Amazon Expands Counterfeit Crimes Unit In India To Tackle Fake Product Networks

New Delhi, August 21: Amazon has announced plans to bolster its efforts against counterfeit products by expanding its Counterfeit Crimes Unit (CCU) operations in India, according to Kebharu Smith, the unit's director. The CCU, which was launched in June 2020, is a global team that has targeted over 32,000 bad actors worldwide through civil litigation and criminal referrals to law enforcement agencies.

At present, Amazon collaborates with more than 1.7 million sellers in India, with half of them operating from tier two and tier three cities. Smith emphasized the company's commitment to addressing such issues directly by intensifying operations in the country and fostering closer collaboration with local law enforcement agencies.

In 2025, Amazon reported identifying, seizing, and disposing of more than 15 million counterfeit products globally, alongside conducting over 70 raids against counterfeit manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors. Since the CCU's inception, it has pursued more than 32,000 bad actors, resulting in over $300 million in court-ordered restitution and the incarceration of more than 290 criminals.

Amazon's Trustworthy Shopping Experience Report, released in April, highlights the company's proactive controls, seller verification, brand-protection tools, and enforcement partnerships to combat such activities. Additionally, Amazon employs more than 15,000 individuals dedicated to safeguarding customers from scams, fraud, and abuse.

The company also blocks over 285 million suspected fake reviews worldwide in 2025. As India's festive shopping season approaches, Smith stressed the importance of customer trust and product authenticity to Amazon's strategy. Over 2.7 billion product units have been verified as genuine through the company's transparency program.