How to Spot Fake Super Bowl Merchandise: Tips from Customs and Border Patrol

Avoiding Counterfeit Super Bowl Gear

• 🏈 With Super Bowl 60 approaching, officials are warning fans about a market flooded with fake merchandise.
• 💡 NFL and federal agencies are providing tips to help consumers identify authentic gear.

Identifying Authentic Merchandise

• 🔍 Trust your gut when purchasing expensive items like jerseys.
• 🧐 Research the product and consider buying from reputable stores.
• ✋ Physically inspect the merchandise; if it feels cheap or of low quality, it likely is.

Key Indicators of Fakes

• 🧵 Check the stitching; crooked stitching is a common sign of counterfeit products.
• 🏷️ Look for a hologram on the tag and examine the overall packaging for poor quality.
• 📜 Ensure there is a country of origin label with content and washing instructions; its absence is a major red flag.

Scale of the Counterfeit Problem

• 📊 In 2025 alone, US Customs and Border Protection seized over 78 million counterfeit items, valued at over $7.4 billion.
• ⚠️ Officials urge consumers to shop smart and be wary of deals that seem too good to be true.