In the world of sports, there are always those who are seeking championships. One such person is Jason Kelce, a NFL player in Cincinnati who is on the hunt for a ring. However, it seems that his search may have taken a turn when U.S. Customs and Border officials seized a shipment of 345 fake championship rings at the Port of Cincinnati.
These rings were destined for a small business in Utica, New York, but were determined to be fake due to their low quality and lack of value. The rings featured logos from various professional sports teams such as the New York Yankees, Pittsburgh Steelers, New England Patriots, Golden State Warriors, Chicago Bulls and Pittsburgh Penguins. If these rings had been authentic their retail value would have been $1.38 million.
It’s important for consumers to be aware of counterfeit sports rings as they are often sold by unauthorized sellers at high prices making it difficult to detect their authenticity. To avoid falling victim to scams Customs and Border Protection urges consumers to purchase directly from trademark holders or authorized sellers and also look for a retailer’s working U.S phone number when shopping online to ensure the legitimacy of the product. It’s also worth noting that illicit shipments like these can contribute to criminal organizations as profits are often used to fund illegal activities.