PRESS CUTTINGS: April 2012

Transcription

The International Press-Cutting Bureau prepares and supplies these reports to ACG via e-mail on subscription.
ACG has received and provided this information in good faith, and is not responsible for any inaccuracies or errors
www.ipcb.co.uk
Five fake alcohol rings are smashed
Scotland’s hotspots have been revealed as Edinburgh and Falkirk. Five illegal operations were shut down by
trading standards officers in Scotland last year, two in the capital and two in Falkirk. They also made a
seizure in Argyll and Bute. The number of successful counterfeit alcohol raids has increased by 500% in the
last the three years. SCOTTISH SUNDAY MAIL 01/04/2012 UK
STAT OF THE MONTH TOBACCO SMUGGLING
The illegal tobacco trade is giving the Government a headache. Cigarette smuggling costs the Exchequer
£2.2bn a year in lost revenue. There has been some success in clamping down-more than 20 billion
smuggled cigarettes and 2,700 tonnes of rolling tobacco have been seized in the past decade, HMRC
claims. MANAGEMENT TODAY 01/04/2012 UK
Fake cigs, alcohol are seized
A HUGE haul of illegal tobacco has been seized and a loan shark ring smashed following raids by trading
standards officers. In a raid carried out on three linked premises in Burnley and Bacup, officers discovered
more than 1,300 packs of counterfeit cigarettes and tobacco along with bottles of fake Arctic Vodka.
Documents relating to a large-scale loan shark operation in the Rosendale area were also found at one of
the locations. BURNLEY EXPRESS (TUESDAY) 03/04/2012 UK
Fake goods donated to charity
A £120,000 haul of fake designer clothing, footwear and handbags is donated to charity. The counterfeit
goods, which have been seized at Castle Donington Market over the last 18 months, will be sent to charities
across the UK and abroad. The mail reported in December that Leicestershire CC has seized thousands of
fake Nike, adidas, Jack Wills, Ugg Boots and Radley goods at the market.
BURTON & SOUTH DERBYSHIRE ADVERTISER 04/04/2012 UK
Internet shirts not the real deal
AN ONLINE trader who sold hundreds of fake England football shirts branded ‘110 percent genuine Umbro’
has been ordered to pay back £35,000 Under the proceeds of crime Act he was ordered to pay back the
£35,842.28 profit he made or face 12 months behind bars. SHEFFIELD STAR (SERIES) 05/04/2012 UK
Crackdown on illegal tobacco
Children are being put a risk of the use of illegal tobacco across Norfolk, according to health and school
bosses. The warning comes ahead of a crackdown on the illicit trade. More than a third of people in Norfolk
have been offered illegal tobacco (34%) and one in 10 admits to buying it, according to the research carried
out by the East of England Tobacco Control Team (EETC). Access to cut-price tobacco makes it easier for
children and young people to smoke and can bring them into contact with criminals.
NORWICH EVENING NEWS 06/04/2012 UK
Licence surrendered
A STORE caught trading in illicit imported booze and counterfeit cigarettes have voluntarily surrendered its
alcohol licence. Nearby residents has also complained of antisocial behaviour in the area around European
Foods on Borough Road Middlesbrough. Concerns had been raised by police that one store, near the
junction with Union Street, had been continuously flouting the law. Cleveland police applied for a review of
the premises licence on the grounds of prevention of crime and disorder and public nuisance.
TEESSIDE EVENING GAZETTE 06/04/2012 UK
Fake alcohol seizures are highest in Britain
There were more seizures of counterfeit alcohol in Havering last year than in any other local authority in the
country, according to a survey. Trading Standards officers in the borough carried out 22 raids of fake alcohol
goods in 2011, in a massive increase from just four in 2010 and three in 2009. Research by Engineering and
Technology Magazine revealed the figures last week, as part of comparison of more than 80 local authorities
in the UK. ROMFORD RECORDER 06/04/2012 UK
PO Box 578 High Wycombe HP11 1YD T: +44 (0)1494 449165 F: +44 (0)1494 465052 E: [email protected]
Registered Office: 3 Manor Courtyard, Hughenden Avenue, High Wycombe, Bucks HP13 5RE
Registered in England No 1984849 VAT Registration No GB 434 5353 59
www.ipcb.co.uk
Plain-pack cigarettes will boost smuggling
HEALTH Secretary Andrew Lansley faces a backlash over his crackdown on smoking, with critics warning it
could lead to more smuggling. Crime experts say plans to insist on plain packaging for cigarettes will make
counterfeit packets and sell them in the UK. But the European researches say the clampdown could lead to
an explosion in crime. SUNDAY MIRROR 08/04/2012 UK
A local Off-License has been caught selling illegal alcohol
Londis News on Lodge Road, Southampton, has been banned from selling alcohol for a week after Police
seized a record number of counterfeit bottles. 124 bottles of vodka and wine, all counterfeit or non duty paid,
were found after a customer complained. The shop owner, Minesh Narenda Patel, avoided a three month
drink sales ban after stating that he was ‘conned’. Mr Patel also insisted that he would not allow it to happen
again when he appeared before the city Council’s licensing sub-committee. The haul included forged bottles
of Jacob’s Creek wine, on which ‘Australia’ was misspelled, and bottles of ‘Arctic Ice Vodka’, which is a fake
brand. Bottles of Prince Consort vodka (a genuine brand of vodka) were also found to be faulty, after the
manufacturers stated that it was of ‘poor quality’. The shop is popular with students living in it’s vicinity.
WESSEXSCENE.CO.UK 11/04/12 UK; SOUTHERN DAILY ECHO 10/04/2012 UK; SOUTHERN DAILY
ECHO 10/04/2012 UK
Fake Jamaican sauce suppliers convicted
MEN who supplied fake copies of a top Jamaican sauce to supermarkets including one in Wembley have
been convicted. Sanjay Wadhwani, 45, and Vikas Shah, 34, of Wanis Ltd, were each convicted at Harrow
Crown Court last Wednesday for supplying fake Pickapeppa Sauce to Asda and Tesco supermarkets.
Genuine Pickapeppa Sauce is made in Shooter Hill, Jamaica. Information related to the sale of the illegal
sauce came to the attention of Brent and Harrow Trading Standards Service following a complaint from Asda
in Wembley. WEMBLEY & WILLESDON OBSERVER 12/04/2012 UK
Counterfeiters £30,000 seized
A COUNTERFEITER has had nearly £30,000 seized by the Crown under the Proceeds of Crime Act. A
confiscation order was made against Matthew Harkins at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court yesterday for £29,507.43.
He was also fined £1000. Harkins, 52, from Bridge of Weir, had previously pled guilty to having in his
possession, custody or control, with a view to selling or letting for hire, footwear and clothing which bore a
sign identical to or likely to be mistaken for a registered trademark. HERALD, THE (GLASGOW) 14/04/2012
Off licence is fined for counterfeit wine
AN off licence was caught selling bottles of counterfeit wine thanks to the dodgy spelling. Hazel Supermarket
in Bournemouth was ordered to pay £670 in fines and costs after an investigation by trading standards. The
counterfeit bottles of Jacob’s Creek were known to be circulating and had mistakes like Àustrlia` and `Drink
Responsibiliy` on the label. The bottles were spotted and seized before Christmas by officers who visited the
store in Wimborne Road, Kinson. BOURNEMOUTH DAILY ECHO 18/04/2012 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
PRESS CUTTINGS: March 2012
Shop owner fined over fake tobacco
A Bradford shopkeeper traded in illicit cigarettes and tobacco from his city centre store. Barzan Mahmad, 25
who owned Ivegate news in Ivegate, pleaded guilty to a series of charges relating to illegal tobacco products
which were found at his shop by Trading Standards. He admitted four charges relating to the possession of
counterfeit tobacco products, five relating to products not carrying statutory health warnings and one charge
of not displaying a sign stating that tobacco could not be sold to anyone under the age of 18.
BRADFORD TELEGRAPH & ARGUS (SERIES) 01/03/2012 UK
Illicit cigs paid for holidays to Spain
A 74-YEAR-OLD man who funded holidays to Benidorm by selling illicit cigarettes on the black market from
his St Helens home has been placed under a curfew. Pensioner Leslie Briers was prosecuted after police
visited his home on Bruce Street in June last year where they found a huge stash of illicit cigarette and hand
rolling tobacco. The hoard included fake Regal King Size, smuggled Golden Virginia and a variety of “cheap
whites”, which are unbranded cigarettes produced in China and Eastern Europe that have no legitimate
place on UK market. ST HELENS STAR 01/03/2012 UK
Shopkeeper is fined for selling illegal cigarettes
A LEIGH shopkeeper has been found guilty of selling illegal cigarettes and tobacco following an investigation
by Wigan Council Trading Standards. Asad Khan, the owner of Leigh discount store UK Ltd, served an
undercover TS officer in July last year. A subsequent raid of the premises revealed a cache of cigarettes and
tobacco hidden in a compartment cut into a staircase.
LEIGH, TYLDESLEY & ATHERTON JOURNAL 01/03/2012 UK
Further warning for counterfeit traders
The potential dangers posed by garages and workshops buying and using counterfeit automotive technical
software has once again been highlighted following recent raids by Stoke-on-Trent Trading Standards
officials. The Council mounted a two day operation which resulted in software and computers being seized
from a trader who was supplying counterfeit goods to local car repair workshops. Commenting on the
operation, Councillor Gwen Hassall said: “We are very concerned about the use of illegal software. Such
software will not contain manufacturers’ safety updates, which places road users at risk.”
PROFESSIONAL MOTOR MECHANIC 01/03/2012 UK
Warning to counterfeiters as men sentenced by court
TRADERS and individuals who decide to supply counterfeit goods over the internet or through local supply
chains could face legal action and substantial penalties, Powys County Council has warned. The warning
has been issued by the council’s Trading Standards Service after it successfully prosecuted two men for
supplying counterfeit make-up some of which had dangerous levels of lead. The men were sentenced by
Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court. A forfeiture order was also ordered made for approximate 150 counterfeit
cosmetic products found at the premises of Mr Jones. MID WALES JOURNAL 02/03/2012 UK
Fake designer goods saleswoman is ordered to pay back
A trader convicted of selling counterfeit designer goods in Romford has been ordered to pay back £24,000 in
earnings. Barbara Hubbard was caught with more than £2,300 illegal goods after being visiting by Havering
Council officers at a car boot fair. The 48 years-old pleaded guilty to offences under section 92 of the Trade
Marks Act and was sentenced at Basildon Crown Court last April.
ROMFORD RECORDER 02/03/2012 UK
Off-licences pay a total of £2,696 for selling counterfeit Jacob’s Creek wine
Two Romford off-licences have been fined for selling bottles of counterfeit Jacob’s Creek wine to
unsuspecting customers. At Havering Magistrates’ Court on Friday last week, Defne Ltd, trading as 5 Star
Food ‘n’ Wine pleaded guilty to having 41 bottles of the counterfeit Jacob’s Creek wine for sale and selling a
bottle to Havering Council’s Trading Standards officers. ROMFORD RECORDER 02/03/2012 UK; EAST
LONDON ENQUIRER 15/03/2012 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Fake Fags Penalty
A BUSINESSMAN who refused to give the council information about illegal tobacco ended up with
thousands of pounds of fines. Blackburn with Darwen Council officers visited AK Cash and Carry Ltd, in
Queens Road, Blackburn, to investigate who had supplied fake cigarettes found in the shop in March 2011.
