| Making knock off purses in China and | | | | to do is import bags without labels on them, |
| importing them to the US is big business. It | | | | and then add the labels when they have |
| is also big crime. In a recent big bust, | | | | arrived safely in the United States. |
| seventeen people were arrested in America for | | | | |
| a very complicated operation to bring in | | | | Since the authorities are having such a hard |
| these illegal bags by impersonating custom | | | | time stopping smugglers from bringing the |
| agents. They paid a million dollars just to | | | | fake bags into the country, our consumers |
| get set up in position to import the bags. | | | | need to learn how to protect themselves from |
| This figure can give you an idea of exactly | | | | being victimized by this scam. Learn how to |
| how profitable this illegal trade can be. | | | | tell the difference between a real designer |
| | | | bag and a fake one. |
| Nine people were detained in a flea market in | | | | |
| Connecticut for the same offense. The police | | | | There is usually a big difference in quality |
| confiscated almost five thousand illegal | | | | since the people who make fake bags are not |
| bags. | | | | able to afford the high quality leather and |
| | | | other materials that go into making a |
| The people that buy these bags are victims of | | | | designer bag. Look at the material from which |
| crime. They think that they are getting a | | | | the bag is made, and look at the quality of |
| wonderful deal on authentic designer bags, | | | | the stitching to verify the quality. |
| but later on they find out that they have | | | | |
| been duped. | | | | Another good indicator you can use to protect |
| | | | yourself is price. People who sell knock offs |
| The bags they buy are relatively worthless, | | | | usually try to attract customers by setting |
| and they have no way of getting their money | | | | their prices much lower than what you would |
| back, since the criminals that peddle these | | | | have to pay for the real bag in a store. |
| fake bags never stay in one place for long. | | | | People buy the fake bags because they think |
| | | | that they are getting a great deal on a |
| So how do these fake bags get into the | | | | quality product. |
| country, when it is illegal, and they are not | | | | |
| allowed through customs? Well, one way that | | | | Stop and think, and realize that it is very |
| was discovered is that the labels are not | | | | unlikely that a real designer bag that |
| attached until the bags arrive in America. | | | | usually sells for a thousand dollars will be |
| Officially it is still legal to bring bags in | | | | on sale at a flea market for one or two |
| if they just look like designer models, once | | | | hundred dollars. If the price difference is |
| the label does not implicate the | | | | so great, it's too good to be true, and the |
| manufacturer. So all that the smugglers have | | | | bag is probably a fake. |