The Twelve (Horribly Fake) Days of Christmas

On the first day of Christmas,
the counterfeiters and pirates gave to me
One bootleg DVD

On the second day of Christmas,
the counterfeiters and pirates gave to me
Two exploding batteries ,
And one bootleg DVD

On the third day of Christmas,
the counterfeiters and pirates gave to me
Three fake Tickle-Me-Elmos,
Two exploding batteries,
And one bootleg DVD

On the fourth day of Christmas,
the counterfeiters and pirates gave to me
Four defective Durex condoms,
Three fake Tickle-Me-Elmos,
Two exploding batteries,
And one bootleg DVD

On the fifth day of Christmas,
the counterfeiters and pirates gave to me
Five sawdust brake pads,
Four defective Durex condoms,
Three fake Tickle-Me-Elmos,
Two exploding batteries,
And one bootleg DVD

On the sixth day of Christmas,
the counterfeiters and pirates gave to me
Six tainted tubes of toothpaste,
Five sawdust brake pads,
Four defective Durex condoms,
Three fake Tickle-Me-Elmos,
Two exploding batteries,
And one bootleg DVD

On the seventh day of Christmas,
the counterfeiters and pirates gave to me
Seven sick senior citizens,
Six tainted tubes of toothpaste,
Five sawdust brake pads,
Four defective Durex condoms,
Three fake Tickle-Me-Elmos,
Two exploding batteries,
And one bootleg DVD

On the eighth day of Christmas,
the counterfeiters and pirates gave to me
Eight children a-choking,
Seven sick senior citizens,
Six tainted tubes of toothpaste,
Five sawdust brake pads,
Four defective Durex condoms,
Three fake Tickle-Me-Elmos,
Two exploding batteries,
And one bootleg DVD

On the ninth day of Christmas,
the counterfeiters and pirates gave to me
Nine computers-a-crashing,
Eight children a-choking,
Seven sick senior citizens,
Six tainted tubes of toothpaste,
Five sawdust brake pads,
Four defective Durex condoms,
Three fake Tickle-Me-Elmos,
Two exploding batteries,
And one bootleg DVD

On the tenth day of Christmas,
the counterfeiters and pirates gave to me
Ten extension cords a-blazing,
Nine computers-a-crashing,
Eight children a-choking,
Seven sick senior citizens,
Six tainted tubes of toothpaste,
Five sawdust brake pads,
Four defective Durex condoms,
Three fake Tickle-Me-Elmos,
Two exploding batteries,
And one bootleg DVD

On the eleventh day of Christmas,
the counterfeiters and pirates gave to me
Eleven erroneous diabetic testing strips,
Ten extension cords a-blazing,
Nine computers-a-crashing,
Eight children a-choking,
Seven sick senior citizens,
Six tainted tubes of toothpaste,
Five sawdust brake pads,
Four defective Durex condoms,
Three fake Tickle-Me-Elmos,
Two exploding batteries,
And one bootleg DVD

On the twelfth day of Christmas,
the counterfeiters and pirates gave to me
Twelve fire extinguishers malfunctioning,
Eleven erroneous diabetic testing strips,
Ten extension cords a-blazing,
Nine computers-a-crashing,
Eight children a-choking,
Seven sick senior citizens,
Six tainted tubes of toothpaste,
Five sawdust brake pads,
Four defective Durex condoms,
Three fake Tickle-Me-Elmos,
Two exploding batteries,
And one bootleg DVD

Brought to you by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Well, ladies and gentleman. It's been a mad, mad year of fakes. Here's hoping you bought authentic this holiday season. You wouldn't want that Christmas tree or Hanukkah bush a-kindling because of cheap lights.

Happy holidays!

Photo credit

PICA Seizes $10 Million in Counterfeits, Linked to Cleveland Drug Trade

The PICA Corporation, along with the FBI and ICE, have closed a one year investigation on Cleveland based retail stores proved to be selling counterfeit goods. On December 3, 2007, search warrants and cease and desist orders were issued to five 360 Clothing Studios and one store named Jazzy Looks.

Among the $10 million dollars of seized counterfeit products were also drugs and stolen property. 200 pounds of marijuana and two kilos of cocaine were found with 25,000 pairs of counterfeit shoes and 40,000 pieces of copycat apparel.

"The 360 Clothing Studios were one of the largest suppliers of counterfeit footwear and apparel in the greater Cleveland area. They attempted to legitimize counterfeit product by introducing it into retail stores in the area," said Tim Richissin, PICA operative.

The crime ring of ten people was charged with drug trafficking, burglary, receiving stolen property, weapons violation, trademark counterfeiting and criminal simulation.

Photo Credit

UN Ties Counterfeits to Organized Criminals

Long have experts been linking the multi-billion dollar counterfeiting enterprise with organized crime across the world. The latest political leader to address this serious concern is Sandro Calvani, director of the U.N. Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute, who just compiled a report calling counterfeits a "21st century gold mine" for criminals who exploit trade routes also used in the drug trade, gun running and human trafficking.

"It is an immense source of profits which are readily reinvested in other illegal activities or used to launder money derived from other crimes," said Calvani.

The UN report discussed links between counterfeit CDs, DVDs, luxury goods and electronics and gangs including the Camorra in Naples, mafia in Russia, as well as Japanese Yazukas.

Read more about the UN report here.