But they were blanked by employee Abdul Jabbar and Director Shammus Jabbar, who each received a £500
cost order, for failing to provide details. The business itself was fined £2000, with £665 costs.
LANCASHIRE TELEGRAPH 03/03/2012 & 09/03/2012 UK
Man admits fake goods scam
A MUTLEY man has admitted charges in connection with a £50,000 fake clothes scam. Paul Porter pleaded
guilty to five out of 12 charges when he appeared at Plymouth Crown Court. He was accused of having
1,350 counterfeit garments, many of them replica football shirts, at his home in Beechwood Terrace. He
imported them from China, planning to sell them on auction website eBay. Plymouth CC, prosecuting, claims
the value of counterfeit goods seized, had they been genuine, would have been £50,849.
PLYMOUTH HERALD 03/03/2012 UK
Fake designer goods found in home raids
A HAUL of counterfeit goods has been found during raids on illegal tobacco houses in Middlesbrough. The
branded fakes were unearthed by Middlesbrough trading standards officers during the latest phase of their
on-going tobacco crackdown. Alongside a haul of cigarettes and hand rolling tobacco, one of the houses
targeted also contained a large quantity of branded goods including sports and designer wear, perfume and
hair straighteners. MIDDLESBROUGH EVENING GAZETTE 05/03/2012 UK
Traders warned on counterfeit goods
Traders on markets across Walsall have been warned they will be caught if selling counterfeit goods from
their stalls. EXPRESS & STAR - WOLVERHAMPTON (CITY FINAL) 08/03/2012 UK
6,000 cigarettes are seized in police sting
NEARLY 6,000 cigarettes and 18kg of tobacco were seized across North and West Cumbria. Officers from
HMRC joined Trading Standards, Police and the NW illicit tobacco team to raid homes in Carlisle,
Workington, Whitehaven and Frizington. They searched for counterfeit or non-duty paid tobacco, incorrectly
labelled cigarettes and illegal hand rolling tobacco. EAST CUMBRIAN GAZETTE 08/03/2012 UK
£300K Counterfeit clothes haul charity
The items were all seized by trading standards officers from unscrupulous and illegal trade’s people
throughout the County. Thousands of clothing and footwear items, including fake adidas T-shirts, Calvin
Klein underwear and Ugg boots, are now winging their way to the International Aid Trust, which raises
money to support those in need across the UK and around the globe.NUNEATON NEWS 09/03/2012 UK
COVENTRY TELEGRAPH (SERIES) 09/03/2012 UK; STRATFORD ON AVON MIDWEEK 13/03/2012 UK;
CANNOCK MERCURY 29/03/12 UK; CANNOCK & LICHFIELD CHRONICLE 29/03/12
Extra five years in prison for selling fake golf clubs
A Rainham man who was convicted of masterminding a global golf club scam has been sentenced to
another five years in prison after failing to pay back proceeds of crime totalling just under £1million. Gary
Bellchambers of Dunedin Road has now been sentenced to a total of nine years and three months for his
part in the scam. It is said to be the largest custodial sentence resulting from a Trading Standards
investigation. ROMFORD RECORDER 09/03/2012 UK
Trader caught with stall full of fake goods.
A trader was caught selling hundreds of pounds worth of fake football and film memorabilia on a stall inside
the Merry Hill shopping centre, a court heard. TS officers swooped on Kevin Kudhail’s stand where they
found counterfeit goods including West Bromwich Albion, Birmingham City, Chelsea and Arsenal placemats
and coasters. There was also fake Harry Potter and Scooby Doo merchandise. Kudhail, who lives in Pringle,
Derby admitted having the goods and said he did not check they were legitimate when he bought them from
dealers. EXPRESS & STAR - WOLVERHAMPTON (CITY FINAL) 10/03/2012 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Fake clothes man in court
A MAN has admitted buying counterfeit clothing and shoes and selling them on Facebook. Ian Screen, 26, of
Clifton Avenue, Blackpool, admitted six offences of selling goods bearing false trademarks. He will have
others offences taken into consideration when he is sentenced at Preston Crown Court on May 3.
BLACKPOOL GAZETTE 15/03/2012 UK
Alcohol used for energy
Fake alcohol seized by Lincolnshire Trading Standards, the police and HMRC is being turned into electricity.
Hundreds of bottles taken from shops across the Lincolnshire have been recycled and a tonne of counterfeit
alcohol containing a potentially lethal concoction of chemicals has been turned into electricity.
STAMFORD MERCURY SERIES 16/03/2012 UK; SCUNTHORPE EVENING TELEGRAPH 22/03/12 UK
Top names among clothing for sale were designer fakes
A SHOPKEEPER had pirate designer goods for sale at his shop. Sadiq Asmal Patel, 36, who runs a shop in
Dale Street, Blackpool, pleaded guilty to four offences of possessing goods with counterfeit trade marks and
asked for nine similar offences to be considered.
Skin rash cause by fake make-up
FAKE cosmetics are being sold in the Borough say Council TS officers after the seizure of several large
consignments of counterfeit make-up from market stalls. Over the past three months they have found
cosmetics branded as a MAC, Lancôme, Dior, CHANEL, Bobbi Brown and Benefit. The fakes came to the
officers’ attention when someone complained that they came out in a skin rash after purchasing MAC
products from the stall. EAST END LIFE 19/03/2012 UK
Health risk from fakes
Fined for fake wine: A MAN has been fined £1,375 for dealing in fake Jacob’s Creek and Bollinger wines.
Sadi Ince, 46, of Stoke Newington, pleaded guilty to three offences under the Trade Marks Act 1994 at the
Thames Magistrates Court on March 1. The Court heard evidence that Ince sold the fake wine in his
business Ince Supermarket in Hackney Road, Bethnal Green after buying it from rogue traders.
EAST END LIFE 19/03/2012 UK
Not my bag
Louis Vuitton is suing the makers of The Hangover II saying the counterfeit handbag branded a Lewis
Vuitton created consumer confusion. GUARDIAN, THE 20/03/2012 UK
Tobacco and machines seized
CUSTOMS officers raided a ‘rural farm building’ near Leighton Buzzard on Thursday in a crackdown on a
counterfeit tobacco operation. It is believed the manufacturing and distribution activities of the gang behind
the operation would have resulted in a loss to the public purse of £6 million.
LEIGHTON BUZZARD OBSERVER 20/03/2012 UK
TRADER IS JAILED OVER FAKE DESIGNER CLOTHES
A TRADER has been jailed for nine months after he was caught with counterfeit designer goods. Ibrahim
Guder, 33, of Willowfield, Harlow, was sentenced to nine months in prison last week after being convicted of
ten offences under the Trademarks Act at Southwark Crown Court in February and jailed for eight months
after admitting two more offences. The sentences will run concurrently. ENFIELD ADVERTISER 21/03/12
Trader sold fake JLS clothing
A TRADER has avoided jail after he was caught selling counterfeit clothes on a market. Harkesh Kumar, 53,
from Birmingham, appeared before Milton Keynes magistrates on Friday to plead guilty to selling counterfeit
clothing and ten offences of selling counterfeit goods. He admitted two offences of selling counterfeit clothing
and ten offences of possessing clothes for sale in the course of his business.
MILTON KEYNES NEWS 22/03/2012 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Market trader caught with counterfeit clothing
A Harlesden trader who was caught with counterfeit clothing en route to Wembley Market has been
sentenced. Harrow Crown Court heard how Akbar Askarzadah’s van was crammed with hundreds of fake tshirts, polo tops, shirts, hooded tops, jackets and trainers bearing designer names including Ed Hardy, Nike
and Armani. If the goods had been genuine they would have been worth more than £80,000.
KILBURN TIMES 22/03/2012 UK
Counterfeit booze plea
EAST YORKS: people from across the region are being urged to be on the look out for off-licences selling
counterfeit alcohol. A store owner from Anlaby Road, West Hull, was recently fined at Hull Magistrates’
Court. The owner was fined £300 and ordered to pay £500 costs for having bottles of counterfeit vodka. The
details emerged in the latest edition of the Neighbourhood Network community newsletter.
HULL DAILY MAIL (SERIES) 22/03/12 UK
Vodka in bar was cleaning fluid-court
YOUNG drinkers were served watered-down cleaning fluid as vodka by a bar owner trying to make a ‘fast
back’. Ali Asgari bought 39 bottles of cheap industrial spirit labelled Arctic Ice Vodka which he sold to
drinkers unaware it can cause nausea, vomiting, dizziness, blindness and even more death. Asgari, aged,
55, owned Soul Bar and Oxygen in Barnsley at the time of the offences last July, and when he was running
short on vodka paid £30 for six bottles of the spirit which contained chloroform and ethanol.
SHEFFIELD STAR (SERIES) 23/03/12
WOMAN SOLD FAKE BANGLES ON INTERNET
A WOMAN who sold fake designer jewellery on the internet has been given a conditional discharge. Lindsey
Dickson, 39, of Golf Drive, Nuneaton, sold Pandora style bracelets in counterfeit Pandora packaging for a
few pounds each. Coventry Crown Court heard there was no evidence to suggest people thought they were
buying anything other than fakes because of the low prices. Genuine products can sell up to hundreds of
pounds. COVENTRY TELEGRAPH (SERIES) 23/03/12 UK
RECESSION IS BLANED FOR SALE OF DODGY BOOZE
THE economic climate is tempting cash-strapped Birmingham off-licences and pubs to sell illegal and
potentially deadly booze – putting consumers’ lives at risk, watchdogs have revealed. In a 4 day special
operation, police, trading standards, customs, environmental health and licensing officers swooped on 49
Birmingham firms in the hunt for illegal alcohol. The initiative discovered a staggering amount of banned
booze worth more than £100,000 on sale at 18 of the targeted businesses, including pubs, off-licences,
independent shops, convenience stores and working men’s clubs. Officers seized 443 bottles of spirits,
1,620 bottles of wine and 15,480 cans of beer in the series of raids last December.
