Latest news with #counterfeit
The Independent
12 hours ago
- Business
- The Independent
Man charged over alleged fake plane parts scam which grounded hundreds of flights
The director of a company is facing fraud charges after allegedly supplying counterfeit plane parts to airlines globally. Jose Alejandro Zamora Yrala, who ran UK-based AOG Technics, is accused of defrauding customers, according to the Serious Fraud Office (SFO). AOG Technics' clients included airlines, maintenance firms, and parts suppliers. In 2023, planes were grounded in the UK and worldwide after safety alerts were issued by the UK's Civil Aviation Authority, the United States' Federal Aviation Administration, and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency to airlines that may have purchased or installed parts from AOG Technics. From 2019 to 2023, the company allegedly falsified documentation that related to the origin, status or condition of aircraft parts. Zamora Yrala will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on June 2 charged with fraudulent trading. Nick Ephgrave, director of the SFO, said: 'Planes were grounded, and significant disruption was caused, today's charges are the outcome of a focused and fast-paced investigation. 'I'm proud that we've acted swiftly, together with our European partners, to bring this important case to charge in just 19 months.' A UK Civil Aviation Authority spokesperson, said: 'We welcome the progress made by the Serious Fraud Office in its investigation into AOG Technics. 'In August 2023, we acted swiftly to alert UK aviation organisations to the potential supply of unapproved parts and worked closely with international regulators to safeguard aviation safety. We continue to support the SFO and remain committed to upholding the highest safety standards.' The Independent exclusively revealed in 2023 that parts sold by AOG were found on a Tui aircraft. The part was later removed and the firm struck from Tui's approved supplier list. Other affected airlines included Ryanair, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, TAP and Virgin Australia Airlines. AOG was founded in 2015 and due to the worldwide scandal, first reported by Bloomberg, hundreds of planes were grounded. The case of the London-based company that allegedly supplied jet-engine parts using forged paperwork forced regulators and airlines to assess the scale of the issue. It is thought to have involved thousands of airline parts.
CTV News
a day ago
- Business
- CTV News
Suspect faces 21 charges in counterfeit cash investigation
A Windsor Police Service cruiser is seen in this image from October 2018. (Source: Windsor police) A 27-year-old man is facing additional charges after he was arrested last week for passing counterfeit money and fleeing police. Windsor police say Jacob Jubinville was originally charged with using counterfeit currency to make fraudulent purchases at two local businesses. During one incident, he allegedly fled from police officers in a black Mercedes, driving dangerously through a red light in a populated area. Investigators with the Financial Crimes Unit linked Jubinville to two additional incidents following his arrest on May 24. On May 13, he allegedly sold a stolen vehicle to an unsuspecting buyer. Three days later, police say surveillance footage captured Jubinville parking the same stolen vehicle behind a business in the 1700 block of Walker Road. In a separate incident on May 20, Jubinville allegedly used counterfeit currency to fraudulently purchase an electric scooter from someone who had posted an ad online. When the seller became suspicious of the fake $100 bills, Jubinville fled the scene with the scooter. Heis now facing 21 charges: • Dangerous operation of a motor vehicle • Possession of counterfeit money (x3) • Uttering counterfeit money (x3) • Possession of property obtained by crime (x4) • Possession of property obtained by crime for the purpose of trafficking • Fraud under $5,000 (x2) • Obtaining by false pretences under $5,000 • Theft under $5,000 • Failure to stop for police • Failure to comply with a release order (x4) Anyone with information on this investigation is urged to contact the Windsor Police Financial Crimes Unit at 519-255-6700, ext. 4330. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Windsor & Essex County Crime Stoppers at 519-258-8477 (TIPS) or online at
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Steelmaker SSAB, the Manufacturer of Hardox® Wear Plate, Cracks Down on Trademark Infringement in India
