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Show (- ' (CdDimsiinnDnnimg Ilimiteiresit If a product is cheap, it may be bogus by DENNIS HINKAMP consumer information writer Utah State University We have this movie image of counterfeiters being seedy-looking characters printing bogus $20 bills in a basement somewhere. Although some of that no doubt does go on, the much larger problem is the production of counterfeit products. Paying top dollar for fake Calvin Klein jeans costs consumers money, but buying counterfeit auto and airplane parts may cost lives. The money, lives and jobs involved in the counterfeit products problem have caused the U.S. to begin a campaign to thwart this $18 billion to $20 billion industry. Although there are some American Ameri-can manufacturers turning out counterfeit products, the larger problem is imported products. The U.S. Customs office has tried to put a dent in the influx of counterfeit products with what it calls "Operation "Opera-tion Tripwire." So far, customs inspectors have intercepted $33 million worth of bogus goods. Products being counterfeited include in-clude apparel, toys, auto and aircraft parts, jewelry, music recordings, credit cards and prescription drugs. South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, the Philippines and other Third World countries often are the source. . Last year a Utah sporting goods dealer reported receiving a shipment of counterfeit baseball gloves. Lookalike birth control pills have been seized in the Midwest and I have seen a fake Rolex watch that was bought for $25 in Taiwan. Although U.S. Customs is step ping up its efforts to stop the counterfeit products before they enter the country, we as consumers are the final line of defense. Careful buying can reduce your chance of buying a counterfeit product. The International Anticounterfeiting Coalition (IACC) suggests these guidelines: 1) Shop at reputable stores: You stand a greater chance of getting a counterfeit product at a flea market, swap meet or from a street vendor. If counterfeits do show up in reputable stores, these stores are more likely to refund your money. 2 ) Is the price too good to be true? : If you find something that usually sells for $60 selling for $10, it is likely to be a fake. Price reductions beyond 50 percent combined with a questionable seller increase the chances that the product is counterfeit. counter-feit. 3) Check the labels closely: Compare the trademarks to ones you know are real. Often the fakes will have fuzzy printing, be off-color or even be misspelled although the shape may closely resemble the real article. Also, be sure the label on the packaging matches the label on the product itself. 4) If in doubt, have the product verified: If you are uncertain if you have a counterfeit product on your hands, send it to the International Anticounterfeiting Coalition, 101 California Street, 39th floor, San Francisco, CA 94111-4974. The IACC cannot refund your money, but it will have the manufacturer verify the authenticity of the product free of charge. |