BIRMINGHAM MAIL 23/03/12 UK
Shopkeepers’ £22k fake fags
TWO shopkeepers had £22,000 fake and illegal cigarettes seized form their grocery store during raids by
Trading Standards. Soran Talibani, 33, and Saco Fatahi, 32, of Gloucester Groceries, Station Road, pleaded
guilty in Court to 42 charges of supplying illegal tobacco. GLOUCESTER CITIZEN 26/03/2012 UK
Couple guilty of £1m designer clothing con
A husband and wife from the Black Country were jailed for running a £1million fake designer clothes racket
from their home. Hayley and Keith Horton bought cheap outfits from a charity and sold them for a huge profit,
Wolverhampton Crown Court Heard. Wags Classy Rags peddled thousands of fake Karen Millen dresses
and other bogus designer items. EXPRESS & STAR - WOLVERHAMPTON (CITY FINAL) 27/03/2012 &
28/03/2012 UK
Shop loses licence over selling fake alcohol
A CONVENIENCE store has had its licence to sell alcohol revoked by the Council, following a year-long
Trading Standards investigation. Best one in the Broadway was found to be selling potentially hazardous
counterfeit alcohol and cigarettes. CRAWLEY NEWS 28/03/2012 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Council to recycle counterfeit equipment seized by officers
COUNCIL officials have vowed to recycle a raft of counterfeit goods seized by trading standards officers from
bogus traders operating in the Borough. Fake Iron gym kits, Ped Eggs, EZ combs and miracle dry foam were
among the items seized during raids on a suspect company in September last year
ENFIELD GAZETTE 28/03/2012 UK; ENFIELD INDEPENDENT 28/03/2012 UK
Police: Selling counterfeit goods will not be tolerated
FOLLOWING the decision to revoke the Best One Licence, Sergeant Tony Jarred, of West Sussex
Neighbourhood Licensing Team, said: “Sussex Police supported the application for the review of the
premises licence after West Sussex Trading Standards found evidence of illegal goods at the premises on
three separate occasions”. CRAWLEY OBSERVER 28/03/2012 UK
Cheap booze deals scrutinised
CORNER shops are being warned to avoid buying cheap booze from ‘white van men’ after a string of traders
have fallen foul of the law. West Yorkshire Trading Standards has warned off-licences not to fall into the trap
of buying alcohol at knock-down prices from illegal suppliers. BATLEY & BIRSTALL NEWS 29/03/2012 UK
Dodgy trader fined for bling ‘bargain’ sale
A DODGY trader has been fined after she was caught selling hundreds of pieces of fake designer jewellery,
watches and handbags for as little as a fiver. Trading Standards officers swooped on her stall, which claimed
to offer popular brands including Louis Vuitton, Rolex and Juicy Couture, to find goods that would be worth
more than £120,000 if genuine. All the dodgy goods, which included bracelets, necklaces, hair clips, watches
and earrings, were seized by the council and destroyed. EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS 29/03/12 UK
Fake Viagra salesman spared jail term
A Wembley man who sold fake Viagra and other counterfeit erectile dysfunction drugs over the internet has
received a suspended jail term. Mariusz Lewandowsky, 35, was caught after officers form the Medicines and
Healthcare products regulatory Agency (MHRA) bought “original Blue pills” which he was selling on online
website Ebay. Tests on the tablets determined they were fake and when MHRA raided his home they seized
around £6,400 worth of fake Viagra, Cialis, Kamagra and Stud 100 (Lidocaine). KILBURN TIMES 29/03/12
Car boot sale alert as officials set to pounce
Customs officials were out patrolling car boot sales this weekend after more than £100,000 of counterfeit
goods were seized in the region. The fake goods, netted at a car boot sales in Dark Lane, Featherstone, last
Sunday, included 6,000 DVDs, 300 bottles of perfume and aftershave, 75 pairs of sunglasses, 350 items of
clothing and 2,000 packets of cigarettes. A man has been arrested and bailed in connection of with the haul.
A warning has now been issued to illegal traders.
EXPRESS & STAR WOLVERHAMPTON (CITY FINAL) 31/3/12 Country: UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
PRESS CUTTINGS: February 2012
Combating the counterfeit
The organisation for economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) says counterfeiting is costing
companies (£160bn) worldwide, while the technology industry annually loses as much as (£6.4bn) according
to the alliance for Gray Market and Counterfeit Abatement and KPMG LLP. Counterfeit is big business, living
brand owners counting a significant cost one that is predicted to reach (900bn) by 2016.
PRINT MONTHLY 01/02/2012 UK
FAKES
IN JULY LAST YEAR, five men were incinerated in an instant, after the Lincolnshire warehouse where they
worked exploded. Chemicals found inside the burnt out unit at Broadfield Lane industrial Estate in Boston
indicated alcohol was being produced illegally. Several months earlier, Trading Standards, HM Revenue and
Customs and police seized cigarettes and drink, including counterfeit vodka from six shops in the town.
ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY 01/02/2012 UK
Trader admits selling fake Uggs from stall
A market trader sold fake Ugg boots, Oral-B toothbrush heads and Ambi-Pur air freshener from his stall in
Wolverhampton, a court heard. Alex Payne stocked the counterfeit goods on his stall at the city’s outdoor
market in Salop Street. Trading Standards officers were alerted to the fake products by a market officer.
EXPRESS & STAR - WOLVERHAMPTON (CITY FINAL) 01/02/2012 UK
Illegal tobacco is seized in police raid
Police have seized illegal tobacco from a Cornwall property following an investigation by Trading Standards.
Jack Yates, from TS, explained that the officers posing as members of the public had visited the premises to
buy a sample of the tobacco to check authenticity. "All the 12 items purchased were found to be illegal to
supply in the UK," he said. WESTERN MORNING NEWS (SERIES) 01/02/2012 UK
Suspended sentence for broker in cigarettes scam
A SOUTH Normanton man who acted as a broker in a multi-million-pound fake cigarettes operation in
Derbyshire has been given a suspended jail term. Peter Ben, 44, of George Street, was handed a 10-month
sentence, suspended for a year, and a four month curfew. A criminal gang had set up a factory in
Chesterfield capable of making up to 625 million counterfeit cigarettes and five million pouches of fake
tobacco a year. DERBY TELEGRAPH 01/02/2012 UK
Fake designer brands
TWO market traders have been prosecuted for possessing and selling counterfeit sports and designer
clothing. The brands the pair were selling included Nike, adidas, Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, Burberry,
Lyle and Scott, Henley, Lacoste. Checks later revealed they were fakes. Both men claimed they thought the
goods were genuine, but admitted they had not checked. WEST SUSSEX GAZETTE 01/02/2012 UK
Taking the fight to global fakers
The act of counterfeiting has been a source of revenue for many devious (and in some cases skilled)
individuals for centuries. But in today’s global consumer society, it can also have serious repercussions. The
internet is a fertile trading ground for counterfeit medication. Consumers, sometimes desperate for cheap
alternatives haves resorted to the web, sourcing products from the Far East. The problem is that this
represents a very real danger for those prepared to take the risk. PACKAGING NEWS 01/02/2012 UK
Bogus booze bottles seized by council
SOME 14 bottles of ‘drop vodka’ were seized after trading standards officers inspected off licences across
Central Bedfordshire. Bogus booze can be dangerous to drink and officers from Central Beds Council
recently conducted spot checks on 50 shops in the district. Bogus booze is cheap and often nasty. Drinkers
could have been blinded by drinking out of some of the bottles our officers have seized.
BIGGLESWADE ADVERTISER 01/02/2012 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Illicit tobacco dealer couple jailed
A COUPLE who ran an illicit enterprise dealing in smuggled tobacco and cigarettes have been jailed. Nearly
400,000 cigarettes and 234 kilos of hand rolling tobacco were seized from a self storage unit rented by
Melving and Serena Mellors, at Whittington Moor, Chesterfield, in February.
DERBYSHIRE TIMES (SERIES) 02/02/2012 UK
Fake tobacco gang is jailed
CRIMINAL gang members who set up a factory capable of making up to 625 million counterfeit cigarettes
and five million pouches of fake hand rolling tobacco have been jailed. During the raid, at the plant of Tapton
Business Park, HM Revenue and Customs investigators seized packaging for 43 million cigarettes, cigarette
paper, tipping paper, foil cellophane, glue and cardboard inners for packets of 20 cigarettes.
EXPRESS & STAR - WOLVERHAMPTON (CITY FINAL) 01/02/2012 UK; DERBYSHIRE TIMES (SERIES)
02/02/2012 UK; DERBY TELEGRAPH 01/02/2012 UK; CANNOCK & LICHFIELD CHRONICLE 02/02/2012
Huge rise in hooch
SEIZURES of fake booze have rocketed five-fold in three years, a report says. ‘Hooch’ drinks, which can be
Fatal are the most common goods tracked by trading standards. Between June 2008 and June 2009, UK
officers made 31 seizures but in the year of June 2011 the figure had jumped to 158. Confiscation of fake
tobacco also soared 311%, found the study by the institution of engineering technology.
SUN, THE 03/02/2012 UK; GUARDIAN, THE 03/02/2012 UK
Fake designer brands
TWO market traders have been prosecuted for possessing and selling counterfeit sports and designer
clothing. Brands the pair were selling included Nike, Adidas, Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, Burberry, Lyle
and Scott, Henley, Lacoste. Checks later revealed they were fakes. Both men claimed they thought the
goods were genuine, but admitted they had not checked.
WEST SUSSEX GAZETTE 01/02/2012 UK
Fake goods worth £1m seized at market
Eight people have been arrested after police confiscated £I million of fake goods on sale at Wembley Market
over the weekend. The eight were bailed after police raided the market amid concerns that unfair competition
was having a "disastrous impact" on honest market stall holders. HARROW TIMES 02/02/2012 UK
Council pledges to target unscrupulous traders
ROGUE traders who use car boot sales to sell their shoddy wares are being targeted by Cheshire East
Council. The authority wants to stamp out trading in counterfeit goods after an incident in High Leigh in
January. The council’s consumer protection and investigations team is now warning people who think they
can exploit the area’s legitimate trading events to sell counterfeit goods that will not be tolerated.
CREWE & NANTWICH GUARDIAN 02/02/2012 UK
Dodgy booze seized from shops and bars
ILLEGAL vodka made from diluted industrial cleaner has been seized from bars and shops across Barnsley.
The 'food fraud' has increased rapidly during the recession, said senior Trading Standards officer Christina
Heeley. And dodgy booze is at the forefront ranging from beer cans with doctored sell-by dates, to
dangerous spirits. BARNSLEY CHRONICLE (SERIES) 03/02/2012 UK
Eight times as much lead in counterfeit cigs
Counterfeit cigarettes being sold in Sussex contain abnormally high levels of cancer-causing chemicals,
smokers have been warned. Some brands seized in the county had eight times the amount of lead found in
legitimate tobacco. The tests follow a BBC investigation into the illegal cigarettes trade in Hastings and St
Leonards. RETAIL NEWSAGENT 03/02/2012 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Woman ran fake goods website
A Blackpool woman ran an Internet shopping site for counterfeit goods, a court was told. Resort Magistrates
Court was told by Blackpool Council prosecutor Victoria Cartmell Screen and a co-accused went to a
warehouse in Manchester. BLACKPOOL GAZETTE 03/02/2012 UK
Fakes financed couples lifestyle
A DONCASTER couple have been parted after they were sentenced for money laundering and counterfeit
goods offences. Philip Cummings, aged 46, was jailed for 15 months while Sarah Hutchinson, 34, received a
nine-month sentence, suspended for two years at Doncaster Crown Court. The couple, who lived in Alderson
Drive, Town Moor, Doncaster copied CDs and DVDs, fake handbags, fake GHD hair products and other
trademarked goods. DONCASTER STAR 04/02/2012 UK
BAN FOR FAKE CIGGIES SELLER
A SOUTH Liverpool man who sold counterfeit cigarettes and tobacco was banned from the city’s markets.
The 42, year-old, was ordered to stay away from indoor and outdoor markets in Liverpool after the court
heard he had been selling counterfeit goods near to Great Homer Street market.
