Authorities seize 132 websites in global clampdown

US and European agencies have seized 132 domain names as part of an anti-counterfeiting crackdown in the run up to Christmas.

The action was timed to coincide with 'Cyber Monday', a day of technology-focused sales targeting people who are back at work after Thanksgiving. With a spike in online sales expected, officers in the US and Europe sent a message to counterfeiters and consumers by taking 132 sites allegedly involved in counterfeit activity offline.

“Our partnerships enable us to go after criminals who are duping unsuspecting shoppers all over the world. This is not an American problem, it is a global one,” John Morton, director of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), said.

US officials seized 101 websites, while their counterparts in Europe took the remaining 31 offline. The only arrest was made by US officials. ICE also took 70 domains offline in July in a similar action targeting copy cat websites.

The websites targeted in the latest action sold clothes, DVDs, jewelry and luxury goods. Paypal accounts linked to more than $175,000 (€135,000) in sales from the websites are also being targeted by agents at Homeland Security Investigations.