Daily Herald opinion: Selling and buying counterfeit merchandise is not a victimless crime

You like the look. And you really like the logo.

Maybe, you think, there's no harm then in paying 100 bucks for a knockoff of a designer brand priced higher than your monthly mortgage.

But, as U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers pointed out in Marni Pyke's column on Monday, impostor handbags, watches and other items carry a massive price tag of a different kind.

The officers work to confiscate shipments of fakes that arrive at the International Mail Facility near O'Hare Airport, which processes deliveries for the entire Midwest. At a briefing last week, they displayed some of that haul in an effort to teach consumers how to spot fakes and why they should never knowingly buy one.

While fakes lack the quality materials and workmanship of designer originals, the biggest reasons to avoid purchasing them go far beyond fashion.

For starters, poorly made counterfeit products - including electronics and medication - can put you at risk. And counterfeiting is a form of theft.

In fiscal year 2022, local authorities seized $23 million worth of fake products. Counterfeits manufactured overseas lead to the loss of three-quarters of a million jobs each year, Chicago's Acting Area Port Director Mike Pfeiffer said.

CBP Chief Supervisory Officer Tim Borden, pointing to a table filled with luxury brand fakes, hit on another moral consideration when weighing whether you really want that look-alike Louis Vuitton or faux Fendi.

"Most of this comes from Thailand," he said. "So there's possible child labor violations or forced labor violations. Thinking globally, the proceeds ... could be going to international criminal organizations, or worse, we have documented cases where it's funding terrorism."

In other words, selling - or buying - counterfeit items "is not a victimless crime," Pfeiffer said.

Experts offer ways to avoid buying a fake passing for the real thing.

First, if you have your heart set on that designer backpack, buy it from the trademark holder or from authorized retailers. If you are buying online, make sure you are working with a legitimate source by reading reviews and checking for a working U.S. phone number and address.

Know the price and value of the luxury item you want, and be highly suspicious of logo-bearing merchandise selling way below retail.

Of course, some shoppers know they're buying fakes - and don't care. They're not willing - or able - to shell out big bucks for the real thing, but want the coveted look or label anyway.

No amount of rationalizing, however, changes the fact that buying counterfeit merchandise is a crime - and not just one against fashion.