LIVERPOOL ECHO 06/02/2012 UK
‘Pirate goods’ man in court
A MAN is accused of having fake goods in Blackpool. Sadiq Patel, 36, of Oxford Street, Preston, faces 13
offences of possessing goods with false trademarks at Blackpool in May last year. It is alleged the goods
included tracksuits, trainers and T-shirts with Logos by Nike, adidas and Rockport. The case was adjourned
to February 29 by Blackpool magistrates. BLACKPOOL GAZETTE 06/02/2012 UK
CONMAN NETTED £30K IN eBAY SCAM
A FRAUDSTER who made £30,000 from a counterfeit clothing racket on eBay has been ordered to pay the
money back to the public purse. Alan Davison, of Clays Lane, Branston, was found guilty of two charges of
possessing counterfeit goods when he appeared at Stafford Crown Court. The 57-year-old bought fake
Ralph Lauren’ and Lacoste T-shirts and jumpers from China before selling them on the popular online
auction site Trading Standards officials seized 100 items of clothing during a raid on his house in November
2010. BURTON MAIL 07/02/2012 UK
Letters go to 2,500 outlets to warn of cut-price booze risk
LICENCED premises in Derbyshire have been sent letters saying that they face prosecution if they are found
selling counterfeit alcohol. The county council said it had written to 2,500 businesses after "a rise in cases
across the region". It is also warning consumers of the health risk of buying cut price booze. "If spirits are
being sold at unusually low prices, at retail outlets or boot fairs, out of the back of vehicles or in car parks,
they are likely to be counterfeit and can be dangerous. DERBY TELEGRAPH 07/02/2012 UK
Warning over fake booze sales
OFF-LICENCE owners have been warned about the dangers of selling fake alcohol and cigarettes after a
rise in seizures. Derbyshire County Council’s trading standards has written to all 2,500 licensed premises
across the county warning they face persecution if found selling illegal products.
SHEFFIELD STAR (SERIES) 08/02/2012 UK; BURTON MAIL 08/02/2012 UK; RIPLEY & HEANOR NEWS
09/02/2012 UK
Couple imported cigarettes illegally
A HUSBAND and wife who illegally imported hundreds and thousands of cigarettes are to be sentenced next
week. Geoffrey Peter Jones, 42, and Donna Marie Jones, 43, of Toft Close, Saltney, have admitted multiple
charges involving the laundering of cigarettes worth more than £185,000. Chester Crown Court heard
Geoffrey Jones, owner of a fruit and vegetable shop in Wrexham, was stopped by police in his van on April
16th 2010. LEADER (WREXHAM) 09/02/2012 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Game is over for fake goods couple
A COUPLE sold fake goods netting thousands of pounds which enabled them to fund a lavish life style.
Philip Cummings was jailed, while Sarah Hutchinson received a suspended sentence for their scam which
helped pay their family mortgage and a high-value Range Rover. The duo of Alderson Drive, Town Moor,
copied CDs and DVDs fake handbags, fake GHD hair products and other trade marked goods.
DONCASTER FREE PRESS 09/02/2012 UK
Boffins shine a light on fake alcohol problem
A team of scientists have unveiled the latest weapon in the war on counterfeit alcohol, a hand-held device
that identifies fakes without opening the bottle. The device works by using a beam light to analyse the
contents. It provides a ‘signature’ of the liquid, which is then compared to a signature of the genuine article.
GROCER 11/02/2012 UK
Cleaning fluid in bottles of vodka
A CONVENIENCE store which sold illegal vodka from under the counter could be set to lose its licence.
Kirkham’s Londis store sold dozens of bottles of vodka containing a cleaning fluid substance while a 13-yearold boy was also caught selling alcohol to an under-age girl. Now, Lancashire polices are calling on Fylde
Council to consider stripping the Station Road store of its licence.
Raids launched on counterfeiters tracked down from Facebook
TRADING standards officials are undertaking a series of unprecedented raids on counterfeiters across North
Yorkshire, using information gleaned from Facebook. In a move senior police say they have not yet seen in
the country, North Yorkshire County Council trading standards officers are currently conducting a wideranging series of Facebook raids on illegal traders they have tracked down and followed using the social
networking site. YORKSHIRE POST (SERIES) 14/02/2012 UK
DAD JAILED FOR £200K CIGARETTE SCAM
A FATHER of four has been jailed after illegally importing nearly £200,000 worth of cigarettes into the
country. Lorry driver Geoffrey Peter Jones, 42, was jailed for 18 months after pleading guilty to multiple
charges involving the laundering of cigarettes worth more than £185,000. His wife, Donna Marie Jones, 43, a
dinner lady, was also sentenced yesterday after she admitted attempting to help cover up her husband’s
crimes as police executed a search warrant at their home. LEADER (CHESTER) 15/02/2012 UK
Shop owner in court over counterfeits
A BUSINESS owner has been prosecuted for selling fake goods from his store in County Durham. Joe
Tanos, 23 of Bingfield Gardens in Newcastle, appeared at Peterlee Magistrates' Court. He pleaded guilty to
seven offences of selling fake goods, including Ugg hooded sweatshirts and boots, an Ed Hardy purse and
CHANEL jewellery. Magistrates gave Mr Tanos a community order requiring him to complete 120 hours of
unpaid work. JOURNAL, THE (NEWCASTLE) 16/02/2012 UK
Men deny selling fake designer clothes
TWO men have denied selling fake designer clothes from a city shop. Oxfordshire Trading Standards raided
Labels 4 Less in Oxford’s Magdalen Street and seized hundreds of items. Shop owner Matthew Croxson
appeared at Oxford Crown Court yesterday and denied seven charges. His business partner Matthew
Brooks appeared at the same court last week and denied eight charges. The allegations stem from the raid
in April 2010. OXFORD MAIL 17/02/2012 UK
Fakes at market seized in raid
Fake designer clothes worth thousands of pounds have been seized from Walsall Market. More than 300
counterfeit goods were found at the stall in Bradford Street following a tip-off to the council. The authority’s
trading standards officers swooped to seize boxer shorts, scarves, hats and socks. Fake trademarks were
used including Ugg, Hugo Boss, Calvin Klein and Armani and had they been genuine would be worth
£4,000. EXPRESS & STAR - WOLVERHAMPTON (CITY FINAL) 18/02/2012 UK; EXPRESS & STAR - MID
STAFFS (CANNOCK & LICHFIELD) 22/02/2012 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Public split on buying fake clothes
BARBOUR have declared war on fakes. The world-famous clothing firm, based in South Shields, has
employed a specialist firm to track down factories which are making copies of their top-range clothing – and
shut them down. It has also teamed up with an expert internet security firm to try to nip counterfeit online
sales in the bud. Group finance director, Brenda Readman-Bell, said the production of fakes had risen
drastically since the firm’s recent move into the fashion market, adding that Manchester was a counterfeit
hotspot. SOUTH SHIELDS GAZETTE 18/02/2012 UK
No evidence plain packaging will lessen cigarette appeal...
THERE is no evidence that government proposals to introduce plain packaging for cigarettes will lessen their
appeal, a think tank says. The Adam Smith Institute released a report arguing that the plans will do nothing
for public health and are ‘profoundly illiberal’. The Government is to launch a public consultation on putting
cigarettes in plain packaging so that all tobacco products look alike.
YORKSHIRE POST (SERIES) 20/02/2012 UK
Counterfeit sex drugs seized in home raids
A HAUL of suspected counterfeit sex drugs worth an estimated of £140,000 has been found in police raids.
Around 28,000 suspected counterfeit erectile dysfunction tablets were seized by the Medicines Healthcare
Products Regulatory Agency enforcement team from three homes. The raids took place at homes in Albert
Street and Moore Lane in Loughborough, and in Frazier Street, South East London.
YORKSHIRE POST (SERIES) 23/02/2012 UK; SCARBOROUGH EVENING NEWS 23/02/2012 UK;
Counterfeit brand names found on market stall
A MARKET trader narrowly escaped jail after he was caught selling counterfeit clothing at Milton Keynes
market. Harkesh Kuma, from Birmingham, appeared before Milton Keynes magistrates on Friday to plead
guilty to selling counterfeit goods, following a case brought by Milton Keynes Council’s trading standards
service. MILTON KEYNES CITIZEN 23/02/2012 UK
Supermarket owner fined for selling fake alcohol
THE owner of Catering’s supermarket has been fined £1,000 for selling fake wine. Harlow magistrates also
ordered Muru Visana to pay £500 costs after they were told he had to pay £2,500 for the ‘Australian’ wine
from someone he though was from a reputable cash and carry business.
BISHOP`S STORTFORD & SAWBRIDGEWORTH OBSERVER 23/02/2012 UK
Stubbing out illegal sales
A TRADER who sold illegal cigarettes and counterfeit DVDs has been put behind bars. Ari Safay sold the
tobacco and DVDs in Hull despite receiving formal warnings on several occasions. He had previously
pleaded guilty to four offences under tobacco regulations, which prohibit the sale of foreign labelled
cigarettes in the UK. HULL DAILY MAIL (SERIES) 25/02/2012 UK
BOOM IN FAKE CIGS
MORE than a quarter of all cigarettes in the UK are either fake or smuggled in costing us billions of pounds
in lost tax experts warn. And that number is set to soar as smokers are hit with a 5.1% duty hike in next
month’s budget. At present a leading brand packet of 20 already costs over £7, including tax.
SUNDAY MIRROR 26/02/2012 UK
Watch this man
A gangland hood is organising a massive luxury watch scam while on home leave from prison. Azeem
Sarwaar, 25, is recruiting a team of beautiful young women and sending them into top-end jewellers with
high-quality fake timepieces. The girls then distract the fake owners and assistants while switching their
dodgy Tag Heuer watches for the genuine articles, worth up to 10,000. Sarwaar serving almost 12 years for
assault, robbery and firearms offences uses high quality fakes flown in from Dubai to trick jewellers.
SCOTTISH SUNDAY MAIL 26/02/2012 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Fake Olympic glasses seized by council officers
FAKE Olympic sunglasses have been seized from a Birmingham wholesaler in a crackdown on counterfeits
by consumer watchdogs. Around 60 pairs of shades, which featured the five Olympic rings and are
reminiscent of the specs that made a star of 1980s TV presenter Timmy Mallet, were seized from a Hockley
warehouse. Officers from Birmingham City Council Trading Standards team swooped on the firm, which
cannot be named for legal reasons, after a tip-off from a member of the public.
BIRMINGHAM SUNDAY MERCURY 26/02/2012 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
PRESS CUTTINGS: January 2012
Found a bargain? Make sure it isn’t fake
Consumers are unwittingly buying cheap, Fake and potentially dangerous goods online, a Which? Survey
has found. Which? Trading Standards have unearthed knock-off electronics including fake iPhones,
Nintendo DSi games consoles and Nintendo Wii power supplies. WHICH? 01/01/2012 UK
Learn how to spot fake vodka
Don’t be tempted to save by buying fake vodka, consumers have been warned. Tests on counterfeit bottles
seized recently from around the country contained alarming levels of methanol, a key ingredient used to
make anti-freeze and various other industrial strength solvents. YORKSHIRE POST (SERIES) 02/01/2012
Vodka warning
Following an alert issued by the Food Standards Agency, Bucks County Councils Trading Standards team is
warning the public to be on the alert for bottles of illicit Drop Vodka that could be potentially damaging to
health. Bottles of 70cDrop Vodka have been discovered on sale across England and Wales.
