The report “Hidden Links: Facilitating Criminal Activities While Exploiting E-Commerce,” published by the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI), examines the phenomenon of hidden links in e-commerce.
Hidden links are product listings that appear to sell generic items, but in reality direct buyers to counterfeit goods. Because these listings lack images or trademark references, they can often bypass the automated systems used by e-commerce platforms and rights holders to detect sales of counterfeits.
The report further shows that influencers play a key role in the spread of hidden links to counterfeit goods. Producers and third-party sellers provide influencers with hidden links, often through closed groups or social media channels, who then share them with their followers. This makes influencers the key bridge between sellers and consumers, and as hidden links move from closed communities to a wider audience, sales of counterfeits can increase significantly.
The report underscores the significant challenges faced by authorities, e-commerce platforms, and rights holders in detecting and stopping this type of counterfeit sales.
The full report can be found on the UNICRI website.