We Can Help with Counterfeiting Concerns Promptly
Counterfeiting Investigations – Timothy E. Allen | Former Special Agent (U.S. Secret Service & DOJ-OIG)
Counterfeiting operations are becoming increasingly sophisticated. They are also becoming increasingly prevalent, and this means that they are high on the list of enforcement priorities for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and other top federal agencies. Counterfeiting operations can cost companies tens of millions, hundreds of millions, or even billions of dollars. They can also harm consumers, and they can undermine confidence in the U.S. marketplace.
All of this means that companies facing counterfeiting issues need to make resolving these issues their top priority. This is true whether a company is being accused of counterfeiting or a competitor is counterfeiting its goods or services.
A Team of Highly Experienced Counterfeiting Investigators
At Corporate Investigation Consulting, our team is composed of former federal agents who have significant experience conducting counterfeiting investigations both on behalf of the federal government and in the private sector. Our former agents have handled several high-profile and high-value cases, and they are well versed in contemporary counterfeiting practices as well as the federal government’s efforts to thwart them.
If your company is under investigation for counterfeiting currency, products, or services, we can help guide your company through the investigative process. If you have concerns about counterfeiting internally or externally, we can get to the bottom of the issue and arm your company with the information and evidence it needs to take appropriate legal action. Regardless of the circumstances at hand, it is critical to act promptly. Contact us to speak with a highly experienced former federal agent about your company’s situation today.
Investigating Internal and External Counterfeiting Operations
If your business is a victim of counterfeiting, it can face more than just loss of market share. Counterfeiting operations can also stain companies’ public reputations, and they can lead to costly and protracted litigation if consumers who suffer harm believe that counterfeit products are legitimate.
While discovering that a competitor is offering counterfeit products or services can be fairly straightforward, identifying the counterfeiters and shutting down their operation can be anything but. This is true whether the counterfeiters are internal (i.e., employees who are trying to profit from insider knowledge) or external (i.e., a legitimate competitor or a fraud artist), and whether the counterfeiters are located in the United States or abroad.
Despite the challenges involved in uncovering and terminating counterfeiting operations, companies cannot afford to simply throw their hands up in the air. There are investigative tools and tactics we can use, and we have been successful in helping our clients shut down counterfeiting operations in the past. Some examples of the measures we may be able to use to identify counterfeiters of your company’s products or services include:
- Examining the source of individual components used in manufacturing counterfeit products
- Examining and tracking communications between the counterfeiters and their customers
- Tracking the shipment of counterfeit products
- Conducting digital forensics to identify the source or destination of communications, products, or services
- If the counterfeiting appears to be the result of a data breach, using breach response tactics to determine who gained access to your company’s proprietary information
- Conducting employee interviews and using other forensic means both internally and externally
- Conducting forensic accounting to “follow the paper trail” back to those who are profiting from the counterfeiting operation
These are just examples. Counterfeiting investigations can be complex and complicated, and knowing where to look and how to look are equally important. This is where our former agents’ deep experience comes into play. The information you need is out there—you just need to find it. This is what you can trust our team to do for you.
Put our highly experienced team on your side
Roger Bach
Former Special Agent (OIG)
Timothy E. Allen
Former Senior Special Agent U.S. Secret Service
Chris J. Quick
Former Special Agent (FBI & IRS-CI)
Maura Kelley
Former Special Agent (FBI)
Ray Yuen
Former Supervisory Special Agent (FBI)
Michael S. Koslow
Former Supervisory Special Agent (DOD-OIG)
Marquis D. Pickett
Special Agent U.S. Secret Service (ret.)
Responding to Federal Counterfeiting Investigations
In addition to consulting with companies that need to expose counterfeiting operations, we also advise companies that are facing federal counterfeiting investigations. Even if the allegations are completely unfounded, this is an extremely serious matter, and it needs to be handled accordingly.