LEIGHTON BUZZARD OBSERVER 03/01/2012 UK
Counterfeit alcohol kept out of pubs
Local licensees have been vigilant and continued to ensure customers safety. The off licence visits were
carried out by Staffordshire’s trading standards team after suspected counterfeit alcohol was found in one in
five independent off licenses. Visits to 17 licensed premises were made in Staffordshire over a two-week
period. UTTOXETER ECHO 04/01/2012 UK; CHEADLE & TEAN TIMES 04/01/2012 UK; BLYTHE &
FORSBROOK TIMES 04/01/2012 UK; BURTON & SOUTH DERBYSHIRE ADVERTISER 04/01/2012 UK
Bogus booze bottles bust
Complaints from drinkers have helped trading standards officers uncover dozens of bottles of fake and
potentially harmful vodka. Eight different brands or illicit vodka have been seized from small convenience
stores in Bournemouth in the run-up to Christmas. Trading standards officers acted after a wave of
complaints from people who had either been made ill by the counterfeit alcohol or were concerned that it
smelt funny. BOURNEMOUTH ADVERTISER 05/01/2012 UK
Microsoft sues comet over sale of windows backup discs
Microsoft is to sue UK electronics retailer Comet for making tens of thousands of allegedly unauthorised CDs
for its Windows operating system and selling them to customers. The US computing giant has issued
proceedings against Comet for allegedly creating more than 94,000 counterfeit "recovery discs" for its
Windows Vista and Windows XP operating systems and selling them to customers.
GUARDIAN, THE 05/01/2012 UK
The great olive oil scandal
Last month, the Olive Oil Times reported that two Spanish businessmen had been sentenced to two years in
prison in Cordoba for selling hundreds of thousands of litres of supposedly extra virgin olive oil that was, in
fact, a mixture of 70-80% sunflower oil and 20-30% olive. GUARDIAN, THE 05/01/2012 UK
Team sets the pace to catch Olympics touts
A specialist intelligence squad to tackle counterfeit goods vendors and ticket touts during the countdown to
the Olympic Games has been launched. The Midlands-wide team is made up of trading standards officers
across the region. It will hunt down anyone selling unauthorised merchandise or fake tickets especially when
the torch reaches the region on May 30 and June 30.
www.ipcb.co.uk
Sole-less traders’ eBay con
A Ministry of Justice official spent Christmas at her Majesty’s pleasure after masterminding a £230,000 eBay
scam. Civil servant Antoine Simhani, 46, worked with his partner Fan Fanny Cheung, 43, to sell the fake Lelli
Kelly and Disney cars shoes on the trading website. When police swooped on their home in Hook Rise
South, Tolworth, in January 2010 they found 10,000 pairs of shoes with fake labels.
SURREY COMET 05/01/2012 UK
Counterfeiter jailed for selling games
A Brynmawr man was sent to prison yesterday for selling and importing counterfeit goods. Richard Howell,
36, of Lakeside Way, appeared at Cardiff Crown Court after pleading guilty to nine offences. He sold R4 card
devices which can be used on Nintendo game consoles. Howell admitted providing a service between
January 2007 and November 2009 of chipping Nintendo game consoles for them to be used to play
counterfeit games. SOUTH WALES ARGUS 05/01/2012 UK
£50K for fake booze project
Work to stamp out the sale of counterfeit alcohol has won financial support. The Food Standards Agency has
awarded Staffordshire County Council £50,474. The cash will be used to pay for the analysis of 1,800 bottles
of vodka seized from 73 premises across Staffordshire. STOKE ON TRENT SENTINEL 06/01/2012 UK;
LEEK POST & TIMES 11/01/2012 UK; TAMWORTH HERALD 12/01/2012 UK; STAFFORDSHIRE
NEWSLETTER (SERIES) 12/01/2012 UK; BURTON MAIL 06/01/2012 UK; BIRMINGHAM MAIL
18/01/2012 UK
Fake vodka offenders face prison
Five men who masterminded a major counterfeit vodka manufacturing and bottling plant in Leicestershire
have been sentenced to a total of 17 years and 10 months. A sixth man was due to be sentenced as Pub &
Bar went to press. The plot was uncovered by HM Revenue & Customs when it carried out raids in
September 2009 at the remote industrial unit at Moscow Farm near Great Dalby in Leicestershire, seizing
9,000 bottles of fake vodka, branded as Glens. PUB & BAR 09/01/2012 UK
Police blast ‘Knock-off culture’
A SENIOR detective attacked Britain’s ‘Only Fools and Horses’ culture today as a gang faced jail for a fake
goods empire worth tens of millions of pounds. Detective Superintendent Dave Clark warned the public to
shun market ‘knock-offs’ after four men were found guilty of attempting to flood the country with counterfeit
products through Coventry Airport. COVENTRY TELEGRAPH (SERIES) 10/01/2012 UK
£350 fine for fake vodka
WEST HULL: A shopkeeper has been fined £350 for selling fake vodka. Hull city council trading Standards
officers visited the shop in July and found four bottles of fake Smirnoff vodka.
Jail sentence for chemist of fake vodka
A chemist at the centre of scam which lead to fake vodka being sold in Salford has been given two years in
jail. Wojciech Jan Herbst now faces extradition from Poland after being sentenced in his absence. Hundreds
of bottles of the toxic booze were recovered in Salford during a nationwide investigation.
MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS 11/01/2012 UK; SALFORD ADVERTISER (INC. SALFORD CITY
REPORTER) 12/01/2012 UK
Smugglers found with record haul
A SMUGGLER from Harrow who was caught with one of the UK’s biggest haul of fake designer goods was
found guilty on Monday. The gang imported around 50,000 items including clothing, footwear, handbags and
hair straighteners from the Far East, between March 2007 and August 2010. The fakes purported to be
manufactured by Gucci, Versace, Ralph Lauren, Ugg and Nike. HARROW TIMES 12/01/2012 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Region warned to avoid fake goods for the sake of economy...
RESIDENTS are being warned that purchasing fake goods harms their health and is detrimental to the UK
economy. Sharon Bowles MEP, who represents Oxfordshire in the European Parliament, has expressed
concerns that fake goods, including medicines, are not only putting consumer’s health at risk but also
harming the UK economy. BANBURY GUARDIAN 12/01/2012 UK
Guilty of role in £5m fake goods gang
A Finsbury Park man has been convicted of being part of a global ring that brought £5m worth of designer
clothes into the country - one of the largest hauls in UK history. Sid Dehimi, 24, of Seven Sisters Road, was
found guilty of three counts of conspiracy to contravene the Trade Marks, Act and three counts of
possession of criminal property at Southwark Crown Court on Monday. ISLINGTON GAZETTE 12/01/2012
Fake England shirts sold online
AN INLINE trader who sold hundreds of fake England shirts has been handed a suspended prison sentence.
Paul Jones, aged 40, of Handley Road, New Whittington, Derbyshire, was given an eight month term,
suspended for two years, after admitting four charges under the Trade Marks Act 1994.
DONCASTER STAR 13/01/2012 UK
Fake goods gang face prison term
A GLOBAL smuggling ring, used a Boreham wood storage unit to stash one of the biggest hauls of fake
designer goods, has been found guilty this morning. The gang imported about 50,000 items, including
clothing, footwear, handbags, and hair straighteners into Britain from the Far East, between Mach 2007 and
August 2010. BOREHAMWOOD & ELSTREE TIMES 13/01/2012 UK
Raid on unit finds fake booze
Customs officers have raided an industrial unit in the Midlands believed to be involved in the marketing of
fake alcohol. Two men from Worcestershire were arrested in dawn raids at the unit on suspicion of supplying
industrial alcohol and equipment used to produce counterfeit spirits.
Shop loses alcohol licence
A shop that got a three-month alcohol ban after selling counterfeit Smirnoff vodka that made a customer sick
has now been stripped of its licence for selling booze to children and other offences. Councillors issued a
warning to other wayward shops as they revoked the licence for Pound Xtra in St Marys Road,
Southampton, after premises supervisor Aklilu Alem, 26, was caught selling alcohol to an under-aged girl
during a sting operation. SOUTHERN DAILY ECHO 13/01/2012 UK
Petrol station sold counterfeit cigarettes
A PETROL station owner has been prosecuted for supplying counterfeit cigarettes, after an investigation by
trading standards officers. The Caerphilly County Borough Council investigation began after a consumer
bought a pack and noticed the cigarettes did not taste right and one burned his lip. Trading Standards visited
the premises immediately and found 120 packs were of the cigarettes. SOUTH WALES ECHO 14/01/2012
Second fake vodka plant is found in Alcester
AROUND 7,000 litres of counterfeit vodka has been seized from an industrial unit in Alcester. Two men from
Worcestershire were arrested in dawn raids on Friday on suspicion of supplying denatured alcohol (meths)
and equipment used to produce illegal spirits. HM Revenue and Customs believe the seizure is a dent in the
illicit trade controlled by criminal gangs. STRATFORD UPON AVON MIDWEEK 17/01/2012 UK
Shoppers urged to look out for tell-tale signs of fake booze
A massive crackdown on the sale of illegal alcohol in Newham continues as the council pledges to bring to
book traders who play hard and fast with the law. Council enforcement officers raided hundreds of off
licences, shops and supermarkets last year. STRATFORD & NEWHAM EXPRESS 18/01/2012 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Man sold forged games
A MAN has been sentenced to 300 hours of unpaid work after selling counterfeit Nintendo games. Scott
Cooke of Oakville Avenue, Rhyl has pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing in Mold Crown Court to several
offences contrary to the Fraud Act 2016, the Trade Marks Act 1994 and the copyright Design and Patents
Act 1988. RHYL, PRESTATYN & ABERGELE JOURNAL 18/01/2012 UK
‘Scammers use young’
Police in Bradford have revealed criminals are using children to front the sale of counterfeit goods in a bid to
avoid prosecution. The use of young teenagers to evade detection in such cases is a problem affecting the
whole of the country, according to officers. BRADFORD TELEGRAPH & ARGUS (SERIES) 18/01/2012 UK
Shop raids search for illegal imports
ALMOST 10,000 cigarettes and more than 50 bottles of alcohol were seized during a swoop on shops in
Hertford road last Wednesday. All the items are suspected of being either fake or the proper import duty had
not been paid. They could be destroyed and shop owners face prosecution and having their premises
licence reviewed, and potentially revoked. ENFIELD GAZETTE 18/01/2012 UK
Stallholder fined for sale of dangerous toys
The owner of a gift stall was forced to pay £9,000 in fines in court for selling counterfeit lighters and unsafe
toys in a harrow shopping centre. HR Construction, which traded as Simple Fashion in St Ann’s Shopping
Centre, sold toys in the run-up to Christmas 2010 which broke safety regulations by having sharp edges and
points, finger-trapping hazards, insufficient instructions, inadequate warnings, had excessive presence of
chemicals called phthalates that have been found to be carcinogenic, and posed a chocking hazard to
children. WEMBLEY & WILLESDON OBSERVER 19/01/2012 UK
Red alert for shops selling fake alcohol
Officers on covert surveillance operations are gearing up to swoop on premises in Lincolnshire suspected of
selling fake booze and cigarettes, the Echo can reveal. The raids will target 15 sites in a joint crackdown by
Lincolnshire Police and HMRC. The agencies confirmed the premises are concentrated in one area of the
County. LINCOLNSHIRE ECHO 19/01/2012 UK
Shop loses alcohol licence
A shop that got a three-month alcohol ban after selling counterfeit Smirnoff vodka that made a customer sick
has now been stripped of its licence for selling booze to children and other offences. Councillors issued a
warning to other wayward shops as they revoked the licence for Pound Xtra in St Marys Road,
Southampton, after premises supervisor Aklilu Alem, 26, was caught selling alcohol to an under-aged girl
during a sting operation. SOUTHERN DAILY ECHO 13/01/2012 UK
Fake England shirts sold online
AN ONLINE trader who sold hundreds of fake England shirts has been handed a suspended prison
sentenced. Paul Jones, aged 40, of Handley Road, New Whittington, Derbyshire, was given an eight month
term, suspended for two years, after admitting four charges under the Trade Marks Act 1994.
