Released: January 20, 2008

The real price of fakes

Source: New York Times

As the economy weakens, consumers hunt for bargains. Sometimes, however, a bargain can be a literal steal, and a dangerous one at that. The World Customs Organization estimates that 7 percent of goods traded in the world are counterfeit — a black market that increasingly includes pharmaceuticals, electronics and other products that must be safe enough to use.

With some $200 billion worth of those pirated or counterfeited goods coming into the United States each year, already weak regulatory agencies are overwhelmed. 

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