Think counterfeiting only extends to knock-off purses or bootleg DVDs? Think again. Everything is fair game to counterfeiters these days, from computer equipment to car parts -- and, perhaps most frightening of all, the food we eat and the beverages we drink.
The quantity of counterfeit goods entering the U.S. is increasing, and it gets worse around an event like the Super Bowl. Federal agents recently seized more than $6 million of counterfeits and shut down more than 300 illegal websites. But consumers are at risk for more than just getting a shoddy NFL jersey.
Jason Statham made his fortune as a top movie action hero several head-butts ago: His pictures have made well over $1 billion. But the British actor keenly remembers when being a well-paid tough guy meant selling jewelry and perfume out of a briefcase on the street.
Americans' zest for a bargain has an economic downside: It creates a giant opportunity for the scads of shady operators -- especially from China -- that specialize in pumping out counterfeit versions of the real thing. From footwear to toys, here are the 10 most counterfeited goods in the U.S. Can you spot the real from the fake?
