Pets need IP protection too

The FBI, together with the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center, wants to alert consumers to be on the lookout for counterfeit flea and tick collars, as many Seresto-branded flea and tick collars have recently been reported as counterfeit by consumers.

Scammers are leveraging the public’s need for pet care products to sell counterfeit flea and tick collars online, potentially endangering the health of the victim and their pets. These counterfeit collars may contain harmful ingredients. This counterfeit scam not only steals money from the victim through the purchase of fraudulent products, but it also exposes their personal information to fraud. Do not let online fraudsters scam you into endangering your health and finances, or the health of your pets. Protect your wallet and your pets and research the legitimacy of products before making a purchase. Always purchase collars or other pet care products from trustworthy sources.

Fraudsters use a variety of methods to manufacture, package, label and distribute counterfeit products so it’s impossible to provide a comprehensive list of counterfeit descriptions. The most common report identifying a counterfeit is that the pet collar purchased is not working or protecting the pet from fleas and ticks. Many reports also identify pets getting sick after a counterfeit collar is used or a strange smell emanating from the collar itself. The best method for consumers to avoid purchasing and using counterfeit pet collars is to purchase the product through their veterinarian, a reputable pet supply store or other authorized retailers.

If you believe for any reason that you may have received a counterfeit flea and tick collar, please contact the manufacturer to confirm the legitimacy of the product in question.

Specifically, if you believe you have received a counterfeit Seresto Flea and Tick Collar, please contact Elanco Animal Health via their toll-free line at 1-800-255-6826, where they have knowledgeable service representatives that can guide you through the identification of a counterfeit product.

Additionally, Elanco has created a Petbasics Webpage, www.petbasics.com, which not only educates consumers on pet conditions and lifestyle but provides consumers with an easy resource for identifying authorized retailers of their branded products.

Always remember that if the price seems too good to be true when compared to other trusted retailers, it likely is not the authentic product. When reporting the purchase of a counterfeit product to the manufacturer, please report all details of the purchase, to include the date, time, location, name of seller or business, and the method of payment.

If you believe you have received a counterfeit product, please report it to the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center at www.iprcenter.gov If you are the victim of an internet scam or cyber-crime, or if you want to report suspicious activity, please file a report with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov