Ideas worth spreading

How fake handbags fund terrorism and organized crime

1,534,940 views | Alastair Gray • TED@Tommy

What's the harm in buying a knock-off purse or a fake designer watch? According to counterfeit investigator Alastair Gray, fakes like these fund terrorism and organized crime. Learn more about the trillion-dollar underground economy of counterfeiting -- from the criminal organizations that run it to the child labor they use to produce its goods -- as well as measures you can take to help stop it. "Let's shine a light on the dark forces of counterfeiting that are hiding in plain sight," Gray says.

What's the harm in buying a knock-off purse or a fake designer watch? According to counterfeit investigator Alastair Gray, fakes like these fund terrorism and organized crime. Learn more about the trillion-dollar underground economy of counterfeiting -- from the criminal organizations that run it to the child labor they use to produce its goods -- as well as measures you can take to help stop it. "Let's shine a light on the dark forces of counterfeiting that are hiding in plain sight," Gray says.

This talk was presented at a TED Institute event given in partnership with Tommy Hilfiger. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

Read more about the TED Institute.

Don't get scammed. Check out this useful guide to spotting counterfeit websites.

Beware of the huge problem of fake pharmaceuticals.

Have you seen a fake? Report it via Crime Stoppers International.

About the speaker

Alastair Gray

Brand protection manager

See speaker profile

Tommy Hilfiger's Alastair Gray polices the internet in search of counterfeits, rip-offs and brand abuse.

About TED Institute

Every year, TED works with a group of select companies and foundations to identify internal ideators, inventors, connectors, and creators. Drawing on the same rigorous regimen that has prepared speakers for the TED main stage, TED Institute works closely with each partner, overseeing curation and providing intensive one-on-one talk development to sharpen and fine tune ideas. The culmination is an event produced, recorded, and hosted by TED, generating a growing library of valuable TED Talks that can spur innovation and transform organizations.

Read more about the TED Institute

This talk was presented at a TED Institute event given in partnership with Tommy Hilfiger. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

Read more about the TED Institute.

Don't get scammed. Check out this useful guide to spotting counterfeit websites.

Beware of the huge problem of fake pharmaceuticals.

Have you seen a fake? Report it via Crime Stoppers International.