Counterfeit wireless headphones seized in record numbers at US border

The number of counterfeit wireless headphones seized by U.S. Customs in 2021 has already exceeded last year’s total, according to a report by Information. This is a sign of the desire of the makers of these knockoffs to continue to profit from the continued popularity of headphones like Apple’s AirPods and those from Samsung, Jabra, Bose, Sony and others.

According to the report, “around 360,000 counterfeit wireless headphones” – worth $ 62.2 million – were caught in the first nine months of fiscal 2021. That’s well over 295 000 pairs that were confiscated throughout fiscal 2020. Just yesterday, US Customs and Border Protection announced a major confiscation in Cincinnati.

About 80% of counterfeits entering the United States come from China, and their manufacturers see a huge opportunity: Strategy Analytics predicts global sales of Bluetooth headsets to exceed 300 million in 2020, and the true wireless headphone market has surged by 90%. Apple still holds a significant lead in market share, although a crowded area has reduced that dominance. Research firm Canalys estimates that Apple made at least $ 16 billion from AirPods sales last year, according to Information report. The introduction of AirPods Pro in 2019 gave crooks a chance to try and squeeze even more money from ignorant buyers.

Image: US Customs and Border Protection

OnePlus faced a tough controversy last September when U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized a shipment of the company’s headphones and described them as counterfeit AirPods. There are design differences between the two, but the blatant AirPod clones are getting closer and closer to reality.

Some counterfeit headphones are believed to have been created “with real molds stolen from factories that work with Apple.” Others may mimic the process of pairing AirPods on an iPhone and display an appropriate Apple serial number. But even in these situations, there are still subtle indications (like a fake firmware version) that reveal a product as a fraud.

Highlighting potential security risks, Apple says it has put in place a global effort to tackle the problem of counterfeits and work with law enforcement and e-commerce sites to prevent customers from being duped as far. possible.