Knockoffs Could Be Dangerous

Oct. 30, 2006 — -- Every year, the U.S. economy loses $250 billion to counterfeit products.

But more frightening, you could lose your life to them, because many of the things being counterfeited today are downright dangerous.

Government agents seized more than twice as much counterfeit merchandise last year as they did the year before.

The vast majority of it comes from China. But what's really scary is where it goes.

These days, dangerous counterfeit goods are showing up in some legitimate stores.

It's not just about fake purses and sunglasses anymore.

"We're talking about consumer health and beauty products like perfume, razor blades and toothbrushes that can be contaminated," said Caroline Joiner of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Counterfeit medications are one of the biggest categories of all and cost drug companies $32 billion in losses every year.

Kevin Fagan's son, Tim, was prescribed a critical medication after a liver transplant. Every time he took it, Tim cried out in pain. After two months, the Fagans found out the drug they had purchased at the pharmacy was fraudulent.

"What happened to my son was unconscionable," Fagan said. "My son was just racked in extreme body cramps throughout his whole body. His arms, his legs, his entire body was just racked in pain and my wife and I were absolutely frantic with worry."

In Cook County, Ill., the sheriff's department came across 600 bottles of counterfeit Head and Shoulders shampoo containing a harmful bacteria linked to feces.

Another Cook County bust snagged nearly 60,000 phony Duracell batteries made with mercury, a toxin the real battery maker stopped using years ago.