Latest news with #CounterfeitCrimesUnit
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Business Standard
10 hours ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Amazon's anti-counterfeit team secures $180 mn in global penalties
Amazon's Counterfeit Crimes Unit (CCU), launched five years ago to combat fraudulent goods on its platform, has driven more than 200 civil actions and helped secure criminal sanctions and over $180 million in financial penalties against counterfeiters, the company said. 'Five years ago, we created the Counterfeit Crimes Unit (CCU)—a global team made up of former federal prosecutors, intelligence agents, police officers, investigators, and data analysts—all working together in partnership with brands to investigate, find, and launch legal action and criminal referrals against counterfeiters,' said Dharmesh Mehta, vice president, Worldwide Selling Partner Services, Amazon, in a company blog post. 'Over the last five years, the CCU's global reach has expanded from operating in just two countries initially to 12 countries today, including the US, China, France, India, and the UK.' India ranks among the top five countries most affected by counterfeiting, with sectors such as pharmaceuticals, fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), electronics, luxury goods, and auto parts particularly exposed, experts say. The country's counterfeit market is valued at $12 billion to $30 billion annually, forming a significant part of the global counterfeit trade, which stood at $467 billion in 2021 and is projected to surge to $1.79 trillion by 2030. CCU has grown from seven government agency partnerships in 2020 to more than 50 today. It has worked with agencies such as Europol, US Homeland Security Investigations, the FBI, the City of London Police, and specialised intellectual property crime units across multiple countries. The CCU takes a proactive approach that combines advanced technology with expert investigators working together to stop counterfeits before they reach the Amazon store or customers. Using AI and machine learning, Amazon has improved detection capabilities to block more than 99 per cent of suspected infringing listings before a brand ever needs to find and report them. The systems scan for keywords, text, logos, and hundreds of other data points that can indicate potential infringement while continuously learning and improving to stay ahead of bad actors. These efforts are complemented with powerful tools such as Brand Registry and Transparency, which help brand partners more effectively protect their intellectual property. This work has also led to significant criminal prosecutions and penalties for counterfeiters worldwide, including prison sentences for more than 65 individuals. The anti-counterfeiting investigations often cross international borders, combining sophisticated detective work with law enforcement partnerships. In one case, the CCU traced counterfeit ridesharing brand products from a US-based bad actor to a network of manufacturers in China, leading to coordinated raids that seized more than 2,100 counterfeit items. Working with brands and law enforcement across multiple countries, the CCU disrupted the criminals' entire supply chain and secured a $1.1 million judgment against the primary bad actor. For such efforts, the CCU has worked with hundreds of well-known brands such as Prada, Salvatore Ferragamo, BMW, Philips, Lego, Canon, Cisco, and Brother. There are also local small businesses such as Capri Blue and family-owned card game maker Dutch Blitz. A recent example of this collaborative approach is the work with Pandora, the global jewellery brand sold in over 100 countries. Amazon and Pandora worked together to identify counterfeiters attempting to sell thousands of fake Pandora items to customers across nine European countries, including France, Germany, Spain, and the UK. 'This successful collaboration with Amazon shows how impactful joint efforts can be in stopping counterfeiting operations,' said Peter Ring, senior vice-president and general counsel, Pandora. 'By combining our global brand protection expertise with Amazon's investigative capabilities, we supported local law enforcement in dismantling a sophisticated criminal network.'
Indian Express
10 hours ago
- Business
- Indian Express
Amazon's crackdown on counterfeits nets $180M in penalties, dozens of criminal convictions
Amazon has said that its Counterfeit Crimes Unit (CCU) has helped secure more than $180 million in court-ordered penalties and resulted in 65 criminal convictions globally, as part of the company's ongoing mission to protect customers and brands from counterfeit products. More than 99 per cent of suspected infringing listings were blocked before reaching the Amazon platform, the e-commerce major said in a press release on Thursday, June 26. Amazon said that it used AI-driven detection systems keyword and logo analysis, and tools like brand registry and transparency in order to identify the listings of counterfeit products on its platform. This, in turn, led to over 200 civil legal actions, as per the company. The AI boom has also led to a rise in cyber crimes with bad actors like counterfeiters leveraging the technology to evolve their tactics. Amazon's 2024 Brand Protection Report also emphasises that the threat of counterfeits remains an evolving challenge. The company plans to continue investing in advanced detection technologies and enforcement strategies, with the goal of driving counterfeits to zero. 'We're constantly enhancing our tools and technology to stay ahead,' it said. The CCU was set up by Amazon five years ago and has since expanded to over 12 countries, including India, China, the US, the UK, and France. The CCU team comprises former prosecutors, law enforcement professionals, and data analysts. It has also partnered with over 50 government agencies, including EUROPOL, the FBI, and US Homeland Security investigations. In one case, CCU investigations led to the arrest and sentencing of a counterfeiter to six and a half years in prison. In another cross-border operation, Amazon and brand partners uncovered a counterfeit ride-sharing accessories scheme originating in the US and connected to suppliers in China, culminating in multiple raids and a $1.1 million judgment against the main culprit, as per the company. Also Read | Amazon CEO to employees: AI will shrink the company's workforce 'To achieve these results, we collaborate with others in the industry. We work with brands of all sizes to pursue counterfeiters. Our combined efforts give law enforcement the evidence to stop criminals in their tracks,' Amazon said. Recently, the company teamed up with global jewellery brand Pandora for a nearly three-year investigation in China that resulted in convictions, substantial fines, and a prison sentence of over three years for the primary offender. The case involved counterfeit goods, where bad actors had been targeting customers across nine European countries. (This article has been curated by Arfan Jeelany, who is an intern with The Indian Express)
