ATLANTA (KABC) -- Everywhere people look in Atlanta, they can buy official Super Bowl 53 gear. But buyers should beware, there are plenty of places that will sell counterfeit items.
"If you pay half price, but you get a jersey that falls apart the first time you put it in the washing machine - are you getting a deal? No," said Bryan Cox, a Homeland Security investigator.
Homeland Security investigators, the NFL and local law enforcement held a news conference to warn fans of potential scams and how to spot fake items.
"You've got threads coming off already, loose edges, frayed edges," Cox said.
Officers said you can also spot fake serial codes and holograms on tags. Investigators said the counterfeits are already out in force.
"We've seized collectively - CBP and HIS - over $24 million worth of intellectual property," said Robert Perez, deputy commissioner with U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
It's not just gear that could be fake - there's plenty of fake tickets out there, too.
"A true-color security label - this year with images of Mercedes-Benz stadium, the LIII Roman numeral," said Michael Buckwald, with the NFL.
The FBI said arrests have already been made and more are expected. The concern is where the profits might go.
"If you funnel the profits of this high enough up the chain, it typically goes back overseas to criminal networks that use the profits of counterfeit goods to fund their criminal activity," Cox said.
The bottom line from federal agents is if you get a deal on a hat, jersey or ticket that seems too good to be true - it probably is.