Recently, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) discovered four batches of counterfeit skincare creams in Allentown, Pennsylvania, warning consumers that the use of fake products could pose serious health risks.
According to a CBP announcement on the 11th, law enforcement officers seized 60 boxes of fake Estee Lauder Resilience Multi-Effect anti-aging face cream sent from Hong Kong on March 1. If genuine, the market value is approximately $8,400.
On February 27, CBP intercepted 50 boxes of counterfeit Estee Lauder anti-aging face cream sent from China to Pennsylvania, with a genuine market value of around $7,000.
On February 26, CBP also seized two shipments from Hong Kong: 50 boxes of fake SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2 anti-aging face cream, valued at about $7,750, and 50 boxes of counterfeit Clinique Smart Clinical Repair anti-wrinkle cream, valued at around $5,400.
Furthermore, CBP also found 3,000 counterfeit Sharpie markers, with a market value of approximately $1,530.
Authorities detained these goods suspecting them to be counterfeits, and submitted relevant documents and photos to the CBP’s Center of Excellence and Expertise (CEE) for analysis. After cooperation with trademark holders confirmed the products as counterfeits, they were confiscated in accordance with regulations.
Cleatus Hunt, the CBP Philadelphia Area Port Director, urged the public to always purchase genuine products from reputable retailers. Saving money in the short term by buying fake goods could ultimately result in expensive medical bills.
The National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center stated that some counterfeit cosmetics contain potentially carcinogenic chemicals and harmful substances like urine, which could lead to health issues such as acne and eczema.
CBP warns that international counterfeit transactions not only infringe on intellectual property rights and evade taxes but also potentially fund transnational crime. Counterfeit goods are often low-cost and may pose health and safety risks. In the 2024 fiscal year, the agency seized over 32,000 batches of counterfeit goods, with a retail value of over $5.4 billion if genuine.