Online Shoppers Go off "Shopping Cliff" With $2 Billion in Counterfeit and Fake Goods Bought This Holiday Season According to Consumer Fraud Center

Record Online Shopping Yields Record Levels of Fraud

Noting how consumers have embraced online shopping this holiday season, the Consumer Fraud Center said holiday shoppers went off a "shopping cliff" in terms of being ripped off by counterfeit and fake goods sold by cybercriminals this year in excess of $2 billion for the period of November-December 2012.

"With a depressed economy and fears of the 'fiscal cliff' looming, shoppers went online with a vengeance this year looking for bargains and many fell prey to cybercriminals who racked up over $2 billion in fraudulent sales in counterfeit and fake goods," said James Lee, executive director of the Consumer Fraud Center. "We saw the heaviest counterfeiting in clothing, accessories, drugs, toys, electronics, personal care and beauty items and CDs, DVDs and video games."