Imitation Nation

It's time for Shabbir and Sven to break down this week in counterfeit news! Topics in this episode include a guy who bought a $6 million dollar house with the profits from counterfeit stamps, the annual Notorious Markets Report, a man who tried to pay his court bond in counterfeit currency, Europol's latest Operation Shield, the sentencing of two co-conspirators for selling fake HIV medications, and a new anti-counterfeit measure in Australian postage stamps. Check out the full episode here!

Today's brand new episode of the Imitation Nation Podcast is live! Episode #28! Topics in this episode include a guy who bought a $6 million dollar house with the profits from counterfeit stamps, the annual Notorious Markets Report, a man who tried to pay his court bond in counterfeit currency, Europol's latest Operation Shield, the sentencing of two co-conspirators for selling fake HIV medications, and a new anti-counterfeit measure in Australian postage stamps. Check out the full episode here!

In this week's Counterfeit News, Imitation Nation talks about a farm in Pennsylvania producing counterfeit meat; a patent infringement lawsuit between two huge players in the pharma space; the DEA takedown of over 200 illegal online pharmacies; and a breakthrough to print QR codes on live bacteria. We also continue our newfound embrace of video, so you can watch the conversation unfold! Check out this week's episode!

In this episode, Imitation Nation talks to Travis Johnson from the International Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition, and he'll tell us exactly what he thinks Congress needs to do this year to help keep Americans safe. This is also our first foray into video podcasting, so you can put names to faces!

In this week's Counterfeit News, Imitation Nation talks about a farm in Pennsylvania producing counterfeit meat; a patent infringement lawsuit between two huge players in the pharma space; the DEA takedown of over 200 illegal online pharmacies; and a breakthrough to print QR codes on live bacteria. Check out this week's episode!

In this episode, Imitation Nation talks to Travis Johnson from the International Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition, and he'll tell us exactly what he thinks Congress needs to do this year to help keep Americans safe.

In this episode we interview our friends at the American Apparel and Footwear Association:

• Jen Hanks, Senior Director, Brand Protection
• Conor O'Brien, Sustainability Product Specialist

Sven and I talk with them about their new report on the hazardous chemicals they found in fake products, and the larger problem of counterfeits that pose a hazard to your health.  Read the report, as well as their research on the entire digital ecology that makes money off counterfeit sold online, the digital devalue chain of counterfeits.

In the first guest episode of Imitation Nation, we welcome Stephan von Schilcher of NovaVision, a second-generation brand protection expert who grew up around holograms, covert inks, and counterfeit detection and made it his career. 

Stephan has worked as a global career spanning woven security labels, RFID deployment, holograms, tamper-evident tape, cargo seals, and online brand protection.  From pallet theft in GPS dead zones to criminals cutting RFID antennas mid-transit, we explore how illicit actors exploit operational blind spots rather than just copying products. Stephan explains why layered security is the only sustainable strategy, and why rotating covert features keeps brands one step ahead.

Most importantly, we dive into diversion. While counterfeits grab headlines, diverted goods quietly erode pricing integrity, safety standards, and brand trust. Expired pharmaceuticals, gray market flips, and redistributed salon-only products may be genuine at origin, but once they leave authorized channels, all bets are off.

Learn more at novavisioninc.com.