The merchandise was seized on July 27 in a multistate agency effort that involved the Greenville Police Department, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). The investigation in Greenville followed information that was provided by the Fairfax County Police Department in Virginia that had a similar counterfeit NeeDoh toy investigation.
NeeDohs are squeezable sensory toys that usually retail between $4 and $13. Due to their popularity, NeeDoh toys sell out fast and can be difficult for consumers to find. The CEO of Schylling (NeeDoh’s owner), Paul Weingard told Business Insider that the company sold a year's worth of NeeDoh supply within the first nine weeks of the year. According to Schylling, NeeDohs are nontoxic and are developed and produced using current safety testing standards.
However, South Carolina Secretary of State Mark Hammonds office said that counterfeit toys pose several risks including:
- The materials used in counterfeit products are often unknown and may not comply with restrictions on hazardous substances.
- Counterfeit toys may not be subjected to testing for mechanical hazards, durability, or age-appropriate safety requirements.
- Inferior manufacturing practices can increase the risk of product failure, including breakage, separation of small parts, or leakage of contents.
- Counterfeit products often lack accurate product traceability, making recalls and safety investigations more difficult.
- Counterfeit toys may not include required safety warnings, age recommendations, or proper product labeling.
- Consumers have no assurance that counterfeit products were manufactured under recognized quality control processes.
“The manufacturing and sale of counterfeit goods not only rips off intellectual property but also exploits consumers and puts them at risk,” said Hammond. “Counterfeiters don’t follow the same safety standards required of legitimate businesses, and use unknown and potentially toxic ingredients in their fake products.”
With counterfeit toys popping up across the globe, Meghann Ellis, the chief financial officer at Schylling, shared several red flags for parents and shoppers to watch out for:
- No Mall Kiosks: Schylling does not sell products to mall kiosks. If you see NeeDohs being sold at a kiosk—especially for prices of $15 or $20—they are likely fake. Authentic toys are sold at major retailers like Target, Walmart, Kohl's, Staples, and local mom-and-pop toy stores.
- Packaging Quality: Authentic NeeDoh boxes are made of high-quality matte paper. Counterfeiters often use shiny, low-quality cardboard.
- No Plastic Inner Bags: Authentic NeeDoh products are never wrapped in an internal plastic bag inside the box.
- No Unauthorized Brand Crossovers: NeeDoh does not partner or co-brand with other companies. Any "NeeDoh" product featuring logos from brands like McDonald's, Dr. Pepper, Sprite, Monster Energy, or SpongeBob SquarePants is 100% counterfeit.
- The Black Light Test: Under a black light, authentic NeeDoh packaging displays glowing neon accents.
"Ideally, we want to get those fake products off the marketplace because they're not tested," Ellis said. "They don't go through safety testing as all of our products do, and all toys that are legitimate toys that come into the United States go through rigorous safety testing to make sure they're safe for our children."
As of July 27, one person was arrested by Homeland Security for immigration violations.
Consumers can report the suspected sale of counterfeit merchandise by emailing the Secretary of State’s Office at investigations@sos.sc.gov. Also, consumers can report businesses selling counterfeit NeeDohs by visiting this link.
