Trading Standards warns residents to be on their guard
against fake goods as World Anti-Counterfeiting Day
approaches
Worcestershire's Trading Standards Service is
warning people to be on their guard against apparent counterfeit
bargains because, although tempting, they rarely return value for
money.
The team is spreading
the word ahead of next week's World Anti-Counterfeiting Day, which
takes place on Tuesday, June 8, to help reduce the number of
residents that fall foul to the fakes.
Unfortunately, the number of counterfeit goods
being sold is increasing each year with rogue traders finding more
and more avenues to copy and market branded items – many end up on
sale at markets, car boot sales or on the Internet.
Counterfeiters sell their contraband items for
profit and have no concern as to the safety and durability of the
goods they produce. Their activities also harm local traders who
sell genuine products.
Over the last twelve months Trading Standards
officers have seized fake goods worth thousands of pounds and
worked with local market organisers to help stamp out the
problem.
The secure store where the contraband items
collected from around the county are kept is crammed with items
including clothing, footwear, sunglasses, perfume, watches, DVD,
films, games and music CDs. Many of the goods originate from China
where designs are sometimes copied using inferior internal
components and construction methods with little, or no, level of
quality control.
John Dell, Worcestershire Trading
Standards Divisional Manager, said: "Over the years we
have clamped down hard on sellers of counterfeit goods in
Worcestershire and will continue to do so. At best, a purchaser's
hard-earned cash goes to unscrupulous individuals who line their
own pockets paying no tax. At worst, it goes to major criminals
funding organised crime."
Cllr Derek Prodger MBE, County Council Cabinet Member for
Safe Environment, said: "Counterfeit goods do pose a real
problem. Not only do they leave residents out of pocket, but they
also harm our local traders who sell genuine goods. The message is
to always stop and think. If you have any suspicions about possible
fakes, don't hand over any money."
Further advice for consumers and businesses is
available at www.worcestershire.gov.uk/tradingstandards.
Anyone who thinks they may have bought counterfeit goods should
call to Consumer Direct on 08454 040506 to report any problems.
