Operation Surge Protector
Overview
The National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center (IPR Center) launched Operation Surge Protector to crack down on the sale and distribution of counterfeit consumer electronics and tech products. This includes everything from headphones and smartphones to accessories like power adapters and charging cords. Many consumers don't realize the risks, but these fake products can be downright dangerous, posing serious health and safety hazards.
Collaboration
Operation Surge Protector is a team effort involving Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Together, they conduct investigations and operations at international mail facilities, express consignment carriers, and U.S. entry ports.
Focus
The danger with counterfeit electronics is that they're often made with cheap materials and skip safety standards. This means they can malfunction in ways that might cause electrical shocks or fires. For example, we’ve seen circuit breakers that fail to trip, extension cords that overheat, and holiday lights that can lead to fires. Other risky items include batteries and chargers that could overcharge, small appliances missing crucial safety features like ground-fault circuit interrupters, and surge protectors that don’t actually protect.
Millions of these unsafe products make their way into global supply chains, posing real risks to consumers everywhere. Operation Surge Protector aims to stop these products from reaching our homes and causing harm.
