Police Step Up Efforts Against Counterfeit Handbag Smugglers

Did you know that in the state of Florida if you knowingly buy a fake handbag you can be arrested? I think this would be a very hard case to prove - unless someone says to a witness "I just bought the most lovely fake Louis Vuitton!"

On a side note, the counterfeiters are out in full force (or else the cops are being even more vigilant) for the holiday season. There was a huge bust at a flea market in Coral Springs, Florida where undercover agents bought fake Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Chanel, Coach, Prada, and Kate Spade handbags. Over a million dollars worth of goods were confiscated.

The seller was warned with a "Cease and Desist" order but he ignored the paperwork and continued selling. He also refused to say where he got the illegal handbags and faces up to 5 years in jail for every counterfeit brand that he sold.

Another huge bust happened 4 days ago at the port of Newark, New Jersey. Fake handbags made in China were being smuggled into the country in boxes labeled "noodles". This arrest was based on an undercover sting operation where agents posed as corrupt custom officials and were bribed with more than $500,000 in US currency. Estimates are that the counterfeit goods were worth around 200 million dollars and each defendant in this case faces a possible 35 years in jail.

E-Bay Alerts Police About Counterfeit Handbags

E-Bay alerted police that someone was using their website to sell counterfeit handbags and the warning was taken very seriously by authorities. A co-operative effort between the IRS, Immigrations & Customs Enforcement, the FBI, and the US Postal Inspectors office netted 3 people in San Francisco, California who were charged with selling counterfeit bags on E-Bay between 2001 and 2004.

One defendant received 18 months in prison and another got 5 years probation. The third defendant has yet to be sentenced. Charges included mail fraud, wire fraud, trafficing in counterfeit goods, money laundering, and conspiracy.

This is a clear warning to those who try to pass off fake designer handbags on E-Bay - buyers are more aware than ever that, if the price seems too good to be true, it probably is!

Here is a good resource on how to spot fake Louis Vuitton handbags.

Counterfeit Designer Handbags - Sales At An All Time High

According to iacc.org (International Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition), global sales of counterfeit goods (including handbags) is at an all time high of $600 billion per year. Raids on warehouses just in the New York area have netted over $230 million alone in fake goods and the estimate is that counterfeiters have imported more than $700 million over the past 24 months.

The iacc.org group puts part of the problem on education and outlook. They point out that if someone bought medication online that wasn't real, they would be upset but these same people are happy to buy a Louis Vuitton at what they consider to be a great price even if it isn't genuine.

I personally don't think it is the same but I understand the point they are trying to make. Statistics show that about 60% of the fake goods come from China and, if you have been following the news lately, you know the problems with "fake" dog food and toothpaste with added unhealthy ingredients - these are examples that have physically harmed individuals and their pets.

I found it interesting that the iacc estimates the cost to make and ship a fake Louis Vuitton handbag is about $6.00 so if you pay $100, the counterfeiters are making $94.00 just on that one handbag!

Handbag companies themselves are getting tough including Kate Spade and Louis Vuitton. These companies spend millions building their brand name. It was William Shapespeare who said “Who steals my purse, steals trash, but he that filches from me my good name robs me of that which not enriches him and makes me poor indeed.”