Counterfeit Mobile Phone Products Seized in West Berkshire.
Trading Standards Officers, in partnership with Apple technicians, visited a shop in West Berkshire this week and seized over 700 mobile phone related products. The products were branded as 'Apple' and 'Samsung'. Our officers are now fully investigating this matter.
Unscrupulous sellers will be trying to fool even more people into buying fakes this year, knowing that lots of us are looking for a bargain. They may look like the real deal, but counterfeits are at best poor-quality imitations that aren’t guaranteed to work and at worst can be dangerous. The seizure of counterfeit products in our local community serves as a timely reminder to consumers to be wary at this time of year when buying a 'branded' product.
The Intellectual Property Office's Enforcement team outlines the advice to consumers to help them stay safe from counterfeit electrical goods this festive period.
Tips to avoid being duped into purchasing counterfeit products
1) Vet the seller
Do they look official? Have you bought from this seller before, is the website or shop well known? Is it a pop-up shop, or market stall or dedicated long term retail shop? Does the seller have a returns policy? If you are in doubt, look for a genuine online review, not just recommendations from influencers to buy the item.
2) Avoid payments by bank transfer
Always beware of retailers asking for payment to be made via bank transfer. Well known credit card providers like Visa or Mastercard, and services like PayPal offer protection to buyers if the goods don’t arrive or are proven to be counterfeit.
3) Trust your instincts
Does the item on offer look and feel like an authentic product? Sellers of counterfeits often make spelling mistakes in their descriptions and sometimes on the products themselves, which is an obvious warning sign. Spelling and grammar mistakes can indicate fakes!
4) Look for EU and UK safety markings
The safety standards of counterfeit items are poor and can be dangerous, especially when they are shipped from abroad. Do items have EU and UK safety markings? You should always check for the correct age restrictions and hazard warnings on the packaging.
5) Question the price if much cheaper than elsewhere
Whether buying online or in person, always think about the price. Scammers often sell counterfeit goods at discounted prices to make you drop your guard. If the item is significantly cheaper than you’d expect, that’s a good reason for alarm bells to ring. If the price looks too good to be true, it probably is.
If you or someone you know has purchased a counterfeit product or suspects that a retailer or website is selling counterfeit products, report it to the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133 or contact our Trading Standards team directly:
- 01635 519930 or email tsadvice@westberks.gov.uk
If you wish to remain anonymous, contact Crimestoppers or call 0800 555 111.
For more information from Intellectual Property Office - see link here.