Fake goods gang face prison term
A GLOBAL smuggling ring, who used a Boreham wood storage unit to stash one of the biggest hauls of fake
designer goods, has been found guilty this morning. The gang imported about 50,000 items, including
clothing, footwear, handbags, and hair straighteners into Britain from the Far East, between Mach 2007 and
August 2010. BOREHAMWOOD & ELSTREE TIMES 13/01/2012 UK; HARINGEY INDEPENDENT
13/01/2012 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Raid on unit finds fake booze
Customs officers have raided an industrial unit in the Midlands believed to be involved in the marketing of
fake alcohol. Two men from Worcestershire were arrested in dawn raids at the unit in Alcester, Warwickshire
yesterday on suspicion of supplying industrial alcohol and equipment used to produce counterfeit spirits.
EXPRESS & STAR - WOLVERHAMPTON (CITY FINAL) 13/01/2012 UK; STRATFORD UPON AVON
MIDWEEK 17/01/2012 UK
Petrol station sold counterfeit cigarettes
A PETROL station owner has been prosecuted for supplying counterfeit cigarettes, after an investigation by
trading standards officers. The Caerphilly County Borough Council investigation began after a consumer
bought a pack and noticed the cigarettes did not taste right and one burned his lip. Trading Standards visited
the premises immediately and found 120 packs were of the cigarettes.
SOUTH WALES ECHO 14/01/2012 UK
Shoppers urged to look out for tell-tale signs of fake booze
A massive crackdown on the sale of illegal alcohol in Newham continues as the council pledges to bring to
book traders who play hard and fast with the law. Council enforcement officers raided hundreds of off
licences, shops and supermarkets last year. Trading standards joined forces with the council’s licensing
officers and teams in a series of multi-agency swoops.
STRATFORD & NEWHAM EXPRESS 18/01/2012 UK
Man sold forged games
A MAN has been sentenced to 300 hours of unpaid work after selling counterfeit Nintendo games Scott
Cooke of Oakville Avenue, Rhyl had pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing in Mold Crown Count to several
offences contrary to the Fraud Act 2016, the Trade Marks Act 1994 and the copyright Design and Patents
Act 1988. RHYL, PRESTATYN & ABERGELE JOURNAL 18/01/2012 UK
‘Scammers use young’
Police in Bradford have revealed criminals are using children to front the sale of counterfeit goods in a bid to
avoid prosecution. The use of young teenagers to evade detection in such cases is a problem affecting the
whole of the country, according to officers. BRADFORD TELEGRAPH & ARGUS (SERIES) 18/01/2012 UK
Shop raids search for illegal imports
ALMOST 10,000 cigarettes and more than 50 bottles of alcohol were seized during a swoop on shops in
Hertford Road last Wednesday. All the items are suspected of being either fake or the proper import duty
had not been paid. They could be destroyed and shop owners face prosecution and having their premises
licence reviewed, and potentially revoked. ENFIELD GAZETTE 18/01/2012 UK
This has to stop
TRADERS are demanding action against criminals who sell counterfeit goods at a market in Wembley. Eight
people were arrested and counterfeit DVDs were seized. Four of those pleaded guilty and were sentenced at
court and four received cautions. HARROW TIMES 19/01/2012 UK
Stallholder fined for sale of danger toys
The owner of a gift stall was forced to pay £9,000 in fines and court costs for selling counterfeit lighters and
unsafe toys in a Harrow shopping centre. HR Construction, which traded as Simple Fashion in St Ann’s
Shopping Centre, St, Ann’s Road Harrow, sold toys in the run-up to Christmas 2010 which broke safety
regulations by having sharp edges and points, finger-trapping hazards, insufficient instructions, inadequate
warnings, had excessive presence of chemicals that have been found to be carcinogenic, and posed a
chocking hazard to children. WEMBLEY & WILLESDON OBSERVER 19/01/2012 UK
selling fake booze and cigarettes, the echo can reveal. The raids will target 15 sites in a joint crackdown by
Lincolnshire Police and HM Revenue and Customs. The agencies confirmed the premises are concentrate in
one area of the county. LINCOLNSHIRE ECHO 19/01/2012 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Fake goods health alert
Fake goods, including medicines drinks and cosmetics, are putting consumers health in danger, it has been
warned. In the run-up to Christmas last year, it is believde that 165,000 bottles of vodka were distributed
across the UK which contained high levels of dangerous methanol.
BASINGSTOKE WEEKEND GAZETTE 19/01/2012 UK
Two in prison over counterfeit cigarettes
Two men were today starting a prison sentence for their part in a scam that would have seen the West
Midlands flooded with 500,000 counterfeit cigarettes. Abdullah Karim and Hiwa Ali were stopped during
routine police checks on vehicles travelling along the A5 at Wall, Staffordshire. A search of the van revealed
the haul of fake Superking cigarettes hidden in boxes in the back. More than £90,000 duty had been evaded
on the load. EXPRESS & STAR - WOLVERHAMPTON (CITY FINAL) 21/01/2012 UK; LICHFIELD
MERCURY 26/01/2012 UK
Police in warning on street tricksters
POLICE have issued a warning about artists operating in Southend High Street. Officers have received a
string of reports about dodgy street sellers in recent weeks. Victims said they were offered cheap cigarettes.
But after partying with cash, they never received the goods. Officers recently arrested a man on suspicion of
tricking a least six people. SOUTHEND EVENING ECHO 25/01/2012 UK
Warning for illegal vodka
A POTENTIALLY lethal form of illegal vodka has been found on sale at a shop in Oxfordshire. Oxfordshire
County Council’s Trading Standards Service is again warning people to be vigilant against the counterfeit
‘Arctic Ice Vodka’ which contains dangerously high level of industrial solvent found in screen wash and nail
varnish remover. BANBURY GUARDIAN 26/01/2012 UK
Raids net haul
RAZOR blades, DVDs and bootleg booze and tobacco were seized when police, customs and trading
standards officers raided shops and homes in Leigh and Hindley. The packs of razor blades, part of a haul of
counterfeit goods seized in raids across the borough were dangerous fakes which pose a significant risk to
the public. LEIGH, TYLDESLEY & ATHERTON JOURNAL 26/01/2012 UK
Prison for pair guilty of fake cigarette plot
TWO men have been jailed for their role in a plot to flood the region with 500,000 counterfeits by Customs
officers. The pair had been stopped in Lichfield by Police on November 25, 2009. The van were driving in
was full of large cardboard boxes which they claimed contained ‘household items’, but contained cigarettes.
LICHFIELD MERCURY 26/01/2012 UK
Action on fake goods vowed
Market traders will continue to be monitored to ensure fake goods are not sold in Walsall, police have
insisted. More than 200 illegal DVDs were seized following a raid at Walsall’s Bescot Market last weekend.
One man was arrested following the crackdown on traders selling fake goods at the popular Sunday pitch.
selling fake booze and cigarettes, the echo can reveal. The raids will target 15 sites in a joint crack down by
Lincolnshire Trading Standards, Police, and HMRC. LINCOLN TARGET 27/01/2012 UK
Fake vodka warning
A WARNING has been issued about counterfeit vodka found on sale in an Oxfordshire shop. Arctic Ice,
which is branded to look like vodka, contains dangerously high levels of isopropyl alcohol, an industrial
solvent found in screen wash and nail varnish remover. It can cause symptoms including drowsiness,
stomach pain, and cramps, vomiting and diarrhoea and if enough is consumed it could lead to
unconsciousness and even death. HENLEY STANDARD 27/01/2012 UK; BICESTER REVIEW 27/01/2012;
BICESTER REVIEW 27/01/2012 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Husband and wife jailed over fake cigarettes sales
A HUSBAND and wife from Derbyshire who sold illicit cigarettes across the county have been jailed for 18
months and 12 months respectively. Officers seized nearly 400,000 cigarettes and 234 kilos of hand-rolling
tobacco from a storage unit rented by Melvin and Serena Mellors. Some of the cigarettes were counterfeit
and included brands such as Regal King size, Palace and Beaufort, resulting in a duty loss over £100,000
from public finances. DERBY TELEGRAPH 27/01/2012 UK
Crackdown on rogue traders
ROGUE traders selling shoddy goods are being targeted as part of a council operation. The clamp down by
Cheshire East Council’s consumer protection and investigation team comes after two arrests were made at a
car boot sale earlier this month. Council officials are working with Cheshire Police to combat the sale of
counterfeit goods. STOKE ON TRENT SENTINEL 28/01/2012 UK
Student blinded by bogus vodka
A student woke to find she was half blind after swigging a third of bottle of fake vodka. Lauren Platts, 21, still
suffers blurred sight and reduced peripheral vision two months later. Now doctors and trading standards
officers are warning people to beware of the bogus booze, which can contain meths, bleach, cleaning fluids
and chloroform. SUN, THE 31/01/2012 UK; YORKSHIRE POST (SERIES) 31/01/2012 UK; GLASGOW
EVENING TIMES 31/01/2012 UK; DONCASTER STAR 31/01/2012 UK
£50k fake clothing case sent to Crown Court
A HUSBAND and wife have been sent to Plymouth Crown Court in connection with a £50,000 alleged fake
clothes scam. Paul and Xuena Potter again faced magistrates accused of having 1,350 counterfeit garments
at their home. The couple are accused of importing clothes, mostly fake football shirts, from China and
selling them on auction website eBay. PLYMOUTH HERALD 31/01/2012 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
PRESS CUTTINGS: December 2011
Fake vodka is found on sale
ILLEGAL vodka which has potentially-harmful ingredients has been found on sale across Kent. Trading
Standards officers have found the product, named Drop Vodka, at independent retailers. Consumers are
advised not to drink it as it is believed to contain harmful chemicals including methanol and isopropanol and
is not registered by any company in the UK. The manufacturer is unknown.
MEDWAY NEWS 01/12/2011 UK; ABERDEEN EVENING EXPRESS (SERIES) 01/12/2011 UK; SURREY
MIRROR SERIES 01/12/2011 UK; BANBURY GUARDIAN 01/12/2011 UK; WEST SUSSEX COUNTY
TIMES (SERIES) 01/12/2011 UK; BOURNEMOUTH DAILY ECHO 03/12/2011 UK; BIRMINGHAM MAIL
03/12/2011 UK; WIDNES WEEKLY NEWS 08/12/2011 UK; REDDITCH ADVERTISER 09/12/2011 UK;
COLCHESTER DAILY GAZETTE 12/12/2011 UK; BLACKPOOL GAZETTE 22/11/2011 UK; BRISTOL
EVENING POST (SERIES) 26/11/2011 UK; DUNDEE COURIER & ADVERTISER (SERIES) 26/11/2011
UK; BRIGHTON ARGUS (MID SUSSEX EDITION) 28/11/2011 UK; YORK PRESS 28/11/2011 UK; DAILY
RECORD (SCOTLAND) 29/11/2011 UK; WITNEY GAZETTE 30/11/2011 UK
Good sports don’t fake it.
Trading standards officers in Angus are urging consumers to check, double check and check again to stay
safe from fraudsters exploiting one of the Country’s favourite pastime sports.
