The Most Counterfeited Products
- Name a popular brand, and there's likely a counterfeit version of it available somewhere in the world. The World Customs Organization reports that counterfeit goods account for nearly 10% of worldwide trade, an estimated $500 billion annually. Nearly every industry is affected, ranging from footwear to pharmaceuticals to batteries.<br /><br />Click through our gallery as BusinessWeek takes a look at some of the industries popular with today's counterfeiters.<br /><b>' </b><a href="http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/08_41/b4103034193886.htm" target="_blank">Read BW's Related Story</a><br /><br /><b>First Up: <a href="?photo=2" onclick="return hpg_next();">Counterfeited Product No. 1</a></b>
- The product counterfeiters most often try to sneak into the U.S. is footwear. Sneakers, shoes, and other products accounted for 40% of the total knockoff goods seized by U.S. government agencies last year.<br /><br /><b>Estimated annual industry loss:</b> $12 billion<br /><b>U.S. agency seizures 2007:</b> $77.8 million <br /><br /><b>So far this year:</b> $40.3 million <br /><br /><br /><b>Next: <a href="?photo=3" onclick="return hpg_next();">Counterfeited Product No. 2</a></b>
- Sneaker companies are among the hardest hit footwear manufacturers. In 2007, Adidas says counterfeit footwear and apparel valued at $7 million was seized by government agencies worldwide.<br /><br /><b>Next: <a href="?photo=4" onclick="return hpg_next();">Counterfeited Product No. 3</a></b>
- Clothing is another sector where popular brands are regularly ripped off by counterfeiters. Apparel accounted for 14% of the total counterfeit goods seized by U.S. agencies in 2007<br /><br /><b>Estimated annual industry loss:</b> $12 billion <br /><b>Counterfeit seizures 2007:</b> $27 million<br /><br /><b>So far this year:</b> $15.8 million<br /><br /><br /><b>Next: <a href="?photo=5" onclick="return hpg_next();">Counterfeited Product 4</a></b>
- Recently, two Atlanta men were sentenced to 15 and 51 months of jail time, respectively, for selling more than $2.2 million dollars worth of counterfeit jerseys on eBay. The men were also found to have 22,000 jerseys, which were seized by authorities, many of which were knock-off NFL jerseys. Reebok is the official jersey maker of the NFL. <br /><br /><b>Next: <a href="?photo=6" onclick="return hpg_next();">Counterfeited Product No. 5</a></b>
- If you're buying popular electronic gadgets off the street, there's a good chance it's a fake. Consumer electronics (cell phones, radios, power strips, etc.) accounted for 8% of the total counterfeit goods seized by U.S. agencies last year.<br /><br /><b>Counterfeit seizures 2007:</b> $16 million<br /><br /><b>So far this year:</b> $9.7 million<br /><br /><b>Next: <a href="?photo=7" onclick="return hpg_next();">Counterfeited Product No. 6</a></b>
- In 2007, Sportsman's Warehouse, with nearly 70 stores nationwide, had to recall roughly 4,400 flashlights sold in its stores because Panasonic identified the batteries in the flashlights as counterfeits, which were a high fire risk and could cause burns.<br /><br /><b>Next: <a href="?photo=8" onclick="return hpg_next();">Counterfeited Product No. 7</a></b>
- This summer, authorities in New York seized roughly 20,000 counterfeit cell phones, which included knockoffs of nearly every major manufacturer, including LG LPL, Nokia, and Motorola.<br /><br /><b>Next: <a href="?photo=9" onclick="return hpg_next();">Counterfeited Product No. 8</a></b>
- For people who like labels but don't want to pay hundreds of dollars for the real product, fake purses and handbags have become a popular alternative. Handbags accounted for 7% of the total counterfeit goods seized by U.S. agencies in 2007.<br /><br /><b>Counterfeit seizures:</b> $14.2 million<br /><br /><b>So far this year:</b> $9.9 million<br /><br /><b>Next: <a href="?photo=10" onclick="return hpg_next();">Counterfeited Product No. 9</a></b>
- In an effort to stop the widespread proliferation of Louis Vuitton counterfeits, the company successfully sued online auction site eBay, claiming that up to 90% of the Louis Vuitton products sold on the site were fakes. The company was awarded more than $60 million in the lawsuit, though eBay is appealing.<br /><br /><b>Next: <a href="?photo=11" onclick="return hpg_next();">Counterfeited Product No. 10</a></b>
- As with most counterfeits, it's hard to tell the real from the fake. That's why expensive timepieces are popular with counterfeiters and some consumers. Watches accounted for 7% of the total counterfeit goods seized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in 2007.<br /><br /><b>Counterfeit seizures 2007:</b> $13.3 million<br /><br /><b>So far this year:</b> $3.3 million<br /><br /></b><a href="http://images.businessweek.com/ss/08/10/1002_counterfeit/12.htm?campaign_id=aol" target="_blank">See Rest of Counterfeited Products Gallery</a><br /><br /><b>More: <a href="?photo=12" onclick="return hpg_next();">Black Friday Deals</a></b>
- <b>More on WalletPop:<br />Black Friday Deals</b><br /><br />Don't waste your money on counterfeits, get a better deal at upcoming Black Friday sales. We take an early look at what to expect at 15 retailers this holiday shopping season.<br /><br /><b>Start Next Gallery:</b><br /><a href="http://www.walletpop.com/specials/black-friday-deals" target="_blank">Black Friday 2008 Scorecard</a>
