How do you know if you are purchasing the Real McCoy or a
counterfeit product?
Consider the cost of the item. If it is brand new and in what
appears to be an original wrapping, yet priced far below its stated
value, it may be a fake. No matter what the street vendor tells you
about his watches, he is NOT selling you a real Rolex for $15. Life
is NOT that sweet -- except for the vendor, if you decide to buy his
product
Access the company website and determine those things that lend
themselves to the authenticity of the product. Examine the item
carefully. Are the markings right? Is the color right? How about the
hardware? The material? The PRICE? How is the item usually marketed?
(If it is distributed only through Sak's, and you find it at the
local Flea Market at half price, um, guess what?)
Use Common Sense.
Most of all, do NOT provide a marketplace (and a profit) for
fraudsters. In the long run, YOU are paying for it.
The US economy depends upon the concept of Intellectual property.
Major copyright industries include motion picture, sound recording
and computer software, and "brand name" everything. Millions of
Americans are employed to manufacture and distribute these products
and our economy processes billions of dollars during the sales
phase. Unfortunately, almost $10 billion is being lost annually to
fraud associated with copyright infringement and product
counterfeiting in the U.S.
The problem does not end at our borders. International piracy costs
our US-based industries many times that amount. Who pays the
eventual cost to line the pockets of the scammers? YOU do. That pair
of Nike running shoes includes a startling percentage to cover
fraud. So while you're running around in your new shoes, remember to
get mad.
Fight Fraud America.