Rapid proliferation of coronavirus- related fatalities and infections in nations like Spain, United States and Italy has made countries institute widespread bans on global restrictions, communal activities and an ever great reliance on virtual interactions.
The move to keep individuals indoors has led to a significant increase in internet based activities and e-commerce activities including grocery shopping, education, food delivery and video streaming. People are becoming more reliant on these services in order to provide life’s basic necessities and these counterfeiters are prepared to take advantage of this rare and unique opportunity.
Counterfeiters have always preyed on the vulnerability of consumers in order to reap quick profits. This current COVID19 crisis is likely to be no different. However, what makes the current crisis unique is the extent to which people are reliant on e-commerce platforms.
Crisis increases demand
The recent clamp down on counterfeit testing kits by the US customs and border protection at Chicago’s O’Hara and LAX airports are evidence that the counterfeiters have started to take advantage of this crisis. The seizures of these goods are a critical reminder that counterfeiters will take advantage of vulnerable people wherever they get the chance.
Previous public health crisis can give an insight to what we should expect from the current health crisis. For example, during the Ebola issue, a vaccine to treat infected patients was not available so health care providers were focused on treating the related infections and symptoms that appeared along with the disease. Counterfeiters worked round the clock to produce fake versions of common medications in the system and circulate them in the medical system due to the increase in demand for these health goods.
Once targeted medications for Ebola was developed, the demand for common medications fell out and as such the counterfeiters instead shifted their focus to producing fake versions of the newly discovered products. Counterfeit medicines soon replaced the legitimate medicines which would have been utilized to treat the infected.
Risks involved with e-commerce
Before this coronavirus crisis started, e-commerce services were already under a huge scrutiny from US lawmakers due to their lack of positive action regarding counterfeit goods ranging from footwear and jewelry to electronics and cellphones.
The current pandemic creates room for a dangerous situation as consumers seek products that are in demand yet scarce. These goods include face masks, hand sanitizers and consumers may resort to the very places counterfeiters use to dupe unsuspecting people. Sites like Walmart Marketplace, Amazon and Wish.com are all no strangers to counterfeit goods.
Consumer demand driven by crisis mixed with a decreasing product inventories and a huge reliance on internet based commerce creates the perfect conditions for counterfeit products. In my view, the most deadly part of this crisis is the inability of consumers to really differentiate between genuine and fake goods.
