Cyber Fakes
In National Consumer Week (12th to 16th November 2007) Warwickshire County Council Trading Standards are highlighting the exponential growth in the trade in branded fakes in cyber space.
In a single day in 2006, brand owners removed over £60,000 worth of fake goods and closed down nearly 5000 auction sites for selling fake versions of their products*.
Counterfeit products most frequently found being sold online include clothing, software and computer games, car parts electrical goods, jewellery and other luxury items.
Mark Ryder, Head of Warwickshire County Council Trading Standards Service said:
“Counterfeiters love the Internet for its speed, reach and anonymity. Although technology is improving to help track counterfeiters in cyber space, it is still all to easy for the seller to disappear, and with him your money!
As well as a rip off, counterfeit goods can also be of poor quality, unsafe and in some cases downright dangerous, and in addition to consumers losing out, so do the genuine retailers and their employees, with profits feeding organised crime.
Consumers are warned that most brand owners do not sell their goods via auction sites. However consumers should also be aware that in some cases fake goods have also appeared on retail websites and trade bulletin boards.
Consumers who buy fakes risk either receiving an inferior product, with a worthless warranty, or in many cases no goods at all.
We advise consumers to:
* Treat sales of new branded goods on auction websites with caution.
* Only buy from online retailers that you know and trust
* If it seems to good to be true, it usually is.
* If you’ve no way to find out if what your buying is fake then leave it alone it’s not worth it.
For more information, visit our website: http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/tradingstandards
For clear practical consumer advice, phone Consumer Direct on 08454 040506.