Latest news with #counterfeit
South China Morning Post
3 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong arrests 2 for selling fake Liverpool jerseys, other football merchandise
Hong Kong authorities have arrested two women for selling counterfeit football merchandise and seized about 1,000 items, including fake jerseys of English Premier League teams Arsenal and Liverpool, who are in the city to play friendly matches in the coming week. Advertisement The operation by the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department was carried out a day before the start of the week-long Hong Kong Football Festival, which will bring four of the world's most renowned clubs to Kai Tak Stadium. Customs officials earlier received a tip-off about fixed-pitch hawkers selling clothing with counterfeit logos of various football teams, including Liverpool, Arsenal and Leicester City, on Tung Choi Street in Mong Kok. Following an investigation with help from the trademark owners, officers raided two hawker stalls on Wednesday, arresting the two women, aged 46 and 52, and seizing various items, including jerseys, jackets and caps worth an estimated HK$70,000 (US$8,900). 'An investigation is ongoing,' a spokesman said on Thursday. 'Customs will continue to step up inspection and enforcement to vigorously combat the sale of counterfeit goods to safeguard consumer rights.' Advertisement Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, it is illegal to sell or possess for sale any goods with a forged trademark. Those found guilty of the offence can be fined up to HK$500,000 and jailed for a maximum of five years.
BBC News
5 hours ago
- Business
- BBC News
Facebook fakers' counterfeit business had £480k turnover
Two women who ran a counterfeit goods operation through Facebook with a turnover of almost half a million pounds have been Standards said Helen Brindley-Walker and Lisa McArdle, both from Leicestershire, had traded items through their Get The Look site which, if genuine, would have been worth almost £ complaints at the poor quality of what they were selling led to an investigation and raids on the pair's homes and a storage unit in Burton-on-Trent, Monday, Brindley Walker was jailed on her 43rd birthday at Leicester Crown Court for two years and three months, while McArdle, 53, was handed a 15-month jail term, suspended for two years. Both had previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to sell goods bearing unauthorised Trading Standards said during the 16 months that Brindley-Walker, of Norris Hill in Moira, was running the business, it was estimated to have a turnover of at least £480,000. Adidas, Apple, Tiffany Between July 2020 and October 2021, Trading Standards said it had received multiple complaints from customers refused refunds for items advertised on Facebook Marketplace by Brindley-Walker and McArdle, of High Street, joined their group and carried out two test purchases buying what was listed as Adidas and Nike trainers, Paco Rabanne aftershave, Tiffany earrings, Apple Air Pods, Adidas hoodie and a YSL perfume and make-up analysis by the firms, all confirmed they were not genuine and that the pair had no permission to sell their were carried out and a total of 3,558 counterfeit branded items, listed for a total of £46,500, were seized from the three addresses. Trading Standards said Brindley-Walker ran the operation and McArdle worked for her, monitoring Facebook, packing orders and taking them to the Post Connors, head of regulatory services at Leicestershire County Council, said the sentences "send out a clear message"."Trading Standards will not hesitate to take action against this sort of unscrupulous and dishonest activity, and those who take part in it can face prison," he said.
The Sun
12 hours ago
- The Sun
Big name beauty products sold on Amazon and Vinted found to be FAKE as shoppers warned over chemical burns
BRANDED beauty products being sold on online marketplaces such as Amazon and eBay have been found to be fake. An investigation by Which? has revealed that at least two thirds of cosmetics advertised as being from big brands, including Charlotte Tilbury, MAC and Maybelline, sold on the platforms could be counterfeit. 3 3 3 The consumer champions warned of the "grave" dangers of buying fake cosmetics, which have previously been found to contain toxic chemicals such as arsenic and lead, and even animal poo and urine. Fake products could also cause skin irritation, infections, or even chemical burns, they warned, as they may be incorrectly formulated and don't undergo strict safety checks. Which? researchers bought 34 makeup and skincare products from third party sellers on Amazon, eBay, Tiktok Shop and Vinted. They carried out visual checks on the packaging and contents, and compared them with the genuine products bought from trusted retailers. It found that 23 of the 34 products bought (67%) were likely to be counterfeit. This included four out of 11 products bought from Amazon, eight out of 11 products from eBay, five out of six products from TikTok shop, and six out of six items bought from Vinted. The cosmetics purchased were advertised as being from household names including Charlotte Tilbury, La Roche-Posay, Maybelline, The Ordinary and MAC. In one instance, the researchers said a tube of La Roche Posay Effaclar Serum (RRP £40) purchased on Vinted for just £12 smelled "suspiciously