According to the source, cited by online media outlet MarketWatch, Amazon is most likely to have the largest potential for counterfeits sold primarily because of the ease it takes to open up a virtual storefront.
Cyber Monday has rapidly grown into the single-largest online shopping day of the year. In 2011, comScore, a source of digital business analytics, has estimated sales at USD 1.25 billion, up by 22 percent from 2010, with 2012 predictions for Cyber Monday promising a similar increase.
The Consumer Fraud Center gave Amazon Marketplace its highest warning alert because of a recent flood of consumer complaints over counterfeited products. Consumers were most distressed over the perceived authenticity conferred to counterfeiters because of Amazons allowance for them to use its sales, warehousing and distribution systems.
The US Census Bureau also estimates online shopping to account for more than USD 222.5 billion in sales in the US (as of 2009) with the five largest categories of items sold online being:• Music and videos (83.7 percent) • Electronics and appliances (80.4 percent)• Books and magazines (76.4 percent) • Furniture and home furnishings (75.2 percent) • Clothing and accessories (74.9 percent)
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