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Business Standard
19-06-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Amazon steps up anti-counterfeit drive in India with AI and policing
As Amazon steps up its global campaign against counterfeit goods, India has emerged as a focal point in the company's enforcement strategy, reflecting both the country's rapid e-commerce growth and the operational complexities that come with it. Kebharu Smith, director of Amazon's Counterfeit Crimes Unit (CCU), said India remains a 'critical market' for the company, highlighting the strategic importance of protecting consumers and sellers in one of its fastest-growing regions. 'Protecting customers and sellers from counterfeits is a top priority for us,' Smith told Business Standard. India ranks among the top five countries most affected by counterfeiting, with sectors such as pharmaceuticals, fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), electronics, luxury goods and auto parts particularly exposed, experts say. The country's counterfeit market is valued at $12 billion to $30 billion annually, forming a significant part of the global counterfeit trade, which stood at $467 billion in 2021 and is projected to surge to $1.79 trillion by 2030. In 2024, Amazon's CCU took action against more than 150 bad actors in India, filing criminal complaints with local law enforcement authorities. These efforts form part of a broader global push, in which the company identified, seized and disposed of over 15 million counterfeit products across its marketplaces, according to Amazon's fifth annual Brand Protection Report. While the volume of counterfeit products remains significant, Amazon reports tangible progress in enforcement and deterrence. The company recorded a 35 per cent decrease in valid infringement notices submitted by brands in 2024—an important indicator of improved preventive mechanisms. Much of this progress has been attributed to Amazon's investment in automated systems that detect and block counterfeit listings before they go live. 'In part, this has been driven by a more than 250 per cent increase in the number of listing attempts our automated protections proactively blocked during this same timeframe,' Smith said. Artificial intelligence Amazon is increasingly relying on artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to safeguard its marketplace from counterfeit products—particularly in high-growth regions like India. Smith said the company's AI-driven systems now block more than 99 per cent of infringing listings before brands even flag them. 'Globally, we continue to invest in AI and we have improved our controls, automating and scaling our intellectual property protection and counterfeit detection systems,' Smith said. These systems operate across key touchpoints—from account registration to listing updates. The company is using tools such as computer vision and large language models to detect complex intellectual property violations, including manipulated logos and visual patterns. According to Smith, these technologies allow Amazon to 'stay ahead of new and emerging bad actor tactics,' enabling scalable protection and reducing reliance on manual review. In India, where listing volumes are vast and dynamic, such automation plays a crucial role in maintaining platform integrity. Law enforcement In India, Amazon is deepening its partnerships with law enforcement, including state cybercrime units, to combat online counterfeit sales and educate consumers on safe shopping practices. 'Amazon partners with Indian law enforcement agencies, including state police cybercrime units, to educate consumers about safe online shopping practices and help identify bad actors,' said Smith. The company also collaborates with industry bodies such as FICCI Cascade and the India SME Forum to run capacity-building workshops nationwide. Marking five years of the CCU, Smith emphasised ongoing collaboration with brands and authorities to seize counterfeit goods and prosecute offenders. Amazon is also strengthening its seller verification protocols in India as part of its broader strategy to safeguard the marketplace from counterfeit activity. 'We make it straightforward for businesses to set up a selling account, but very difficult for bad actors to do so,' Smith said. The company monitors seller activity, verifies identities using government-issued IDs and analyses behavioural data to flag risk indicators. As India's digital economy expands, Smith said Amazon is working closely with start-ups and small businesses to help protect their intellectual property. Tools such as Brand Registry and IP Accelerator offer scalable solutions to secure rights and manage listings. Smith said programmes such as Project Zero and Transparency further empower brands to remove counterfeits and authenticate products. For instance, Amazon's Transparency programme, which authenticated over 2.5 billion product units globally in 2024, is gaining traction among Indian brands. The programme now includes more than 88,000 brands worldwide, ranging from start-ups to Fortune 500 companies. Such initiatives, Smith noted, are helping brands build consumer trust while strengthening defences against counterfeiting across retail channels.