like shampoo". They also noticed that the sample bought from Vinted had completely different text on the side of the box. Meanwhile, a tube of Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara (RRP £12.99) bought from Tiktok Shop for £8.07 had an "incorrect label on the bottom of the tube, and other inconsistencies in the design". Primark drops Milk Makeup 'jelly tint' dupe that works on lips and face... and is £20 cheaper than the real deal Which? also bought The Ordinary Niacinamide serum (RRP £5) from eBay (£5.99), Tiktok Shop (£2.45) and Vinted (£6), and The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (RRP £8.80) from eBay for £5.98. It said they "all seemed obviously fake, with the consistency and colour of the liquid in the bottles markedly different to the genuine samples". "Some also used a different font on either the box or bottle," it said. Many of the dupes were difficult to spot, Which? said, and were only noticeable when they were compared directly with the genuine products. For example, a bottle of Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray (RRP £32.99) bought from Amazon for an inflated price of £37.90 looked genuine from the outside. But researchers noticed it had a different scent to the original. Similarly, a MAC Macximal silky matte lipstick in shade Ruby Woo (RRP £25) bought from Vinted for £15 arrived in packaging very similar to the genuine version. But when closely compared, the lipstick bullet was "subtly different with a smudged logo that didn't match up with the original". Which? director of policy and advocacy Rocio Concha said: 'It's alarming that Which? was able to find such high volumes of what appeared to be potentially dangerous counterfeit cosmetics on popular online marketplaces, where teenagers in particular are likely to be enticed by what seem to be big discounts on popular brands. 'Consumers should be as confident in the products they buy online as the items that they purchase on the high street, but in reality they risk buying untested, unregulated and potentially toxic cosmetics. 'The government must ensure there are clear duties on online marketplaces to prevent the sale of counterfeit goods, and urgently commit to the reforms needed to ensure our consumer enforcement system is fit for the 21st century." Director general of The Anti-Counterfeiting Group, Phil Lewis, said that even on cheaper fake products the profit margins are "extremely high", meaning consumers should be on their guard even if discounts seem more realistic. How to avoid fake makeup products online Which? has given its top tips on how to avoid falling victim to fake product scams. Buy direct or from an affiliated retailer or from one of their approved stockists, Which? says. Some brands also sell via online platforms, Maybelline and The Ordinary have stores on Tiktok Shop for example. Be careful when buying popular products or those that have sold out elsewhere. Bad actors can often take advantage where there's high demand. Check the product and seller reviews, as other buyers often flag issues with fake products. But keep in mind that bad actors may also use fake positive reviews to hide negative ratings, so be sure to read reviews from a variety of star ratings. Check who is dispatching the product. Which? recommend checking who the product is being dispatched by before buying, for example products on Amazon or Tiktok may come either directly from the seller or be distributed by the platform. While buying a product being dispatched by the platform isn't a guarantee, it is an extra barrier between sellers and buyers. An Amazon spokesperson said: 'We have a zero-tolerance policy for counterfeits and have proactive measures in place to prevent counterfeit products being listed." It added that "three of the offers in question have been removed while we investigate.' An eBay spokesperson said: 'The sale of counterfeit items is strictly prohibited on eBay and we proactively block millions of counterfeit items every year. 'In the rare instance that a counterfeit item is listed, brands and other intellectual property rights owners can use our VeRO Program to report them. "We then investigate these reports and take the appropriate action, which may include ending listings and suspending seller accounts.' A spokesperson for L'oreal Groupe, the parent group for Cerave, La Roche Posay, L'oreal and Maybelline said: 'L'Oréal Groupe takes the threat of counterfeit products very seriously. We are committed to the fight against counterfeiting to protect consumer health and safety, and the integrity of our brands. 'We actively collaborate with law enforcement agencies worldwide and with online platforms, helping them to identify and seize counterfeit products, and to dismantle the criminal networks involved in this illegal trade." Tiktok told Which? it does not allow counterfeit products to be sold on the platform and takes strict action against sellers infringing IPR. MAC directed Which? to a webpage setting out their approach to counterfeit products. A Vinted spokesperson said: 'Selling counterfeit items is strictly prohibited on Vinted and we're committed to fighting this issue, which we recognise is a challenge for much of the beauty industry. "We have policies in place to protect our members and encourage them to report any account which may be violating our guidelines, so that we can take appropriate action.'
