NEW ORLEANS — U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers at the port of New Orleans recently intercepted nearly 2,000 counterfeit pop fidget toys, featuring such popular figures as Yoda, Bart Simpson and The Hulk.
The bogus merchandise, which also included Converse All Star sneakers, was seized from three international shipments en route from Shenzhen, China, to a Louisiana address, a news release stated.
According to the agency, fidget popper toys mimic the popping of plastic bubble wrap and gained widespread popularity after an October 2020 TikTok video of a capuchin monkey playing with one went viral. Anecdotal evidence suggests that school children now trade them amongst their friends for fun.
Consumers are advised to take the following steps to protect themselves and their families from counterfeit goods:
- Purchase goods directly from the trademark holder or from authorized retailers.
- When shopping online, read seller reviews and check for a working U.S. phone number and an address that can be used to contact the seller.
- Review CBP’s E-Commerce Counterfeit Awareness Guide for Consumers.
- Remember that if the price of a product seems too good to be true, it probably is.