Counterfeit sports gear has seen a significant rise in the past several years. In 2011, ICE's "Operation Interception" seized a then-record $3.56 million worth of fake Super Bowl product. The ease and speed of producing the merchandise overseas has made it attractive to some sellers. A second factor is the cost of official merchandise apparel: a licensed Nike jersey can run from $100 to $250 depending on the quality of the material and type of decoration. Some sites are offering knockoffs of these same jerseys for as little as $20.
Kyle A. Richardson is the editorial director of Promo Marketing. He joined the company in 2006 brings more than a decade of publishing, marketing and media experience to the magazine. If you see him, buy him a drink.