Where to Report Counterfeit Goods in the US (And How to Stop Them at the Source)
If your brand is showing up on a marketplace you never authorized, or a counterfeit version of your product is circulating online, your first instinct is to report it. That instinct is right. But knowing exactly where to report in the US, and what each channel can actually do, is what separates brands that recover quickly from those that spend months chasing their tails.
This guide covers every major reporting channel available to US brand owners, what each one handles, and where their limits are.
Government agencies can investigate and seize physical shipments. They cannot monitor your marketplace listings, de-index counterfeit pages from Google, or remove fake social media accounts. For that, you need a different approach.
The Main US Agencies That Handle Counterfeit Goods Reports
There is no single hotline that handles everything. Counterfeiting in the US is a multi-agency issue, and which one you contact depends on where the infringement is happening.
1. The National IPR Center (IPR Center)
The National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center is the primary federal hub for IP crime reports. It is led by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and brings together over 19 US government investigative and regulatory agencies.
What it handles:
- Counterfeit goods being manufactured, imported, exported, or distributed
- Online IP theft and counterfeit listings
- Physical goods with trademark or copyright violations
How to report:
- Submit a referral online at iprcenter.gov/referral/view
- Call the IPR Center hotline: 1-866-IPR-2060
- Email: IPRCenter@dhs.gov
When submitting, include the alleged violator's name, business address, website URL, a description of the infringing product, and any evidence of the violation. Anonymous reports are accepted, though providing contact information helps the investigation move faster.
2. US Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
CBP is the agency responsible for stopping counterfeit goods at the US border. It operates the e-Allegations portal, which allows anyone to report suspected trade violations, including counterfeit imports.
What it handles:
- Counterfeit goods being imported into the US
- Trade violations involving duty evasion, forced labor, and IP infringement
How to report:
- File through the CBP e-Allegations portal
Important note: CBP has no authority to take action against online listings of infringing products. For online infringements, it specifically directs rights holders to the National IPR Center Reporting Tool instead.
Pro tip for brand owners: Record your trademarks and copyrights with CBP through the e-Recordation program. Once recorded, CBP can detain, seize, and in most cases destroy infringing goods at the border.
3. The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
IC3 is a partnership between the FBI, the National White Collar Crime Center, and the Department of Justice. It handles cybercrime complaints, including IP theft that occurs online.
What it handles:
- Online sales of counterfeit goods
- Cybercrime involving intellectual property theft
- Fraud linked to counterfeit e-commerce activity
How to report:
- File a complaint at ic3.gov
IC3 is best used when the counterfeiting has a clear online fraud or cybercrime dimension, such as a fake website impersonating your brand and collecting payments.
4. The FBI Intellectual Property Rights Unit
The FBI's Intellectual Property Rights Unit (IPRU) within the Criminal Investigative Division oversees IP crime investigations nationally. For large-scale or organized counterfeiting operations, the FBI is a relevant contact.
How to report:
- Contact your nearest FBI field office
- Reports can also be submitted through the IPR Center, which coordinates directly with the FBI
What to Prepare Before You Report
Regardless of which agency you contact, the quality of your report determines how quickly they can act. Vague complaints get deprioritized. Detailed, documented ones move faster.
Before filing any report, gather the following:
- Your contact information (anonymous reports are accepted but may slow the investigation)
- The alleged violator's details: business name, website URL, physical address if known, social media handles
- A clear description of the product and why it is infringing (trademark registration number, copyright recordation details)
- Evidence: screenshots of the listing, photos of the counterfeit product, any purchase receipts or transaction records
- Estimated scope: approximate quantity being sold and the estimated value of genuine goods
- Prior actions: whether you have already sent a cease and desist notice or pursued civil action
Key takeaway: The more specific your submission, the more actionable it is for investigators. Include URLs, dates, and dollar amounts wherever possible.
Why Reporting Alone Is Not Enough
The problem with relying solely on government reporting is that it is reactive by design.
You find a counterfeit listing, report it, and wait. Investigations take time, and agencies prioritize large-scale operations. A single counterfeit seller on a marketplace may not trigger a federal investigation, even while it is actively damaging your revenue and reputation.