Daily Mail
12 hours ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Most cosmetic items sold by third-party sellers on Amazon, eBay, TikTok and Vinted are fake and could be a health hazard, a study suggests
Most cosmetic items sold by third-party sellers on Amazon, eBay, TikTok and Vinted are fake and could be a health hazard, a study suggests. Researchers described their findings as 'alarming' and warn people 'enticed' by discounts on counterfeit designer goods risk being harmed by 'toxic' ingredients. They purchased 34 makeup and skin products from sellers that have collectively sold thousands of these items. This includes products advertised as being from eight well-known brands including Charlotte Tilbury, La Roche Posay, Maybelline, MAC and The Ordinary. But investigators from consumer champion Which? concluded 23 of the 34 items (67 per cent) are likely to be counterfeit. In each case, they conducted visual checks on the packaging and contents, and compared them with the genuine products purchased from trusted retailers. Four out of 11 products ordered on Amazon were deemed to be fake, as were eight out of 11 products purchased on eBay, five out of six products ordered from TikTok shop, and six out of six items bought on Vinted. Doctors say the consequences of using counterfeit products can be 'grave'. Fake cosmetics, perfumes and other beauty and hair products have previously been found to contain animal faeces and urine used as a stabiliser, as well as cancer-causing and toxic ingredients such as arsenic, lead and mercury. Consultant Dermatologist Dr Aamna Adel said the lack of regulation or oversight in the production of fake goods means they may be incorrectly formulated even if they contain genuine active ingredients, such as glycolic acid or retinol. This poses the risk of skin irritation, skin infections or even chemical burns, she added. In contrast, legitimate cosmetics undergo safety checks and are manufactured under controlled conditions. Which? said many of the dupes were difficult to spot and only became apparent when directly compared with the genuine samples. A bottle of Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray looked the part from the outside, but on closer inspection researchers noted it had a cloying floral scent, distinctly different from the genuine sample. Similarly, a MAC Macximal silky matte lipstick in shade Ruby Woo purchased from Vinted for £15 - £10 less than the recommended retail price - arrived in packaging very similar to the genuine version, but when closely compared, the lipstick bullet itself was subtly different with a smudged logo that did not match up with the original. A tube of La Roche Posay Effaclar Serum purchased on Vinted smelt suspiciously like shampoo, while the sample bought from Vinted had completely different text on the side of the box. When Which? researchers purchased discounted tubes of CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum from Amazon, eBay and Vinted, all three came in different packaging to the genuine product and were missing the safety markings researchers would expect to see. It was difficult to get any serum out of the bottles using the pumps, but when they did it was clearly different in consistency and colour. The Ordinary product listings were some of the most popular researchers found. The two listings on eBay had collectively sold more than 2,600 items and nearly 1,000 were sold on Tiktok Shop. This was 'all the more surprising' as these were among some of the most affordable items in the investigation, with products all retailing at less than £10, researchers said. Phil Lewis, Director General of The Anti-Counterfeiting Group, said even on cheaper fake products the profit margins are 'extremely high', meaning consumers should be on their guard even if discounts seem more realistic. Which? is calling on the government to reform the enforcement system and advising shoppers to be vigilant when buying items from online marketplaces. It said the safest way to buy cosmetics products online or in-store is to buy directly from the brand website, or one of their affiliated retailers or approved stockists Rocio Concha, director of policy and advocacy at Which?, said: 'It's alarming that Which? was able to find such high volumes of what appeared to be potentially dangerous counterfeit cosmetics on popular online marketplaces, where teenagers in particular are likely to be enticed by what seem to be big discounts on popular brands. 'Consumers should be as confident in the products they buy online as the items that they purchase on the high street, but in reality they risk buying untested, unregulated and potentially toxic cosmetics. 'Trading Standards needs to take decisive action to prevent these products from making their way into people's homes, but because of limited resources and competing demands, counterfeit investigations are being deprioritised in many parts of the country. 'The government must ensure there are clear duties on online marketplaces to prevent the sale of counterfeit goods, and urgently commit to the reforms needed to ensure our consumer enforcement system is fit for the 21st century.' The online retailers all said they prohibit the sale of counterfeit items and take action to prevent fakes being sold. A spokesperson for L'Oréal Groupe, the parent group for CeraVe, La Roche Posay, L'oreal and Maybelline said: 'L'Oréal Groupe takes the threat of counterfeit products very seriously. 'We are committed to the fight against counterfeiting to protect consumer health and safety, and the integrity of our brands,' it added. 'We actively collaborate with law enforcement agencies worldwide and with online platforms.' Charlotte Tilbury and The Ordinary did not respond to the researchers' requests for comment.
BBC News
a day ago
- BBC News
Police close Honiton shop closed for selling illegal tobacco
A shop has been forced to close for three months after counterfeit tobacco was seized, police and Cornwall Police said officers had worked with Heart of the South West Trading Standards Service to investigate the Karina Store in force said a 48-hour closure had been issued on 15 July before Plymouth Magistrates' Court granted a full three-month closure two days Amarilli, neighbourhood beat manager for Honiton, said officers had visited the shop twice and seized cash along with a quantity of illicit tobacco. "I'd like to thank members of the local community who reported concerns about the shop to us," he said."This information allowed us to build a detailed intelligence picture, and we were able to take swift action; securing a closure order within just 13 days and preventing further sales of potentially dangerous tobacco and vape products."Police said the closure came after four other shops - Palace Mini Market, Tower Store and Paignton Express in Paignton and American shop in Torquay - were also issued with closure orders for the same length of time.
