14 DAY TRIAL // The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) has teamed up with law enforcement agencies from all over the world in an effort to seize Internet domain names used to sell counterfeit merchandise.
A total of 706 domain names have been seized by authorities, most of them being set up to advertise all sorts of holiday promotions.
As part of Project Cyber Monday IV, US authorities have sized a total of 297 domain names. European agencies coordinated by Europol cracked down on 393 websites in an operation dubbed Project Transatlantic III.
In Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Customs was aided by web hosting firms to take down 16 sites.
“This operation is another good example of how transatlantic law enforcement cooperation works. It sends a signal to criminals that they should not feel safe anywhere,” noted Rob Wainwright, director of Europol.
“Unfortunately the economic downturn has meant that disposable income has gone down, which may tempt more people to buy products for prices that are too good to be true. Consumers should realize that, by buying these products, they risk supporting organized crime.”
The HSI’s National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination (IPR) Center reports that headphones, personal care products, toys, shoes, luxury goods, sports jerseys, electronic accessories and cell phones are the most common counterfeit items seized each year.
The online stores are dangerous not only because they sell shoddy products, but also because they put people’s financial information at risk.
“Working with our international partners on operations like this shows the true global impact of IP crime,” stated ICE Acting Director John Sandweg.
“Counterfeiters take advantage of the holiday season and sell cheap fakes to unsuspecting consumers everywhere. Consumers need to protect themselves, their families, and their personal financial information from the criminal networks operating these bogus sites.”