Fighting Luxury Fakes With Help From The Feds, New Brand Protection Website & Mobile Web App Launch for ValidateMyTag(TM)
New York, NY (PRWEB) May 14, 2014 -- FBrothers & Company, Inc. launched their new website and mobile web app for the ValidateMyTag(TM) system today. ValidateMyTag(TM) is a patented system that uses the new $100 U.S. bill to serve as the certificate of authenticity for luxury products. The website provides information to brand owners on how they can sign-up for the service and the mobile web app allows consumers to check the authenticity of luxury products for brands that are enrolled.
ValidateMyTag(TM) aims to empower consumers with the ability to check the legitimacy of luxury products, such as high-end watches and handbags, at the point-of-sale thereby reducing the number of consumers that are misled into buying fakes. “The high percentage of consumers that fall victim to purchasing fakes has created a horrific shopping experience for consumers and has tarnished the brand integrity of legitimate luxury companies,” stated Edward Fowler, President of FBrothers & Company, Inc. “We want to restore order to the luxury industry with ValidateMyTag(TM) by giving consumers peace of mind with every purchase while giving luxury fashion companies an optimal layer of brand protection that can only be provided by the U.S. Secret Service," he continued.
After investigating other brand protection solutions, it was concluded that there was little need to print special tags containing hidden security features when the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing has already achieved this in even the lowest denomination bills. The security features found in banknotes along with their unique serial numbers makes them ideal for authentication and track-and-traces purposes. Furthermore, the additional security features of the new U.S. $100 bill provides an enhanced replacement for serial cards that typically serve as the certificate of authenticity for luxury products.
According to the latest Intellectual Property Rights Seizure Statistics Report from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the number of seizures in 2013 increased nearly 7% to 24,361 from more than 22,848 in 2012. In addition, the estimated MSRP of seized handbags and wallets increased nearly 37% to more than $700 million. ValidateMyTag(TM) is designed to deter counterfeiters by extending the federal statutes used to protect the integrity of U.S. currency to luxury brands. Counterfeiters would not only be pursued by private investigators hired by brand owners, but also by the U.S. Secret Service.
Here’s how ValidateMyTag(TM) works:
• At the point of manufacturing, U.S. $100 bills are attached to luxury products in a specially designed, tamper-proof carrier.
• The serial numbers of the U.S. bills are stored within the ValidateMyTag(TM) Central Database and linked to identifiable information about the attached merchandise such as the Store Keeping Unit (SKU) and Universal Product Code (UPC).
• Using a smart phone, consumers can connect to http://www.valid8.it and submit the serial number of the attached U.S. bill. Once the serial number is received, a validation message is systematically delivered to the consumer containing the SKU, UPC, and any other key product verifiers that are stored within the ValidateMyTagTM Central Database. If the product validation fails, the consumer is warned that the product is a fake and the brand owner is notified.
ValidateMyTag(TM) gives luxury brands an added layer of protection against counterfeiters by invoking action from the U.S. Secret Service when a product is replicated. Furthermore, consumers have the assurance that their luxury purchases are authentic and verifiable by ValidateMyTag(TM) throughout the entire lifespan of the product from purchase to possible resale at a consignment store.
For additional information about ValidateMyTagTM, visit http://www.validatemytag.com.
FBrothers & Company, Inc. is a solution-based company dedicated to value innovation. Edward Fowler who received his B.Sc degree in Computer Engineering from the NYU Polytechnic School of Engineering established the company in February 2008.
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Isaiah Lyte, FBrothers & Company, Inc., http://www.validatemytag.com, +1 (203) 435-1121, [email protected]
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