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.
What is the CCU?
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.
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“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)
