CINCINNATI — U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers seized three shipments containing counterfeit jewelry last week in Cincinnati, most of which were Cartier bracelets.
On September 6, officers intercepted a “large shipment” of counterfeit Cartier Love bracelets, CBP said in a news release. A total of 700 bracelets were seized.
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Officers suspected the bracelets to be counterfeit based on their origin and appearance, according to CBP.
“The bracelets lacked fine details, were constructed from cheap material, and contained fake inlayed diamonds,” CBP said.
CBP says the shipment originated in Hong Kong enroute to a business in Illinois.
“These high-end bracelets would have had Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price of $8.82 million had the items been authentic,” CBP said in the release.
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On the same night, CBP says officers were inspecting freight from China when they discovered two more shipments of counterfeit merchandise.
The first shipment contained 60 Cartier bracelets and rings along with other brand name jewelry such as Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and Bvlgari headed to a private residence in Colorado.
The second shipment contained four Cartier Love bracelets, some with what appeared to be inlayed diamonds heading to a residence in New Jersey, CBP said. These two shipments would have had a combined Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price of $1.96 million had the merchandise been genuine, according to CBP.
“Our mission is to keep our nation safe, and we do this well here at the Port of Cincinnati,” said Cincinnati Port Director Richard Gillespie, “We encourage legitimate trade and encourage shoppers to do your research to be aware of illegitimate businesses before making purchases online.”
CBP says consumers can take the following steps to protect themselves and their families from counterfeit goods:
- Purchase goods directly from the trademark holder or from authorized retailers.
- When shopping online, read seller reviews and check for a working U.S. phone number and address that can be used to contact the seller.
- Review CBP’s E-Commerce Counterfeit Awareness Guide for Consumers.
- Remember that if the price of a product seems too good to be true, it probably is.