132 Websites Seized In 'Operation Cyber Monday 3' For Selling Counterfeit Items
BOSTON (CBS) - In what law enforcement agencies are calling "Operation Cyber Monday 3" and "Operation Transatlantic," 132 domain names were seized from Websites selling counterfeit merchandise around the world.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security agency along with the European Police Office conducted the crack-down.
On Monday, Homeland Security investigators in Boston showed some of the items that their team purchased online.
During this operation, federal law enforcement officers made undercover purchases of professional sports jerseys, DVD sets, and a variety of clothing, jewelry and luxury goods from online retailers who were suspected of selling counterfeit products.
This is the first year ICE has partnered with EUROPOL at the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center in Washington, D.C.
"Europol became a member of the IPR Center this year and I am glad to be able to announce these operational successes," said Rob Wainwright, Director of Europol. "IPR theft is not a harmless and victimless crime. It can cause serious health and safety risks and it undermines our economy."
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Lana Jones reports
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The sites that have been shut down will have a banner that notifies consumers of the seizure and warns of the federal crime of willful copyright infringement.