MUMBAI, India, May 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Swedish steelmaker SSAB has successfully taken action against two India-based companies found dealing in counterfeit Hardox® steel plates. These unauthorised products, bearing the Hardox® trademark and SSAB logo, included falsified product mill certificates and exhibited severe product quality issues, making them incomparable to genuine Hardox® wear plate. Nonetheless, they were misrepresented as genuine Hardox® wear plate. Following an investigation and a lawsuit, Naresh Steel & Engineering Co. and Parmar Steel admitted to trademark infringement and passing off, both serious violations of SSAB's intellectual property rights. The companies not only paid exemplary damages but also faced a permanent injunction in the lawsuit, and were directed to cease all use of the infringing marks. Additionally, they issued unconditional public apologies to SSAB and committed to ceasing such activities in the future. In their apologies, Naresh Steel and Parmar Steel acknowledged that "trademark infringement and passing off are gross violations of intellectual property rights of SSAB" and offered "an unconditional apology." Protecting customers from counterfeit products Only the Swedish steel manufacturer SSAB produces genuine Hardox® wear plate, and Hardox® wear plate is only available from SSAB and from SSAB-certified suppliers. Each month, SSAB successfully removes hundreds of website links, online marketplace advertisements such as those on Indiamart, and social media pages offering counterfeit products or falsely claiming to stock genuine Hardox® wear plate. "In the Mumbai area alone, there are a significant number of traders who falsely claim to stock Hardox® steel", says Subodh Shinde, country head of SSAB Steel India. "Our primary goal is to protect end customers from the risks associated with substandard steel, as these can lead to severe operational, financial and safety consequences, and we therefore continue to aggressively enforce our trademark rights and take legal action against any company infringing our intellectual property." Hardox® wear plate is a premium, high-quality product known for its exceptional hardness and toughness. Its guaranteed properties deliver outstanding performance, making it a market leader in wear resistance—and naturally, not a low-cost option. Therefore, a simple guiding principle is that if a deal seems too good to be true, it likely involves counterfeit steel. Extremely low prices are a red flag that the product is not genuine Hardox® wear plate. SSAB strongly encourages buyers to purchase Hardox® wear plate only from SSAB-certified suppliers, who hold the exclusive rights to distribute its products. Where to buy genuine Hardox® wear plate and wear parts in India SSAB maintains its own sales network. To ensure product authenticity, Hardox® wear plate should only be purchased through the following authorised SSAB channels: SSAB's own local stocks in India or SSAB's mills: +91 22 6673 0265, email: Kamlesh Metal & Alloy, the sole distributor of SSAB's products in India Hardox® wear parts should only be purchased through our authorised Hardox® Wearparts Centers in India. An updated list of all authorised centres is available on the Hardox® Wearparts Center website: Reporting counterfeit steel At SSAB, we are committed to ensuring that customers receive only high-quality, genuine Hardox® wear plate they can trust. If you encounter branded steel that you suspect is not genuine Hardox® wear plate, we urge you to contact your local SSAB sales team immediately. The risks of buying from unauthorized sources Buying from unauthorised sources may result in: Operational setbacks – Counterfeit steel often has lower quality and therefore lower durability, leading to frequent repairs, replacements and increased maintenance costs. Health and safety risks – Inferior materials may compromise structural integrity, increasing the risk of failures and accidents. Legal repercussions – The use of counterfeit steel could lead to litigation, fines or other regulatory consequences. Environmental impact – Counterfeit production methods often neglect sustainability standards, leading to increased contamination and waste. SSAB is a Nordic and US-based steel company that builds a stronger, lighter and more sustainable world through value added steel products and services. Working with our partners, SSAB has developed SSAB Fossil-free™ steel and plans to reinvent the value chain from the mine to the end customer, largely eliminating carbon dioxide emissions from our own operations. SSAB Zero™, a largely carbon emission-free steel based on recycled steel, further strengthens SSAB's leadership position and our comprehensive, sustainable offering independent of the raw material. SSAB has employees in over 50 countries and production facilities in Sweden, Finland and the US. SSAB is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm and has a secondary listing on Nasdaq Helsinki. Join us on our journey! Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X and YouTube. Photo - - - View original content:
