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December 2, 2019
|Intellectual Property Rights and Commercial Fraud

The ongoing IPR enforcement initiative targeting fake websites, dubbed Operation In Our Sites, was facilitated by the IPR Center, a joint-task force agency led by ICE, FBI and CBP.

November 26, 2018
|Intellectual Property Rights and Commercial Fraud

Roughly 33,600 website domain names were criminally seized in a collaborative effort between ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Europol, Interpol and police agencies from 26 different countries. Industry partners participating in the operation were fully responsible for civilly seizing 1.21 million domain names and shutting down 2.2 million erroneous ecommerce links featured on social media platforms and third-party marketplaces.

November 27, 2017
|Intellectual Property Rights and Commercial Fraud
Several thousand copyright-infringing website domain names and third-party marketplace links selling counterfeit pharmaceuticals, automotive parts and other fake items to unsuspecting consumers have been criminally and administratively seized and removed in an effort that combines the resources of global law-enforcement agencies and industry.
November 28, 2016
|Intellectual Property Rights and Commercial Fraud

There were roughly 15,000 illegal websites seized and 48,000 erroneous ecommerce links removed over the past year as part of Operation In Our Sites VII, an effort conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Europol, Interpol and members of industry to crackdown on individuals using the Internet to peddle bogus goods and other copyright-protected material that threaten the health and safety of shoppers.

June 22, 2016
|Intellectual Property Rights and Commercial Fraud

“Within the law-enforcement community, it is important that we come together regularly to share experiences and learn from each other; whether it’s talking about the investigative techniques that are working well, or simply shedding new light on emerging threats,” said Deputy Director Ragsdale. “Training sessions such as this also give us an opportunity to share key information and further enhance best practices.”

June 22, 2016
|Intellectual Property Rights and Commercial Fraud

Operation In Our Sites is the major effort ICE investigators, industry and international law enforcement conduct in order to eliminate copyright infringing websites selling counterfeit goods that may threaten the health and safety of consumers. 

November 30, 2015
|Intellectual Property Rights and Commercial Fraud
“This effort highlights the global commitment to take aggressive action against online piracy,” said IPR Center Director Bruce Foucart. “The IPR Center will continue to collaborate with international law enforcement and industry to protect consumers from purchasing counterfeit goods online, which could expose sensitive financial information and present a health and safety threat.”
March 24, 2015
|Intellectual Property Rights and Commercial Fraud
Over the past decade, the two agencies have worked together on several major multimillion dollar fraud investigations, leading to a number of high profile convictions. The launch of the City of London Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit in September 2013 brought a new dimension to this partnership, with a shared focus on tackling intellectual property crime.
March 24, 2014
|Intellectual Property Rights and Commercial Fraud
The number of IPR seizures increased nearly 7 percent from 22,848 in FY 2012 to 24,361 in FY 2013.
January 30, 2014
|Intellectual Property Rights and Commercial Fraud
Federal officials teamed with the National Football League (NFL) Thursday to announce the record-breaking results of a nationwide law enforcement effort aimed at combatting counterfeit sports merchandise.
December 2, 2013
|Intellectual Property Rights and Commercial Fraud
The 706 domain names seized were set up to dupe consumers into unknowingly buying counterfeit goods as part of the holiday shopping season. The operations were coordinated by the HSI-led National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center (IPR Center) in Washington, D.C.
June 26, 2013
|Intellectual Property Rights and Commercial Fraud
ICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and several law enforcement agencies in Europe, coordinated by the European Police Office (Europol), announced the seizure of 328 domain names in two related operations Wednesday. The seized domain names were associated with websites illegally selling counterfeit merchandise online.
April 29, 2013
|Intellectual Property Rights and Commercial Fraud
More than $90,000 was also seized from PayPal accounts associated with the seized websites.
April 26, 2013
|Intellectual Property Rights and Commercial Fraud
Anyone who visits a website seized by the government for counterfeiting violations will now be met with a public service announcement (PSA) that educates them about the impact that such crime has on global economics and its links to organized crime.
February 22, 2013
|Intellectual Property Rights and Commercial Fraud
This year, additional focus was placed on identifying and seizing counterfeit tickets to the Super Bowl.
January 31, 2013
|Intellectual Property Rights and Commercial Fraud
Fake jerseys, ball caps, T-shirts, jackets and other souvenirs are among the counterfeit merchandise and clothing confiscated by teams of special agents and officers from ICE's Homeland Security Investigations.
November 26, 2012
|Intellectual Property Rights and Commercial Fraud
ICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), law enforcement agencies from Belgium, Denmark, France, Romania and the United Kingdom, and the European Police Office (Europol) seized 132 domain names today that were illegally selling counterfeit merchandise online to unsuspecting consumers.
October 3, 2012
|Intellectual Property Rights and Commercial Fraud
In the largest operation of its kind, 100 countries took part in an international week of action targeting the online sale of counterfeit and illegal medicines. ICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), in coordination with the Department of Justice, seized 686 websites this week that were illegally selling counterfeit pharmaceuticals.
July 12, 2012
|Intellectual Property Rights and Commercial Fraud
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)-led National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center (IPR Center) seized 70 websites that were illegally selling counterfeit merchandise.
May 11, 2012
|Intellectual Property Rights and Commercial Fraud
The Department of Justice seized more than $1.5 million in proceeds from the distribution of counterfeit sports apparel and jerseys, following an investigation into the sale of counterfeit goods on commercial websites conducted by the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center, which is led by ICE's Homeland Security Investigations.
May 8, 2012
|Intellectual Property Rights and Commercial Fraud
The National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center (IPR Center), led by ICE's Homeland Security Investigations, has joined together with the FBI and six major American movie studios to launch an updated anti-piracy warning to be displayed on new releases.
April 10, 2012
|Intellectual Property Rights and Commercial Fraud
The U.S. ICE-led National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center (IPR Center) and the Department of Justice seized more than $896,000 in proceeds from the distribution of counterfeit sports apparel as the result of an investigation into the sale of counterfeit goods on commercial websites.
February 2, 2012
|Intellectual Property Rights and Commercial Fraud
Yonjo Quiroa, 28, of Comstock Park, Mich., was arrested yesterday and operated nine of the 16 websites that were seized. The arrest and website seizures coincide with Operation Fake Sweep, which was announced earlier today in Indianapolis.
February 2, 2012
|Intellectual Property Rights and Commercial Fraud
Speaking at an NFL news conference on Thursday, ICE Director John Morton, CBP Director of Field Operations in Chicago David Murphy and NFL Vice President for Legal Affairs Anastasia Danias announced the record-breaking results of a nationwide enforcement operation.
January 6, 2012
|Intellectual Property Rights and Commercial Fraud

Hana Amal Beshara, 30, of North Brunswick, N.J., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Anthony J. Trenga in the Eastern District of Virginia.

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