German Patent Office warns travelers of counterfeit goods and online phishing scams

The German Patent and Trade Mark Office (DPMA) cautions consumers traveling this vacation season against purchasing counterfeit products such as sunglasses, handbags, and football jerseys. The office highlights that fake items not only harm small and medium‑sized enterprises—causing billions of euros in losses and endangering jobs—but can also pose health risks. In the run‑up to the football World Cup, Spanish authorities seized 66,000 counterfeit jerseys in an operation coordinated with European law‑enforcement agencies.

Separately, consumer‑protection experts warn that fraudsters increasingly operate fake online shops and send phishing messages via email or SMS to steal personal data and banking credentials. Warning signs include suspicious QR‑code links, unusual sender addresses, urgent language demanding immediate action, and unexpected attachments. Protecting oneself involves using strong passwords and enabling two‑factor authentication.