(WTOL) – Having all presents authentic, given or received, can be taken for granted. There are some cases where that is actually not true.
There is an unfortunate reality that some gifts people receive, or gifts people are about to buy with gift cards, are not what they seem.
"We find it in almost any town we go to. You're going to have some store that's doing it. Now we're seeing so much more of it online," said Miss. Attorney General, Jim Hood, about counterfeit items.
It is easier than ever for a collared shirt to be fake and shoes to be a different brand than on the label. Counterfeiting is a crime of intellectual property and of opportunity, as shoppers rush to spend without taking the time to inspect the product.
"A lot of people are probably buying North Face right now in this Christmas season. One tip we show them is that it looks all official with tags and everything, but you see how it's sewn through, you're not going to find a North Face product that has that where it's sewn all the way through," explained Hood.
People can even send in anonymous tips when they believe someone is not being honest. Law enforcement around the country does raid places occasionally, finding phony merchandise.
To help spot a knockoff, look at the packaging and the quality of the product. Always be suspicious of sales practices and sellers who only accept cash. Another giveaway is missing trademarks.
"It's dangerous to our consumers and it can cost billions and billions, estimates as high as $250 billion a year, that American businesses are losing to fake goods, the vast majority of which are manufactured in China," said Hood.
It is definitely worth a second look.
