR Center brings together key federal and international law enforcement partners, prosecutors, academia, and industry experts in a task force setting. By working together, the IPR Center addresses the theft of innovation that threatens economic stability and places the public’s health and safety at risk. To learn more about the IPR Center or report the sale of counterfeit goods, please visit www.iprcenter.gov.