BBC News
5 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Council warn over 'harmful' fakes sold at Appleby Fair market
Market traders at an annual fair are being asked to check their goods are genuine and safe, after more than £500,000-worth of fake items were seized during last year's goods sold during the 2024 Appleby Horse Fair, in Cumbria, included alcohol, tobacco, vapes, perfumes, cosmetics and electrical and Furness Council's Trading Standards manager, Catherine Hornby, warned those shopping at the market may not be aware buying fake goods could be "harmful".Billy Welch, spokesperson for the Gypsy and traveller community, pointed out the adjoining market is not connected to the traditional horse fair, but said the majority of its traders sell genuine products. "There are the odd travellers who set up and sell pots, but there are a lot there from all walks of life," said Mr said "80- 90% of people on the stalls are from the settled community". "The large majority of the travellers are on Fair Hill," he added. This year's Appleby Horse Fair - now in its 249th year - takes place between 5-11 annual event is one of the largest gatherings for Gypsies and travellers in Europe, with its key focus being the sale and showing of horses. The adjoining market is separately organised by a local farmer, Jimmy Winter. The BBC has contacted Mr Winter for comment. 'Serious harm' Ms Hornby said market traders should purchase their goods from reputable suppliers and obtain written assurances the products are last year's fair, 2,500 fake sunglasses were uncovered, along with nearly 200 bottles of perfume with counterfeit Cartier, Fendi, Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Dior trademarks. Toys and electrical goods should be marked with the name and address of the manufacturer, and should have a serial number. They should also carry the UKCA or CE mark, which offers assurances of authenticity and safety."The risk of serious harm from counterfeit goods - such as sunglasses that don't provide full UV protection, or from untested cosmetics, perfumes and electrical goods - are obvious," she said."At best you will waste your money on a sub-standard product, at worst you may purchase something that is harmful." Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
National Post
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- National Post
Sonny Angel®, HIPPERS® and Smiski® win Federal Courts Injunctions to Combat Counterfeits
Article content Article content Article content PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Dreams USA, Inc. has secured two preliminary injunctions against alleged infringers of its trademarked and copyrighted Sonny Angel ®, HIPPERS ® and Smiski ® mini-figures. Article content The surging popularity of Dreams' products has spawned a stream of counterfeit products entering the U.S. market. Dreams continues to police and pursue legal action against infringers, including kiosk operators, C-store owners, franchisees, brick-and-mortar stores, web-based platforms, and social media sellers to prevent the sale of unauthorized and inferior products to unsuspecting consumers, and to protect our authorized distributors from financial harm. Dreams USA is the only lawful source for Sonny Angel ®, HIPPERS ® and Smiski ® products in the Americas. Authentic Sonny Angel ®, HIPPERS ® and Smiski ® products and a list of authorized U.S. distributors can be found at Retailers that have purchased counterfeit products are urged to remove immediately these items from their shelves and online stores and to maintain all records of purchases and sales. Article content Founded in 2009, Dreams USA, Inc. is the exclusive North and South American distributor of limited-edition art toys, giftware, and lifestyle accessories created by affiliate Dreams Inc. (Japan). Its products are sold online at and at select, authorized retailers throughout the Americas. Article content Among Dreams' most popular items are a line of collectible mini-figures that are offered for sale and sold in connection with the trademarks Sonny Angel ®, Smiski ® and HIPPERS ®. Sonny Angel ® mini-figures have existed for over twenty years and have seen an explosion in popularity in the United States in recent years. SMISKI ® mini-figures have been extensively marketed and sold for ten years and continue to grow in popularity in the United States. HIPPERS ® are decorative mini-figures that present a new way to display Sonny Angel ®, Smiski ® and other characters. HIPPERS ® can be attached decoratively to a computer monitor, smartphone, photo frame or other flat surfaces. Article content Article content Article content Article content
