Are illegal counterfeits really worth it?
NO!!! Consider the following reasons.
Ten reasons why you shouldn't buy a fake bag:
  1. Counterfeiters steal intellectual property and violate copyright laws.                    
  2. Counterfeit factories use forced child labor and sweatshops.
  3. Evidence indicates that illegal counterfeiters funnel money to organized crime and terrorists,
    including Al-Qaeda.
  4. The FBI considers it a serious crime with implications for public safety and security.
  5. Counterfeiters do not follow environmental regulations or safety guidelines.
  6. Counterfeiting is detrimental to the United States economy and all of us. Business losses to
    illegal counterfeits are estimated to exceed $250 billion per year.
  7. Fake bags are made with poor quality materials and inferior craftsmanship. Counterfeiters
    often use the cheapest material available and no quality control.
  8. Counterfeits are overpriced! A cheap thrill shouldn't cost more than $30.
  9. Don't fake it! More people recognize knockoffs than you realize.

Please read the supporting articles in the links provided below.
evidence that terrorists fund operations Al-Qaeda,
Hizbullah, Chechen separatists- have been Al-Qaeda,
Hizbullah, Chechen separatists- have been  Hizbullah,
Chechen separatists- have been found to Chechen
separatists- have been found to profit from the
separatists- have been found to profit from the production
or sale of counterfeit goods”
from the production or sale of counterfeit goods”
production or sale of counterfeit goods”
goods”

Interpol July 2003
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
“Protecting the children: Customs Inspector's eye for
detail exposes factory using forced child labor…”
U.S. Customs February, 2001
“The counterfeiters illegally profit...and affect the entire
economy through lost revenues and taxes. ..counterfeiters
do not honor safety and environmental regulations,
namely child labor and anti-sweatshop laws....
counterfeit quality is typically poor…”
www.coach.com
“Consumers are being warned that the innocent
purchases of counterfeit products from Internet
sites and markets are  funding terrorist and
criminal organizations, including Al-Qaeda, the
Mafia and the IRA.”
www.fraudaid.com
“Losses to counterfeiting are estimated at $200-250
billion a year in U.S. business losses….Intellectual
property crime is a priority for U.S. Customs and the FBI.”
FBI National Press Office  
Washington D.C.  July 17, 2002
Over 13,000 anti-counterfeiting complaints were
filed and 6,000 raids took place last year,
leading to the arrest of nearly 1,000
counterfeiters.
www.vuitton.com
Child Labor
Child labor ranges from four-year-olds tied to rug looms to keep them from running away...
In 2004, Gap, Inc. severed relationships with 136 factories in about 50 countries.
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/retail/2004-05-12-gap_x.htm
http://www.responsibleshopper.org/basic.cfm?cusip=364760
http://www.globalpolicy.org/globaliz/econ/kidlabor.htm
http://www.hrw.org/children/labor.htm
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