Amazon has launched its Anti-Counterfeiting Exchange (ACX) program to help retail stores label and track counterfeit products sold on the company’s platform. This initiative is part of the e-commerce giant’s efforts to crack down on organized crime and eliminate fake merchandise from entering its warehouses.
Online marketplaces in the United States, including Amazon, have faced challenges in keeping counterfeiters off their platforms. The ACX program aims to mimic data exchange programs used by the credit card industry to identify scammers and their tactics.
Stores and Amazon marketplace sellers can anonymously contribute information and records flagging counterfeiters to a third-party database or use the database to avoid doing business with bad actors. The program also allows Amazon to quickly respond to reports of counterfeit products, reducing the potential harm caused by these products.
“We think it is critical to share information about confirmed counterfeiters to help the entire industry stop these criminals earlier,” said Dharmesh Mehta, Amazon’s vice president of selling partner services.
Amazon piloted the anti-counterfeiting initiative in 2021 with an undisclosed number of apparel, home goods, and cosmetics stores, where counterfeiting is most common. The program’s success has led the company to launch it on a larger scale.
As part of other anti-counterfeiting efforts, Amazon is also working with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection on a data pilot that helps the company identify and target low-value e-commerce shipments that may contain counterfeit goods or break other regulations. This partnership has led to increased seizure of counterfeit goods at the border.
Counterfeit products pose a significant threat to consumers, as they may contain harmful ingredients or fail to meet safety standards. By launching the ACX program, Amazon hopes to eliminate these products from its platform and protect consumers from potential harm
