A joint investigation carried out by law enforcement authorities from 18 EU member states and supported by Europol, resulted in the seizure of 4 700 000 counterfeit products. During the operation, 16 470 social media accounts and 3400 websites selling counterfeit products were closed. The online fake goods marketers were selling a large variety of counterfeit items including clothes and accessories, shoes, sports articles, illegal IPTV set-top-boxes, medicines, car spare parts, mobile phones and other ICT devices and components, perfumes and cosmetics.
The operation lead to the arrests of more than 30 suspects and reported 110 others to the judicial authorities. Some of the suspects are part of two distinct criminal networks responsible for the production and online trafficking of counterfeit products. Several investigations are still ongoing.
Europol’s Intellectual Property Crime Coordinated Coalition (IPC³) and the Italian Guardia di Finanza coordinated the joint investigation, run with the cooperation of the private sector. The EUIPO supports the activities of the IPC3 with a grant. Law enforcement agencies from Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Malta, Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Slovak Republic, Spain, Ukraine and the United Kingdom are involved in the operation.
Digital platforms – not a safe heaven for selling counterfeits
Criminal groups abuse continuously the communication opportunities of digital platforms such websites, social media and instant messaging to traffic counterfeit products. The exponential growth of internet platforms has also affected the development of online marketplaces or e-stores that can be considered alternative channels to retailing. These new markets also take advantage of social channels to perpetrate illicit activities.
Law enforcement, supported by the private sector extend its response to online trafficking of counterfeit products. To counter the threat, Europol examines the scale of the problem, gather evidence and monitor social media and sales platforms.
Selling fakes on the social media
Vendors advertise the counterfeit goods through direct posts showing the product and price. The offers can also be posted indirectly through hidden links to other marketplaces located outside EU. Then, the details of the transaction are defined through other communication channels such as instant messaging applications or even by telephone under different names. Couriers deliver the packages while the payment is usually made via prepaid cards, money transfer companies or other forms of electronic payment and web based services.
The fake products sold via social media can be extremely dangerous. Lacking any quality control and not complying legal norms, fake toys, medicines, body care products, fake car spare parts, inks and material used for the production of fake luxury products and clothes could be very harmful for consumers’ health.
IPC³ intends to promote Aphrodite as a recurrent operation having on board more countries, private companies for their expertise, exploring new operational methodologies.
