Hey Jenn--first, thanks for mentioning me in your lead! :-) Second, I have a collection of what I like to call "stupid counterfeiter tricks." The first was a counterfeiter that spelled "Malaysia" wrong on the "Made In" label.
Whoops.
I covered a story in which a single individual set up several bogus accounts at major banks. That person then orderd a bunch of components from distributors. After they checked his credit, they shipped the products. The checks bounced and the distributors finally began investigating, but by then, the individual was gone. He was finally caught as part of an FBI investigation that uncovered many such operations in the Silicon Valley area.
Back in the days before the Internet (not THAT long ago) I know of two distributors were actually held up at gunpoint for trays of microprocessors. I believe the warehouses were based in the LA/Orange County area. They had to change the entire warehouse operation afterward.
Movie fans--I'd point to the film The Departed in which computer chips that had been stolen from the now-declining 128 Tech Corridor were in play. Jack Nicholson was buying them from an Asian gang in a classic scene outlining the practices of commerce in the United States:
"No tickee, no laundry."
Politically incorrect on so many levels, but so was the character Frank Costello.
Barbara- LOVE the stupid counterfeiters! Least they could do is get the spelling right. But, being held up at gunpoint, well, that's not fun, to say the least.
Sounds like a CHINA, Chinese problem. Any Distributors or Company's that have this type of connections are suspect.
It easy to say buy only from QPL Suppliers and QPL Distrubutors, or buy from large US QPL Distributors. But the US is using large CM'S that are owned by CHINA and they might be operating in the US. The best solution is when the couterfeiting is found get the FED'S envolved, contact NBC, CBS, ABC. The only counterfeiting I hear about is in EBN and Military & Aerospce Electronic News. Maybe the public needs to hear about the counterfeiting of electronic components.
Jennifer, counterfeit is a major issue with most of the component supply chain. Sometimes back I read an article that some suppliers have supplied counterfeit components to NASA and US defence production centre. We know that for defence and space application, very high grade components are required, where selection and filtrations are too high. But the supplier made his components pass through such filtration systems by different mechanisms. What I meant is counterfeiting components are creating headaches even for space and defence sectors too.
Jennifer, I think as long as there is a big margin between the actual costs and selling cost, there may be chances for counterfeiting. If the margin is less, nobody tries for that. The major motivation behind counterfeiting any product is, making maximum profit with less effort.
EBN Dialogue enables and encourages you to participate in live chats with notable leaders and luminaries. Not only editors and journalists, but the entire EBN community is able to comment and ask questions. Listed below are upcoming and archived chats.
Archived Dialogues
Thailand Stages a Comeback Join EBN contributor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday August 23, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. EST for a live chat on how electronic manufacturers in Thailand have shored up their supply chain to reduce the impact of future natural disasters.
Euro-Crisis: What It Means for High-Tech Firms Join EBN Editor in Chief Bolaji Ojo and Contributing Editor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday, July 12, at 10:00 a.m. EDT for a Live Chat on high-tech and Europe's economic difficulties.
Microsoft Surface: Potential Winners & Losers What are the implications for the electronics industry supply chain of Microsoft Corp.'s decision to launch its own tablet PC? Join industry veteran and EE Times' systems and OEM expert Rick Merritt on Tuesday, July 3, at 12:00 pm EDT for a Live Chat on this subject.
Join EBN contributor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday August 23, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. EST for a live chat on how electronic manufacturers in Thailand have shored up their supply chain to reduce the impact of future natural disasters.
Peter Drucker famously said "Trying to predict the future is like trying to drive down a country road at night with no lights while looking out the back window." Yet in the razor's-edge world of electronics—with a lean supply chain and just-in-time demands—the need to know the future is vital.
You've heard the saying "the No. 1 supply chain risk is your people." That hasn't always been the case. But today's complex global supply chain requires a new type of multitalented employee. It's one who understands, finance, marketing, economics, is savvy with technology, graceful with relationships and can think analytically.
Where are these people? Are universities properly preparing the next generation supply chain professionals? How do train your existing workforce for these new, demanding positions?
Brian Fuller, editor-in-chief of EBN, will lead a 60-minute Avnet Velocity panel discussion that will ask and answer these and other questions swirling around today's supply-chain talent challenges.
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