DENVER (AP) — Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Denver have shut down 22 websites as part of a nationwide investigation of sites accused of selling counterfeit merchandise.

Officials said Thursday 70 websites nationwide were shut down and their domain names seized in an operation called Project Copycat.

The investigation and seizures were carried out by the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center, led by ICE.

Officials say many of the websites closely resembled legitimate sites, and most of the counterfeit merchandise purchased through the sites was shipped to buyers from overseas.

ICE says many of the sites appeared to have certificates assuring customers they were sending financial information to legitimate businesses, called Secure Sockets Layer or SSL certificates.

(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)