ICYMI: Luxury Skincare SCAM—Fake High-End Beauty Products Flood Pennsylvania!
Customs officials just intercepted thousands of dollars worth of phony anti-aging creams claiming to be from Estée Lauder, SkinCeuticals, and Clinique. 🌐 #News #PhiladelphiaPA #Pennsylvania #Crime
PHILADELPHIA, PA — The promise of younger-looking skin at bargain prices proved too good to be true for Pennsylvania shoppers, as federal agents swooped in to seize four massive shipments of counterfeit luxury facial creams headed for local addresses.
Fake Beauty Bonanza
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers intercepted the shipments in late February and early March, nabbing knockoff products that would have retailed for over $28,500 if authentic.
The fake goods, masquerading as high-end brands like Estée Lauder, SkinCeuticals, and Clinique, were bound for addresses in Allentown and Whitehall.
International Web of Deception
The counterfeit cosmetics arrived in multiple waves from Hong Kong and China.
On February 26, officers nabbed 50 boxes of fake SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore cream and another 50 boxes of imitation Clinique Smart Clinical Repair serum. The next day brought 50 more boxes of phony Estée Lauder products, followed by 60 additional boxes of counterfeit Estée Lauder moisturizer on March 1.
Expert Analysis Confirms Fakes
CBP’s trade specialists worked directly with the legitimate brands to verify that all seized items were indeed counterfeits.
While the investigation is ongoing, no charges have been filed and all parties are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Safety Warning for Shoppers
“Unscrupulous vendors are making a fortune while putting consumers’ health at risk,” warned Cleatus P. Hunt, Jr., CBP’s Area Port Director for Philadelphia.
He urged shoppers to purchase cosmetics only from authorized retailers, noting that saving money on fake products could lead to costly medical bills.
Shopping Smart
The CBP advises consumers to be wary of online sellers lacking customer service information or return policies.
Officials also recommend comparing prices across legitimate retailers – if a luxury product seems suspiciously cheap, it’s likely counterfeit. The safest approach is buying directly from brand websites or authorized stores.
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RELATED TOPICS: China | Crime | Pennsylvania
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