Fake Goods Websites Seized In Cyber Sting

[Jazzy]

Officials have seized control of nearly 700 websites selling counterfeit goods in Europe and the US.

Europe's cross-border police agency, Europol, confirmed authorities now control a total of 690 sites suspected of selling fake items in Britain and other nations.

The City of London Police, which conducted the British part of the Transatlantic 3 seizure campaign, told Sky News 90 of the websites were in the UK and that there were just around 300 in the rest of Europe.

Europol told Sky News that the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement had teamed up with European police and Hong Kong customs authorities to seize the sites' domain names.

In total, 10 law enforcement agencies in eight countries were involved in the internet raid.

A total of 297 domains were seized in the US and 393 others in Britain, France, Spain, Romania, Hungary, Denmark, Belgium and Hong Kong.

Europol said: "During the weeks leading up to the end of the year, the market is flooded with counterfeit products being sold at stores, on street corners, and online.

"Not only ripping the consumer off and providing shoddy products, but also putting their personal financial information at risk.

"The most popular counterfeit products seized each year include headphones, sports jerseys, personal care products, shoes, toys, luxury goods, cell phones and electronic accessories."

Would-be customers to the sites have are now being redirected to a warning notice posted by the seizing agency.

The operation was launched to coincide with the big online shopping day known as Cyber Monday.

The police action comes after US officials seized hundreds of websites, many registered in China, selling fake basketball and football jerseys to US residents.

Source

Good for them seizing these websites. Just wondering how many people got taken advantage of before the sites were seized.

 

[Nebulous]

Not me! I usually shop with reputable online merchants.