COUNTERFEIT MERCHANDISE

Knockoff products mimic the appearance of authentic merchandise, deceiving fans and collectors with seemingly identical designs at dramatically lower prices. The allure of a bargain often blindsides buyers, leading them to unwittingly support these counterfeit markets. As these goods circulate, they tarnish the reputation and integrity carefully built by brands over years of dedicated craftsmanship and quality assurance.

Fighting Deceptive Sites

The rise of fraudulent websites provides a platform for these counterfeit products to thrive. As our brand continues to grow, we have identified a number of imposter websites that copy the “look and feel” of Fanatics-operated sites that are targeted to our fans. These sites, often crafted with sophisticated designs and persuasive marketing tactics, lure unsuspecting fans with promises of unbelievable deals and discounts.

These “fake” websites are not only illegally capitalizing on the Fanatics brand, but they are aggressively looking to take advantage of sports fans around the world. The sites offer subpar imitations and shoppers often fall victim to financial scams when shopping on their platforms.

To help put a stop to this illegal activity and deter future bad actors, Fanatics continues to take proactive legal action, targeting these fake websites for trademark counterfeiting and infringement and cybersquatting.

The defendants behind these sites are using Fanatics’ protected trademarks to promote their illicit websites for profit. These fraudulent sites thrive on exploiting intellectual property rights, infringing trademarks, and duping consumers. The profits garnered from this illicit trade often fund broader criminal activities, extending their grip across borders while evading legal authorities.

Know the Difference

We recognize that these counterfeit websites have become incredibly sophisticated, and our fans may have a tough time knowing what is Fanatics-owned and/or operated and what is an imposter.

The battle against counterfeit merchandise and fraudulent websites requires a concerted effort from brands, consumers and regulatory bodies to protect and preserve the integrity of genuine products in the market. To ensure you are purchasing officially licensed merchandise, verified trading cards and placing secure bets from Fanatics, we recommend doing the following:

• Look for red flags, including suspiciously low prices -– if the price is too good to be true, it probably is.

• If you wish to shop on Fanatics.com, Topps.com or any other Fanatics-owned site, enter the URL directly in your web browser instead of clicking on a link.

How Do You Help Stop Counterfeiters?

We are proactively working to shut down these illegal websites. We welcome our fans to send us additional tips as they come across them by filling out the form below.