Shoppers are warned: Don’t have a counterfeit Christmas

SHOPPERS are in increasing danger of unwittingly buying counterfeit goods online, a consumer watchdog has warned, as a survey revealed that one in ten people has bought a fake product by mistake in the past ten years.

An investigation by Which? in conjunction with Trading Standards, found that nearly a quarter of fake goods bought by online shoppers came from big-name internet retailers such as Amazon and eBay.

And four in ten people who tried to return the goods after realising they had bought a fake were stuck with their counterfeit product.

They found they were unable to get a refund, exchange or a credit voucher. Video games consoles, GHD hair straighteners, laptops and fake iPods are among the items most commonly faked and sold online.

The warning comes just days after the UK Border Agency revealed that tens of thousands of counterfeit items have been seized by officers as they were brought into the country in recent months ahead of the Christmas shopping spree.

The organisation said that attempts had been made to ship items from beauty products to children’s toys into the country to be sold as genuine goods and warned that some counterfeit goods could be unsafe.

The Which? report found a third of shoppers said they have spotted fake goods on sale in the past year, including fake iPods, laptops and video games consoles.

And some products were found not to meet health and safety regulations, including fake Nintendo Wii power supplies, which were not earthed.

Which? executive director Richard Lloyd said: “It’s worrying that so many consumers are being offered counterfeit goods online as they try to save money. Don’t be tempted to buy fake goods this Christmas.

“Some of the products we tested weren’t just poor quality, they were dangerous.

“Online sites such as Amazon and eBay must take tough action against resellers who use their service to sell fake goods to unsuspecting shoppers.”

The Society of Chief Officers of Trading Standards in Scotland warned that counterfeiters have become better at packaging fake goods for sale.

“Packaging has become more sophisticated over the years,” said a spokeswoman. “People seem to be going to a lot more trouble, so it is more difficult to tell them from the real thing.”

An Amazon spokesman said: “Amazon.co.uk does not allow the sale of counterfeit items on its Marketplace platform. Any seller found doing so will be subject to action from Amazon, including removal of their account.”

A spokeswoman for eBay said the company worked to stamp out counterfeit goods on its site.

“We are in regular touch with bodies like Trading Standards, as well as thousands of brand owners, to ensure that we have the right information to remove items from sale that cause concern,” she said.

“To make sure you are buying genuine branded goods, Christmas shoppers on eBay can buy direct from electricals and fashion retailers via their eBay stores, or choose an eBay Top Rated Seller.”