FORFAR DISPATCH 01/12/2011 UK
Beware fake online goods
ONLINE shoppers in the county are being warned to be careful in the run-up to Christmas. Oxfordshire
County Council’s trading standards service has seen a 2% rise in complaints compared to last year. It has
received 60 complaints about counterfeit products since April, half of which were online. Last Christmas the
majority of complaints were about counterfeit UGG boots and GHD hair straighteners.
BICESTER ADVERTISER 01/12/2011 UK
BABY BLING PERIL
Fake diamante beads on babies’ bottles and dummies could fall off and choke youngsters, say Suffolk safety
watchdogs. SUN, THE 02/12/2011 UK
Pair had 500,000 fake cigarettes, court told
A man from Wolverhampton was arrested when police stopped a van found to contain almost 500,000
counterfeit cigarettes in the back, a court heard. Police officers seized a book from the van which contained
a number of addresses linking to previous seizures of illicit cigarettes. EXPRESS & STAR WOLVERHAMPTON (CITY FINAL) 02/12/2011 UK; EXPRESS & STAR - DUDLEY ( LATE FINAL)
02/12/2011 UK
Fake goods to be crushed and recycled
Norfolk County Council Trading Standards service is ensuring that counterfeit goods, intended solely to
make illegal profit for those behind their production, are to go to a good home this Christmas. His church has
the ability to collect and securely store, vast amounts of counterfeit material, and offer undertaking to
de-badge branded goods. EASTERN DAILY PRESS 03/12/2011 UK
Unpaid work for fake goods trader
A MARKET stallholder has been given a 12 month supervision order and a community order of 140 hours of
unpaid work for selling counterfeit goods in Portland Market. Magistrates learned that Trading Standards
officers had been carrying out a routine check at Portland Market, on July 26 when they spotted Smale’s stall
with a ghd hair straightener sign on it. DORSET ECHO 03/12/2011 UK
Beware danger of festive fakes
CHRISTMAS shopping bargain hunters are being warned to watch out for dangerous festive fakes. West
Sussex County Council’s Trading Standards is also reminding consumers of their rights when shopping
online or over the phone. The advice is to buy from reputable sources. BRIGHTON ARGUS 06/12/2011 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Blitz reveals illegal booze at off-licence
ILLEGAL booze was found being sold behind the counter at off-licences in Nuneaton and Bedworth during a
blitz. Warwickshire CC Trading Standards Service co-ordinated the sting against the sale of fake drink and
visited a number of stores in the borough and the rest of the county. In what was a pre-Christmas Strike,
officers visited 34 sites in the county and it was found that five in the Nuneaton and Bedworth area were
selling counterfeit drink. NUNEATON NEWS 06/12/2011 UK
175 BOTTLES OF FAKE BOOZE SEIZED FROM OFF-LICENCES
TRADING standards officers seized thousands of pounds worth of bogus booze as part of a crackdown on
counterfeit goods in Warwickshire. They seized 175 bottles of spirits from seven off-licences including Danoff
vodka, High Commissioner Scotch whisky and Checkov and glens vodka. Shop owners were selling the
booze worth £2,000 at the full market price to try and avoid getting caught.
COVENTRY TELEGRAPH (SERIES) 06/12/2011 UK
Shoppers warned over fake presents
CHRISTMAS shoppers looking for a bargain should be wary of counterfeit goods which flood the market in
the run-up to the festive season. Fake UGG Boots, GHD hair straighteners, iPhones and iPads are among
the tens of the counterfeit items that have been seized by officers as they have been brought into the country
in recent months. LIVERPOOL DAILY POST 07/12/2011 UK; EXPRESS & STAR - WOLVERHAMPTON
(CITY FINAL) 07/12/2011 UK; EXPRESS & STAR - WOLVERHAMPTON (CITY FINAL) 07/12/2011 UK;
Warning over risks of a counterfeit Christmas
WITH CHRISTMAS approaching consumers are being urged not to support international organised crime by
purchasing counterfeit goods. The search for bargains is ever more frantic as many households struggle to
tighten their belts in a tough financial climate. DUNDEE COURIER & ADVERTISER (SERIES) 07/12/2011
WARNING ON FAKE GOODS
MORE than 13,000 fake goods worth £14.5million have been seized at a postal hub in Coventry so far this
year. Among the counterfeit items found at the Coventry Airport, were fake Ugg boots, GHD hair
straighteners, Nike clothing, designer sunglasses and counterfeit golf clubs. Officials from UK Border
Agency, based at the hub, are now urging festive shoppers to be careful about what they buy and where the
buy it from. COVENTRY TELEGRAPH (SERIES) 07/12/2011 UK
Warning over unsafe vodka
ANY Plymouth businesses that have been sold Drop Vodka are being warned not to sell it o the public as it
is not safe to drink. There have been no reports of Drop Vodka in Plymouth, so far, but trading standards and
customs officers found 92 bottles of counterfeit vodka and nearly 2,000 bottles of contraband wine during a
raid in Plymouth early this year. The Food Standard Agency has issued a warning nationally about Drop
Vodka after bottles of the illicit drink were found for sale in Scunthorpe, Norwich, Wakefield and Leeds.
Warning over Christmas
Christmas shoppers looking for bargains should be wary of counterfeit goods which flood the market in the
run up to the festive season, the UK Border Agency warned today. EDINBURGH EVE. NEWS 07/12/2011
‘Beware of fakes’ in hunt for bargains
Christmas shoppers looking for a bargain should be wary of counterfeit goods which flood the market in the
run-up to the festive season, the UK Border Agency warned. Fake UGG Boots, GHD hair straighteners,
iPhones and iPads are among the tens of thousands of counterfeit items that have been seized by officers
as they have been brought into the country in recent months. YORKSHIRE POST (SERIES) 07/12/2011 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Fined for selling fake vodka
AN OFF-licence worker has been fined for supplying counterfeit vodka. Labels said the alcohol content was
37.5% proof contrary to the Food Safety Act 1990. Bracknell Magistrates heard that Ajit Singh Kapoo sold
the counterfeit vodka at Booze Bargain in London Road, Twyford, as popular brand Smirnoff.
READING CHRONICLE 08/12/2011 UK
FATAL FAKES
BEWARE of cheap, counterfeit consoles and other electrical goods flooding from the Far East- they could
kill. Consumer group Which? issued the warning after investigating fake items on the market. They found
dodgy wiring on bogus Nintendo Wii’s could electrocute a child. While fake iPhones, laptops and Nintendo
DSi handhelds were at risk of overheating. DAILY MIRROR 08/12/2011 UK
Counterfeit Uggs worth £9m seized at docks
IT was a haul worth £9m and thought to be one of the largest seizures of its kind. Fake Ugg boots destined
to flood the Christmas market were stopped from getting any further than the containers they were packed in
after they were discovered by officers at Southampton docks. SOUTHERN DAILY ECHO 08/12/2011 UK
Don’t fall for the Christmas fakes
SHOPPERS in Huddersfield are being warned not to buy counterfeit Christmas gifts. Trading Standards
officers and the UK Border Agency have issued warnings about the materials and safety of some counterfeit
items being illegally sold. HUDDERSFIELD DAILY EXAMINER 08/12/2011 UK
Fakes warning
ON-LINE shoppers are being warned to be careful of cheap and counterfeit goods this Christmas. Consumer
champion Which? has found nearly one in 10 people have bought a fake product by mistake in the last two
years. Nearly a quarter of the items were from websites including Amazon and eBay. Which? worked with
Trading Standards and unearthed knock-off electronics including fake iPhones and Nintendo DSi games
consoles. COVENTRY TELEGRAPH (SERIES) 08/12/2011 UK
Move to stub out illegal cigs
NHS Yorkshire and Trading standards have joined forces to combat the trade in illegal cigarettes and
tobacco. It is estimated that 47% of hand rolled tobacco and eight per cent of cigarettes are illicit, making
smoking more affordable and consequently more attractive to children and young people.
DEWSBURY REPORTER 09/12/2011 UK
Festive cheatings: £1m haul of fake goods seized.
A HAUL of fake goods worth £31m has been seized by trading standards officers in a swoop on a
Manchester wholesale business. The bogus load was enough to fill two 20 tonne articulated lorries all
destined to be sold by black market traders over Christmas. The haul, from the Strangeways area of the city,
included fake Ugg boots, Barbour jackets, G-star jeans and ghd hair straighteners.
MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS 09/12/2011 UK
Join us in crackdown in smuggling, urge customs
CUSTOMS officers are urging people in Medway to help them combat tobacco smuggling. People in the
Town are being warned to be on the look out for traders selling cheap counterfeit cigarettes and alcohol. It
follows a crackdown on smuggling in Medway by HM revenue & Customs (HMRC) in partnership with the
police and Trading Standards. KENT MESSENGER (SITTINGBOURNE EDITION) 09/12/2011 UK
Don’t fall foul of fake goods
SHOPPERS are being warned to avoid purchasing counterfeit goods this Christmas. Unofficial Uggs, knock
off Nikes and plastic Pandora bracelets are just some of the fake items seized by Doncaster Council over the
last year. DONCASTER ADVERTISER 09/12/2011 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Toying with child safety
DANGEROUS toys that could choke, cause allergies or give a child an electric shock are on sale this
Christmas. Trading Standards officials have warned of the fakes as some disreputable sellers are ignoring
an EU toy safety law enacted in July. More than 9,000 unsafe toys were found on Lorries in Dover, Kent,
while badly made dolls were seized in Felixtowe. Suffolk. DAILY MIRROR 12/12/2011 UK
Festive warning as fakes worth 200k seized at airport
Fake goods worth around £200,000 have been seized at Stansted Airport in the lead up to Christmas.
Festive shoppers are being warned to be careful about what they buy at Christmas by UK Border Agency
officers following the seizures in recent months. Nearly 1,800 pairs of fake Ugg boots have been detected at
Stansted Airport - worth about £170,000 - since September, and in November, more than 200 pairs of bogus
Dr Dre headphones, with a total value of £30,000, were seized. Other forgeries found by agency staff
included GHD hair straighteners, iPhones and designer clothing. CAMBRIDGE NEWS 12/12/2011 UK
Warning on fake Christmas presents
Detectives in Airedale and North Bradford are warning people to ensure they are not exchanging their cash
for fake goods this Christmas. They say counterfeit hair straightness, designer clothes, watches, toys and
CDs are among the items which commonly go on sale in the area either through markets or websites.
Officers are currently working with partners in trading standards to investigate offences and are advising that
many fake products will not comply with UK health and safety regulations while some, such as counterfeit
electrical items, could be dangerous. YORKSHIRE POST (SERIES) 12/12/2011 UK
Trade sold fake football shirts
An on-line trader has admitted selling hundreds of fake England football shirts on the internet after an
investigation by trading standards officers. Paul Jones, aged 40, of Handley Road, New Whittington, pleaded
guilty to four charges of trademarks offences. Officers found that Jones had used eBay and Paypal accounts
belonging to a friend and his partner to sell 461 counterfeit England shirts before the World Cup in 2010.
Fined £4,000 for copyright breach
A STRATFORD man who sold ‘chipped’ games consoles, allowing counterfeit games to be played on them,
was last week sentenced to 12 months of community service and fined £4,000. Mark Burkey aged 42, from
Justin’s Avenue, ran a website offering ‘chipped’ consoles and illegal games for five year, causing an
estimated financial harm to the gaming industry of hundreds of thousands of pounds.
