How to Avoid Fake Products This Back-to-School Season

Families across the country are preparing for the 2025-2026 school year, and the shopping lists are long: laptops, sneakers, backpacks, art supplies, and more. As parents and students stock up on back-to-school essentials, it is critical to stay alert to the growing threat of counterfeit goods. These fakes may seem like a bargain, but they come with hidden costs – risking health, safety, and economic security. 

Counterfeit products can contain hazardous materials, malfunction unexpectedly, or even be linked to forced labor and transnational organized crime. From fake electronics that overheat to personal care products laced with toxic substances, counterfeit goods pose real dangers, especially to children. 

Be Prepared This Back-to-School Season

As we enter the back-to-school season, the Chamber urges families to Shop Smart and stay safe. Here are five simple tips to help protect your household: 

1. Trust your instincts: If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. 
2. Prioritize secure payments: Only shop on websites that begin with “https://” and display a lock icon. 
3. Examine every detail: Look closely at packaging, labels, and product quality. 
4. Protect your data: Keep all your devices, including computers and smartphones, updated with the latest operating system updates and be sure to use reputable antivirus/anti-malware software to protect against malicious software. Stay alert to suspicious websites or links in anonymous text messages that may conceal malware.  
5. Say something: Report suspicious products to CBP or the National IPR Center and spread awareness in your community. 

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is on the Front Lines

The Chamber is proud to work alongside federal law enforcement leaders at U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to combat the spread of counterfeit goods and protect American consumers. In fiscal year 2024 alone, CBP seized over 32 million counterfeit items. If genuine, those goods would have been worth more than $5.4 billion. These seizures underscore the scale of the problem and the importance of strong enforcement for economic security. 

“U.S. Customs and Border Protection stands on the front lines in the fight against counterfeit goods,” said Susan S. Thomas, Acting Executive Assistant Commissioner for Trade, U.S. Customs and Border Protection. “These fakes aren’t just a threat to brands; they can pose real risks to the health and safety of our children, threaten American jobs, and fund criminal enterprises. Consumers can shop smart to avoid potentially dangerous outcomes.”  

Counterfeit Goods Undermine Innovation and Cost Jobs

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) estimate in a 2025 report that counterfeit goods account for approximately $467 billion in global trade, or 2.3% of total imports. These losses ripple through communities, impacting all forms of commerce from local businesses to multi-national corporations. 

Counterfeit goods don’t make the grade. Let’s work together to keep families safe, support legitimate businesses, and ensure a successful start to the school year. 

Watch Tiny Mic: How to Spot Counterfeit Goods While Shopping Online: A Back-To-School Guide for Parents

About the author

Sydney Redden

Sydney Redden is Director of IP Enforcement for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Global Innovation Policy Center (GIPC).

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