Following spectacular growth over the past decade, which accelerated during the COVID‑19 pandemic, e‑commerce is now becoming a key platform for consumers in developed countries to buy counterfeit goods. In some countries, seizures of counterfeits from e‑commerce purchases represent the vast majority of all counterfeit seizures. COVID-19 has intensified the problem with criminal networks reacting very quickly to the crisis and adapting their strategies to take advantage of the shifting landscape.
This study uses a tailored, statistical methodology to gauge the level of abuse in the online environment with regard to trade in counterfeit goods. It also provides key highlights of government actions and industry initiatives taken to counter this risk.