At Corporate Investigation Consulting, our team includes former high-ranking agents with the FBI, U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), and other federal agencies. With their backgrounds in federal law enforcement, these individuals are intimately familiar with the government’s investigative tactics. When you engage our firm for your company’s federal counterfeiting investigation, we will use this familiarity to your company’s advantage. We will anticipate the government’s next moves, assist with formulating proactive defense strategies, and gather the information your company (and your company’s executives and board members) need to avoid federal prosecution.
We handle federal investigations involving all types of counterfeiting allegations. This includes allegations of counterfeiting domestic and foreign currency, counterfeiting products, and counterfeiting services. If there is a risk that your company could also face civil litigation as a result of the allegations against it, we can assist with preparing for discovery and preserving relevant evidence so that it remains admissible at trial.
5 Reasons to Choose Corporate Investigation Consulting
Several consulting firms promote their consultants as counterfeiting investigators. So, why should you choose the team at Corporate Investigation Consulting?
1. Our FBI, DOJ, USPIS, and Secret Service Experience
Our team includes credentialed and highly experienced former agents with the FBI, DOJ, USPIS, Secret Service, and other federal agencies. Many of our consultants and investigators spent decades conducting and overseeing high-level federal investigations (including counterfeiting investigations) before entering the private sector.
2. Our Private Sector Experience
We have significant experience consulting with companies in the private sector on counterfeiting matters. Our clients include companies and firms across a broad spectrum of industries, and we rely on this diverse experience to hit the ground running in counterfeiting cases.
3. Our Team Approach
We take a team approach with regard to both assigning responsibilities within our firm and collaborating with our clients. We ensure that we have the right expertise at the right times, and we maximize the efficiency of our services so that we can keep our clients’ costs down.
4. Our Resources
We have the resources required to handle large-scale counterfeiting investigations anywhere in the United States or globally. We have agents around the country who can be on site at a moment’s notice, and we can get to work immediately when necessary.
5. Our Accessibility
Our clients work directly with our senior agents in all aspects of our firm’s engagement. Our clients have our senior agents’ email addresses and cell phone numbers, and our agents make themselves available to our clients whenever possible.
FAQs: What To Do When Someone Is Counterfeiting Your Company’s Products or Services
What should you do if someone is counterfeiting your company’s goods or services?
If someone is counterfeiting your company’s goods or services, you need answers, and you need them now. Who is involved in the counterfeiting operation? If they are using proprietary information, how did they gain access to it? How long has the operation been ongoing, and how widespread is the distribution of the counterfeit products or services? These are all crucial questions, and they are questions our former federal agents can help you answer as quickly as possible.
How do you investigate a counterfeiting operation?
Investigating a counterfeiting operation is an involved process. The specific steps our former federal agents will need to take will depend entirely on the unique circumstances involved. Are the counterfeiters internal or external to your corporate organization? Are they operating in the U.S. or abroad? Is it possible to obtain a temporary injunction (and will an injunction be effective to stop the counterfeiters)? These are just some of the factors that will determine what we need to do in order to fully investigate the counterfeiting of your company’s products or services.
How can you stop a counterfeiting operation?
In most cases, stopping a counterfeiting operation involves taking formal legal action. While contacting the counterfeiters and letting them know that they have been discovered might be enough, often if someone is willing to counterfeit, they won’t be deterred by a “cease and desist” demand. Once we determine who is counterfeiting your company’s products or services, we can then help you make informed decisions about your company’s next steps.
What are my next steps if my company is dealing with counterfeiting?
If your company is dealing with counterfeiting, right now your next steps are to engage a corporate investigation consulting firm and determine the identity of the counterfeiters. Our team of highly experienced former federal agents is up to the task, and we can start work today if necessary. Contact us for more information.
Contact Us to Develop an Action Plan Today
Is your company dealing with a counterfeiting issue, either internally or externally? If so, we are here to help. To develop a plan of action focused on protecting your company’s reputation and financial interests as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible, call 866-352-9324 or tell us how we can contact you online today.
Tag: Counterfeiting Investigation Services