SYRACUSE N.Y. With Cyber Monday approaching authorities are warning consumers to be aware of the online scams that tend to pop up in greater numbers around the holidays.
Online scams often begin with innocent mistakes You get a bulk email you'd normally delete but it promises incredible deals for online shopping. You click the link even though you know you should delete the email.
In simpler times counterfeit or pirated goods were typically sold on street corners by seedy smooth talking salesmen who hawked Rolex watches Gucci handbags and other desirable merchandise at drastically reduced prices. To all but the most naive consumer it was clear the merchandise wasn't legitimate.
Street corner hustlers are still a problem of course. But the internet has become the new realm for moving fake or shoddy merchandise and unlike the street corner hustler it is becoming increasingly difficult for consumers to decipher the scams.
Unfortunately there's no fool proof way to know for sure if you're on a counterfeit site or not said Immigration and Customs Enforcement Special Agent in Charge James Spero.
Consumers often click a link and land at a website that sells counterfeit goods without ever realizing what has happened.
Spero said the odds are good that someone who buys through a counterfeit site will end up being a victim of identity theft. The items ordered through the website might never arrive or arrive in sub standard condition he said.
And the nature of the items commonly being faked and sold online is changing. Handbags shoes and watches are still popular but more high end electronics and accessories are being pushed online.
One of the biggest challenges for Immigration and Customs Enforcement is identifying the website selling counterfeit goods Spero said. If they can identify the website he said they can seize the domain name.
The more popular an item is around the holidays however the more apt criminals are to crank out another website selling it.
Whatever the it item is going to be this year that's going to be counterfeited Spero said.
Counterfeiting and piracy hurt businesses and consumers but also pose health and safety risks if items a consumer buys turn out to be poorly made. And unknown to most consumers criminal organizations are increasingly using such online operations to fund their activities Spero said. It can be very profitable. In a case a few years ago involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Rochester a Sons of Anarchy counterfeit website was doing more business than the genuine website he said.
Its important that the consumers try and do as much research as they can Spero said. If the price is too good to be true it probably is.
Trust your gut. Your intuition is probably your best defense.
If you're shopping online this holiday season here are some tips
Don't do business with anonymous users and purchase merchandise only from reputable sellers.
Get a physical mailing address instead of a post office box and call or email the company to make sure they are still in business.
Check with the Better Business Bureau in the seller's area.
Don't judge a book by its cover. Just because a website looks fancy doesn't mean it is safe.
Do as much research as possible and shop around before making a purchase. If it seems too good to be true be wary. Also check out return policies.
If you been the victim of an online scam contact the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center and the Better Business Bureau.
Contact Ken Sturtz anytime 315 766 7833 Email Twitter Facebook Google
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