Risk Management

AI Supercharging U.S. E-Commerce Counterfeit Crisis

An explosive new report, "The Counterfeit Buyer Teardown," paints a concerning picture of a rapidly evolving and increasingly sophisticated counterfeit goods market, driven by a new factor: Artificial Intelligence. Forget the back alleys; findings from the research—conducted by market research firm OnePoll and AI company Red Points in February 2025—highlight that the future of fakes is digital, AI-assisted, and alarmingly mainstream.

A new study has revealed a growing concern in the digital marketplace: artificial intelligence is playing a major role in the rise of counterfeit shopping. The findings are detailed in a comprehensive new report, titled The Counterfeit Buyer Teardown—the largest ever conducted on U.S. counterfeit e-commerce. Among other alarming conclusions, it highlights how AI is accelerating both accidental and intentional purchases of fake goods online.

The rapid growth of e-commerce has created immense opportunities for businesses, but it has also introduced a host of financial risks. Online retailers face all kinds of challenges that can impact revenue and long-term stability. As digital commerce continues to evolve, so do the tactics that cybercriminals use. E-commerce companies need to implement various security measures to protect themselves from financial vulnerabilities.

Cybersecurity is a top concern for many small businesses, especially since internet-based operations are central to many of them. As cyberattacks grow more frequent and severe, some decision-makers weigh whether to outsource their IT security needs. That approach has both positive and potentially negative aspects to weigh.

Pro: Additional Cybersecurity Expertise

Many IT teams working for small businesses struggle to safeguard their employers from emerging threats. That issue can arise for various reasons, including the fact that theymay have fewer overall resources, resulting in cybersecurity professionals becoming overworked and potentially distracted.

Today’s businesses face the constant threat of scams, costing them resources and dipping into profits every year — the average cost of a data breach was $4.88 million in 2024. While smaller organizations may see less of an impact, the costs can still add up. Having a plan in place reduces the expense and gets the business back up and running quickly so it doesn't suffer from lost business.

Every business leader faces pivotal moments that challenge their mettle, whether from internal organizational issues or global crises. In many instances, the fallout from these events can often cascade to employees, triggering uncertainty and anxiety. 

During such exigencies, the role of management becomes crucial — both in managing the issues and ensuring workers feel safe, valued and heard. Delve into how to step up and provide psychological safety for your teams while navigating critical situations. 

It only takes one significant change to derail an entire department, throwing communication into chaos and causing unplanned downtime. How can business professionals make their teams resilient to change? While no one-size-fits-all solution exists, there are several proven strategies they may find helpful. 

Employees are leaving their jobs in record numbers – both voluntarily and involuntarily

The amount of employee turnover that occurs each year varies depending on the industry and country. However, layoffs have seemingly become a common occurrence in the business world, with the tech industry being hit particularly hard of late. Layoffs.fyi, a website that has been monitoring tech layoffs since March 2020, has compiled data indicating that at the time of publishing, approximately 139165 employees have been laid off by 503 tech companies since the beginning of this year.