counterfeit

Border Force is responsible for scanning international mail suspected of containing drugs, firearms, knives, and counterfeit items or goods with unpaid customs fees - but not every package is checked.

Food counterfeiting also happens in the US – in some cases, cheap and even dangerous ingredients are being used to produce “fake” versions of expensive cheese, such as parmesan made using additives derived from wood pulp.

As well as diversifying its characters, Sanrio boosted its overseas marketing and is now tackling counterfeits more rigorously.

The cheque was eventually returned as counterfeit but the defendant still owed the bank more than $290,000, the filing added.

This disinformation campaign "plagues social media with fake posts, counterfeit documents and deepfake material", says the Foreign Office.