Counterfeit

From ArticleWorld

Counterfeit literally means an imitation or a forgery, usually referring to currency or paper. It can also refer to brands, medical products, movies, toys or any other products.

Counterfeiting is the crime of forging or imitating something and passing it on as the original. It is classified as a white-collar crime as it is usually committed by professional workers, or within the professional or business circuits.

This crime is not a modern-day crime because its origin can be traced back to the Civil War, when counterfeiting was used to bring down the economy of an enemy nation. Other countries purposely circulate fake currencies in enemy countries, to undermine the value of the enemy country's currency.

While counterfeiting is an old crime, it is now becoming more technology-based and technology-reliant because of the invention of modern printing machines and methods of counterfeiting.

Detecting counterfeits

The basic method of detecting counterfeits is to compare the original from the suspected counterfeit. However, counterfeiters have become so skilled and printing machines have become more modern and sleek, that it is now difficult to detect a counterfeit without the help of a counterfeiting machine.

Experts can easily detect counterfeit currencies through

1. Photos appearing on the face of the currency
2. Kind of paper used
3. Serial numbers
4. Kinds of ink used for printing the currency
5. Color quality

Counterfeiting has become so widespread it is not only being used to forged money but also other items which are patented and have copyrights. This development gave rise to copyright infringement cases, which are totally different cases from counterfeiting. The only similarity is the fact that an original has been copies and passed off as the original item.

Effects of counterfeiting

Counterfeiting of currency and the faking of brands and medical supplies has resulted to

• Substandard quality of clothing wear, toys and other forged items.

• Unsafe medical products since counterfeit or fake medicines have lower affectivity doses

• Death of an industry such as the movie industry which has been experiencing a downtrend due to piracy

Counterfeiting is a serious offense in the United States and in other countries. It is punishable by a fine, imprisonment and the taking away of the articles involved in the crime.