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Cincinnati, OH--The U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the Port of Cincinnati seized fake jewelry falsely priced at nearly $11 million.

[Image via CBP]

Per a press release, one shipment alone would have been worth over $8 million had the bracelets been genuine. 

The release notes that a total of 700 bracelets were seized. Officers suspected these bracelets to be counterfeit based on their origin and appearance. The bracelets lacked fine details, were constructed from cheap material and contained fake inlayed diamonds. This shipment originated in Hong Kong en route to a business in Illinois. These high-end bracelets would have had the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price of $8.82 million had the items been authentic.

“While online shopping has increased, CBP stays vigilant by stopping illegal shipments like these from damaging our economy,” said LaFonda D. Sutton-Burke, Director, Field Operations-Chicago Field Office, in the press release. “Officers at the Port of Cincinnati are always on the lookout to uphold our mission of protecting the American borders from dangerous people and materials.”

CBP laid out the following advice to customers to protect themself and their families from counterfeit items:

• Purchase goods directly from the trademark holder or from authorized retailers.
• When shopping online, read seller reviews and check for a working U.S. phone number and address that can be used to contact the seller.
• Review CBP’s E-Commerce Counterfeit Awareness Guide for Consumers.
• Remember that if the price of a product seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Read more in the entire release.