The gap no government agency fills:
- Monitoring search engines for unauthorized use of your brand name 24/7
- Identifying and removing counterfeit listings from global marketplaces
- Taking down fake social media accounts impersonating your brand
- Removing fake websites and domains exploiting your trademark
- De-indexing infringing content from Google search results
- Detecting and removing fake ads using your intellectual property
This is exactly where Remove.tech's brand protection platform operates. Rather than waiting for harm to occur, the platform scans over 100,000 websites and platforms continuously, identifies infringements automatically, and initiates takedowns without delay.
Remove.tech's documentation shows that automating detection and takedown processes can save organizations between 30 and 70% of legal fees compared to pursuing individual cases manually. Automated systems also have the potential to boost takedown rates by up to 3 to 5 times, because notices are filed the moment an infringement is detected.
The founders of Lars Nysøm, a Remove.tech client, described trying to take down fake Alibaba listings in-house as complex and mostly unsuccessful. After working with Remove.tech, they were able to proactively find and remove infringements efficiently.
How Remove.tech Works Alongside Government Enforcement
Remove.tech does not replace government reporting. It works alongside it, handling the fast-moving online layer that agencies are not built to address in real time.
Proactive Detection
The platform crawls the internet around the clock, using bot-powered search and image recognition to identify potential infringements. It covers search engines, marketplaces, social media platforms, domains, app stores, and ad networks. When a potential infringement is found, the system validates it and either takes immediate action or flags it for your review in the dashboard.
Automated Takedowns
Once an infringement is confirmed, Remove.tech automatically sends legal notices to unauthorized publishers, de-indexes content from search engines, removes fake accounts from social media, and enforces copyright on messenger services including Telegram and Discord. For marketplace listings, the system detects, validates, and removes infringing listings in both local and global marketplaces, then monitors the same sellers to prevent re-uploads.
Real-Time Reporting
Every enforcement action is documented in a live dashboard. You get customized reports, infringer trend overviews, and a clear picture of how your brand is being protected over time. This documentation is also useful evidence if you do escalate to a government agency or pursue civil action.
Remove.tech is an official member of Google's Trusted Copyright Removal Program, which means its takedown requests for Google search de-indexing carry institutional weight. Removal rates for infringing content on Google and social media platforms are typically around 90% or higher.
If you want to see what is already out there using your brand, Remove.tech offers a free brand audit with no obligation. It takes two minutes to request.
FAQ
Where do I report counterfeit goods sold online in the US?
The National IPR Center is the primary channel. Submit a referral at iprcenter.gov/referral/view or call 1-866-IPR-2060. For online fraud with a cybercrime element, also file a complaint with IC3. Note that government agencies handle investigations, not real-time listing removals. For immediate takedowns from marketplaces and search engines, a brand protection service like Remove.tech is the faster route.
Can CBP remove counterfeit listings from marketplaces?
No. US Customs and Border Protection handles goods at the physical border. It has no authority to act against online listings. CBP explicitly directs rights holders to the National IPR Center Reporting Tool for online infringements.
What information do I need to report counterfeit goods?
At minimum: the alleged violator's name and website URL, a description of the infringing product, your trademark or copyright registration details, screenshots or photos as evidence, and an estimate of the scale of the infringement. The more detail you provide, the more actionable your report becomes.
How do I register my trademark with CBP for border enforcement?
Record your trademark or copyright through CBP's e-Recordation program. Once recorded, CBP has the authority to detain and seize infringing goods at the border.
What can Remove.tech do that government agencies cannot?
Remove.tech operates in real time across the online layer: marketplace listings, search engine results, social media accounts, fake websites, domains, app stores, and online ads. It detects infringements 24/7, sends automated takedown notices immediately, and monitors sellers to prevent re-uploads. Government agencies investigate and prosecute. Remove.tech removes. Both are part of a complete brand protection strategy.
How quickly does Remove.tech act on counterfeit listings?
Remove.tech's automated systems file takedown notices the moment an infringement is detected, rather than waiting for a manual review cycle. This speed is one of the key reasons the platform's takedown rates are up to 3 to 5 times higher than manual processes.
Is Remove.tech suitable for smaller brands, not just large corporations?
Yes. Remove.tech is designed for companies of all sizes. It offers customized solutions and clear pricing without the overhead of large enterprise contracts. Over 500 brands and content creators currently use the platform across different industries.
