Fake Jersey Boom Hits New York NFL Teams This Christmas

If it feels like you’re seeing more cheap NFL jerseys around this year, you’re not imagining it. New research says fans all across New York have been looking for knockoff Giants, Jets, and Bills jerseys to save some money this holiday season.

Giants Fans Are Buying a Lot of Knockoffs

Giants fans are leading the New York pack when it comes to fake jerseys. Since September, more than 4,600 people have searched for counterfeit Giants gear. That’s a big jump from earlier in the year, and it adds up to some serious lost money for the team.

If every one of those fans bought a fake instead of the real thing, the Giants would miss out on almost six hundred thousand dollars in  a few months. For the whole year, that lost revenue jumps to over one million.

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Jets Fans Aren’t Buying as Many

The Jets rank way lower on the “most searched fake jerseys” list. Only about 1,840 searches have been made this year. But even with smaller numbers, the team has still lost more than two hundred thousand dollars from fans choosing knockoffs.

Bills Fans Are Snapping Up Fakes the Most

Buffalo Bills fans are in a whole different league this year. Counterfeit Bills jerseys are the fifth most popular in the entire NFL. Nearly 10,000 people have searched for fakes since September alone. Add that up, and the Bills have missed close to two million dollars in revenue.

Why So Many Fans Are Buying Fakes

A real NFL jersey is around 130 dollars but some of the knockoffs online go for under 20. When you’re trying to get gifts for the holidays, that cheaper price tag looks pretty good. Experts warn that these deals can come with risks because fake sites can steal your info, send you junk items, or hit your computer with viruses.

The Bigger Picture

Counterfeit sports merch has been a growing problem across the country. The federal government seized almost 40 million dollars in fake sports gear this year. The NFL is reminding fans to double check where they’re shopping so they don’t get scammed.

Bottom Line for New Yorkers

Whether you root for Big Blue, Gang Green, or the Bills, the demand for counterfeit jerseys is way up this holiday season. Fans want to show their pride without draining their wallets, and teams are losing millions because of it...Although for the most part, the teams can afford it.