Consumers Beware!
Baseball fans are getting ready for Major League Baseball’s (MLB) All-Star Game, and so are the scammers who will try to sell counterfeit sports merchandise.
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Safeguarding U.S. Supply Chains and Intellectual Property
Counterfeit Goods
The Intellectual Property Unit coordinates the U.S. government’s response to counterfeiting and intellectual property crimes.
Government Supply Chain
The Government Supply Chain Investigations Unit (GSCIU) coordinates the U.S. government’s response to infiltration of counterfeit and substandard goods into the U.S. Government supply chain.
Report IP Theft
Report IP violations, including counterfeiting, piracy, to the National IPR Coordination Center.
Operation Team Player
The IPR Center’s Operation Team Player is a year-round effort to catch people who try to pass off counterfeit sports merchandise, apparel, collectibles, memorabilia and even tickets. The IPR Center works with law enforcement and industry partners to intercept jerseys, hats, blankets, T-shirts, championship rings and a wide range of other gear in a global effort to protect people just like you.
Recent News
Multi-Million Dollar Scheme To Defraud Department of Defense revealed
OAKLAND – A California man faces up to 30 years in a federal prison after pleading guilty to a scheme to defraud the Department of Defense’s (DoD) Defense Logistics Agency (DLA). Steve H.S. Kim of Alameda County pleaded guilty to selling more than $3.5 million worth of fan assemblies to the DLA that were either counterfeit or misrepresented to be new.
Sentencing scheduled in counterfeit airbag case
WASHINGTON – A retired auto mechanic in Memphis, Tennessee faces up to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty in federal court to charges of trafficking counterfeit airbags and causing a dangerous item or forbidden explosive to be placed onto a commercial aircraft. According to information presented in court, Mohammed Al-Abadi, 51, imported counterfeit motor vehicle airbag parts from China and assembled the parts to make counterfeit airbags. Al-Abadi then sold the fake airbags on eBay to unsuspecting automobile repair shops and individual customers for prices ranging from $100 to $725 each.
IPR Center, MLB warn Phoenix and Dallas fans of fake merchandise, tickets during 2023 World Series
WASHINGTON –As the 2023 World Series presented by Capital One gets underway this week, fans are heading to Phoenix and Dallas to support their favorite teams and purchase officially licensed gear and memorabilia. With high demand for merchandise during this year’s World Series, the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center (IPR Center), including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), joins MLB in cautioning fans to be on the lookout – both online and offline - for counterfeiters attempting to sell unauthorized, knock-off products and tickets.
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Additional Resources
Report IP Theft
Report IP violations, including counterfeiting, piracy, to the National IPR Coordination Center.
Quick Links
Additional Government agency partner websites, resources, and informative content.
Report COVID-19 Fraud
Report COVID-19-related illicit activity or fraud suspicions promptly for investigation.