Denver Homeland Security investigators target counterfeit shopping websites

Inside one of those buildings you can see from the highway, the Department of Homeland Security’s Criminal Investigations section has spent two years on operation “Copycat”.

“Counterfeiting and trademark infringement is a multi-billion dollar industry and, in these austere times, it costs economy and jobs,” said Patrick Lechleitner, Assistant Special Agent in-charge.

The federal government team has targeted and shut down 70 sites, 22 spearheaded from the Denver office.

“Unless you`re somebody who is suspicious of these things, quite frankly you might be duped.”

Sarah Morris is one of nearly 70 percent of Americans who shop online.

“I work a lot of hours. I work Saturday nights, so I can online shop from my desk if I want,” Morris said.

She says even with her trained eye, she probably couldn’t spot the imposter.

The imposter websites look strikingly similar to the authentic ones. Often, they are the same.

For more information on how to avoid being victimized, you can check the link below.
http://blog.usa.gov/post/14516877855/how-to-avoid-online-shopping-fraud