McGruff the Crime Dog smells big crime with the sale of fake pills and other counterfeit products.

Sept. 5, 2023 (Washington, D.C.) – McGruff the Crime Dog® takes direct aim at the sale of fake pills and other counterfeit products on social media platforms in a new public service announcement released this month.

The ad features three assembly lines making real and fake products, which include sneakers, cosmetics, and pills. As the factory settings change, the hazards associated with fakes are spotlighted. At the end of the PSAs, the iconic crime dog is revealed, urging viewers to “think again,” before buying fake products. Child labor, faulty safety standards, and the use of illicit fentanyl are called out in the television PSAs.

The National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) and the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) debuted the PSA as part of the Go For Real™ campaign. McGruff delves into 21st-century crimes in 3D animation with this innovative ad produced through Computer Generated Imagery.

The award-winning Go For Real campaign aims to transform buying behavior away from fake products by educating consumers about the criminal activity and harmful nature of counterfeits. Each year, approximately $2 trillion worth of counterfeit products are sold to consumers across the United States. Fake electronics are responsible for over 70 deaths and 350,000 serious injuries each year. Buying fake products often funds international organized crime and illegal activities like gang violence, child labor, and human trafficking. These low-cost products often come with a high price tag.