Federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents are going on the offensive, fanning out undercover throughout South Florida this week to find those who want to cheat Super Bowl fans out out of their hard earned dollars.
ICE agents are on a mission to stop counterfeiters who peddle 2nd-rate junk to unwitting fans, and they're already getting results.
"The quantity that we found is actually a van load full," said agent Randall Hill. "I don't a want a little kid, or a young teenager or a young adult even for that matter, wearing something that's not authentic."
Hill is the perfect agent for the job. A former Miami Hurricanes wide receiver played in the NFL for seven years.
Agents at the Pro Bowl confiscated $45,000 worth gear, including jerseys, hats and t-shirts. Some of the fakes had tags indicating they were made in Vietnam.
"The likelihood is that it's not going to last nearly as long as something that you'd buy from a legitimate manufacturer," said Anthony Mangione, ICE's special agent in charge.
While the tag on some of the fake jerseys and other items might say it's authentic, in some cases, it's not. And sometimes you pay more for the phony gear than the real thing.
"Sometimes they may not be cheaper," said Mangione. "Some of these NFL jerseys, the replica jerseys, are actually more expensive than the things in the store, so not only are you not getting the right merchandise, you're actually paying a little bit more for it."
Agents are fanning out across South Florida, in Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, at Sun Life stadium, Pembroke Pines, Homestead. All locations where fake goods were found.
The agents said buyers should look out for poor craftsmanship, cheap prices and an official hologram, although attempts are being made at replicating the holograms.
"When they see some unscrupulous people selling things for what may be a little bit cheaper than what might be at the store, but it's buyer beware," said Mangione.
Agents said they are building criminal cases against the more than 20 people they have found selling counterfeit goods around the Pro Bowl and Super Bowl.
The NFL said the counterfeit goods won't be tolerated and if you buy one of them it's not from an artist, but a con artist.