STRATFORD UPON AVON MIDWEEK 13/12/2011 UK
Man hoarded fake cigarettes
A takeaway worker has been fined after he admitted stashing fake cigarettes in the shop where he worked.
Bahram Karimi, 22, of Alma Place, Bradford Moor, worked at Euro Fried Chicken in Killinghall, Road where
Trading Standards officers found a hoard of counterfeit cigarettes and packets which did not include warning
labels. He pleaded guilty at Bradford Magistrates Court yesterday to eight offences after the cigarettes were
found during an inspection at the takeaway on May 3 this year.
BRADFORD TELEGRAPH & ARGUS (SERIES) 13/12/2011 UK
Public warned Drop Vodka may cause serious illness and asked to
Warnings are being issued to the public about the sale of illegal vodka that could damage their health.
Oxfordshire County Councils Trading Standards Service is warning people not to drink Drop Vodka, an
illegal brand of the spirit, which has been found on sale in shops across the country. Drop Vodka is not
registered by any company in the UK and could be harmful as it is unknown what the drink contains.
OXFORDSHIRE GUARDIAN (WITNEY & WEST OXON EDITION) 14/12/2011 UK
Vodka sentence
A 32-year-old man from St Helens has admitted possessing counterfeit vodka. A fine of 200 was imposed
with £1000 cost awarded. Mr Bradley’s personal alcohol licence was also suspended for a week.
ST HELENS REPORTER 14/12/2011 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Revellers warned over fake vodka
Fake vodka has been seized from off-licence shelves across Essex. Essex CC TS are warning shoppers
who are preparing to stock up on alcohol for the festive season to be extra-careful when choosing their
brand. Fake bottles of Glens Vodka have been detected in the Essex circulation. Essex consumers are being
warned to only buy from shops they know and trust. Businesses have been told to purchase only from
reputable wholesalers and stockist and avoid man in a van discounts.
BRAINTREE & WITHAM TIMES 14/12/2011 UK
Bargain hunters
PEOPLE are being advised to steer clear of counterfeit goods as Christmas beckons. Police and trading
standards chiefs say bargains bought at events such as car boot sales are often fake. They are keen to
stamp out the illegal trade and urge shoppers not to be fooled as the season of goodwill comes ever closer.
Police investigations have shown that the proceeds from the sale of counterfeit goods are often linked to
serious organised crime and in some cases go towards funding internationals terrorism.
NUNEATON NEWS 15/12/2011 UK
Warning over fake presents
CUSTOMS officers at Stansted Airport have issued a seasonal warning to shoppers about counterfeit goods.
Border Agency staff at the Essex hub have seized fakes worth hundreds of thousands of pounds in recent
months. BISHOP’S STORTFORD & SAWBRIDGEWORTH OBSERVER 15/12/2011 UK
Drinker’s fears over fake booze
HUNGOVER drinkers are blaming counterfeit vodka for their headaches. Following reports in the Argus of
some bottles of spirits containing illegal levels of industrial alcohol, several revellers have called trading
standards suggesting the vodka they have drunk has been fake. BRIGHTON ARGUS 15/12/2011 UK
Warning over illegal vodka
AN ILLEGAL and potentially harmful brand of vodka that could possibly damage people’s sight has infiltrated
the market and has been found in shops in East Barnet and Mill Hill. The Borough is one of the numbers of
areas in the country where the fake vodka has been discovered on sale and the Food Standards Agency is
now warning consumers not to drink the illegal sprit called Drop Vodka.
BARNET & WHETSTONE PRESS 15/12/2011 UK
Warning over fake goods going on sale
Keighley shoppers seeking a bargain this Christmas are being urged to be wary of counterfeit goods. West
Yorkshire TS Service warns that some cut-price items being advertised online as genuine, high quality
trademarked products may not live up to expectations. It said even excellent copies were usually made
from inferior materials and could be unsafe. KEIGHLEY NEWS 15/12/2011 UK
Toxic vodka seller fined
Surrey: A shopkeeper who sold vodka that could have caused blindness has been fined £16,000. Fourteen
bottles of the toxic substance were found at a store in Ashford last year. The liquid was found to contain 235
times the legal level of methanol, which could cause drinkers to go blind, according to Trading Standards
officers. LEATHERHEAD ADVERTISER 15/12/2011 UK
Off-licence faces rap for sale of fake wine
An off-licence is having its licence called in for review by the Royal Borough in the New Year - for the second
time. The future of Drinks Superstore, King Street, also known as Kings Stores, is due to be discussed by
the councils licensing committee on Thursday, January 5 after 57 bottles of fake Jacobs Creek wine were
found on its shelves in April. Licence holder Gurchuran Singh Sidhu had already appeared before the panel
last year after police complained he had served underage and intoxicated people.
MAIDENHEAD ADVERTISER 15/12/2011 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Crackdown on sellers of fake goods
Fake clothing, DVDs and jewellery are flooding the Black Country and Staffordshire in the run-up to
Christmas. Trading standards officers are stepping up surveillance of pubs and car boot sales to crack down
on sellers looking to cash-in on Christmas sales. And officers are also tracking internet auction sites after it
emerged sellers have been turning to the web to flog their goods. It can now be revealed that illegal traders
have been linked to serious and organised crime. And investigators have issued a stark warning to bargain
hunters about the potential deadly dangers of buying fake goods for their loved ones. SANDWELL &
GREAT BARR CHRONICLE 15/12/2011 UK; WOLVERHAMPTON CHRONICLE 15/12/2011 UK
Car check revealed haul of fake tobacco
Two men from Wolverhampton and Walsall are facing jail after an out-of-date driving licence foiled their bid
to smuggle 500,000 cigarettes. The pair were stopped during routine police checks on vehicles travelling
along the A5 at Wall, Staffordshire. Driver Hiwa Ali, aged 27 did not have a valid driving licence and was
therefore not insured to take the wheel. He was arrested and a search of the van revealed the haul of fake
Superking cigarettes hidden in boxes in the back. More than £90,000 duty had been evaded on the load.
WOLVERHAMPTON CHRONICLE 15/12/2011 UK
Counterfeiters made to feel the squeeze at Christmas...
FRAUDSTERS selling counterfeit clothes were given an unwanted 'early Christmas present' when their van
was crushed by trading standards officials. The white 'Y-registered Ford Transit van was found loaded with
counterfeit clothing with an estimated value of up to £45,000 at Donington Market, Castle Donington, on
September 25. On the same day, officers seized fake Rolex watches and trainers with an estimated retail
value of £225,000 from two separate stalls. The traders were arrested and are currently being investigated.
Yesterday, the van was reduced to scrap as a warning to illegal traders looking to cash in at Christmas.
David Bull, head of Leicestershire County Council's trading standards, said: "This sends a strong message to
the counterfeiters that all the powers available to trading standards and the police will be used to
stamp out this illegal trade. BURTON MAIL 15/12/2011 UK; DERBY TELEGRAPH 19/12/2011 UK
Drinkers warned of fake vodka
Fake vodka has been seized from off-licence shelves across Essex. Essex County Councils trading
standards department is warning shoppers getting ready to stock up on alcohol for the festive season to be
careful when choosing their brand. Fake bottles of Glens Vodka have been detected in Essex. Consumers
are being warned to buy only from shops they know and trust. Businesses have been told to buy only from
reputable wholesalers and stockist and avoid man in a van discounts. CLACTON GAZETTE 15/12/2011 UK
Illegal alcohol seized at off-licences
SEVERAL bottles of vodka unfit for human consumption were among illegal alcohol seized from a number of
off-licences in the Bury area. Trading Standards, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) and Greater Manchester
Police took part in the joint operation following reports that the off-licences targeted were selling counterfeit
alcohol. HMRC seized 756 litres of wine, 868 litres of beer and more than 175 litres of spirits, equating to
nearly £4,300 in evaded duty and VAT. Tests showed some bottles of vodka, unfit for human consumption,
had 91.4g of methanol in every 100 litres, more than nine times the legal limit. BURY TIMES 15/12/2011 UK
Danger toys seized
CUSTOMS chiefs at Heathrow have seized dangerous toys among millions of pounds of counterfeit goods.
Officials have discovered a number of fake items including Hello Kitty jewellery boxes and the latest
Nintendo DS. More than 9,000 dangerous toys have been found at Dover.
EVENING STANDARD 16/12/2011 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
More than £1,000 of counterfeit booze and tobacco seized in city
TRADING standards officers seized more than £1,000 of counterfeit cigarettes and alcohol in a crackdown
on the illicit trade. Seven shops out of 22 visited on a day of action in Derby were found to have fake goods.
The coordinated crackdown followed the recent destruction of more than 110,000 cigarettes and 100kg of
tobacco which had been seized by Derby City Councils trading standards team in recent years. Analysis
showed that some samples contained seven times the permitted levels of cadmium, which is known to
damage the kidneys, and six times the permitted levels of lead, which damages the nervous and
reproductive systems. Fake vodka is also an emerging problem in the city. In August, the council discovered
illicit Drop vodka, which was found to contain cleaning fluid isopropyl alcohol, on sale in the city.
DERBY TELEGRAPH 16/12/2011 UK
Crackdown on fake brands
DESIGNER watches and big-name brand items have been seized as part of a crackdown on counterfeit
goods in Worcestershire. Worcestershire Regulatory Services, formerly trading standards, environmental
health and licensing have joined forces to carry out raids at home and businesses premises as part of a
Christmas ant counterfeiting campaign. BIRMINGHAM MAIL 17/12/2011 UK
Fake wine suppliers keeps licence
A DRINKS supplier who sold fake wine to shops has kept his alcohol licence. Salvatore Capuano provided
Counterfeit Jacob’s Creek wine to shops in Brighton and Hove which later lost their licences as a result.
Magistrates turned down an application by Brighton and Hove City Council to have his licence removed.
BRIGHTON ARGUS 17/12/2011 UK
Warning over fake big names
More than £100,000 worth of counterfeit goods have been seized in a trading standards operation in
Halesowen. The items, which were recovered from a property in the town, included a number of big name
brands including Ugg boots, Pauls Boutique, Hunter, Superdry, Berghaus, Pandora bracelets and Juicy
Couture. It has prompted trading standards officers to warn shoppers to be careful in the run up to the festive
season. EXPRESS & STAR - WOLVERHAMPTON (CITY FINAL) 17/12/2011 UK
Killer toys
Killer toys have been seized from Blackpool shops as part of a pre-Christmas purge. Deadly dolls, with
buttons hanging off, hair falling out and heads that could have broken off, were removed from the shelves by
Trading Standards officers. They swooped on shops and street traders across the town confiscating fake
and untested goods, such as Thomas the Tank Engines and Disney goods, including Mickey Mouse copies.
The haul, which also included racing cars and toy irons, are now being looked at by safety experts for small
parts which could choke youngsters, high toxic paint content and dangerous electrics. Steven Ash, a
Blackpool Council public safety officer, said the goods did not feature the vital CE stamp, which is used to
certify toys have been properly safety tested. BLACKPOOL GAZETTE 17/12/2011 UK
Shop under review
TWO shops risk losing their licences this week. Tipple, previously known as Red White and Rose in Queen’s
Road, Brighton, is having its alcohol licence reviewed by Brighton and Hove City Council today. The reviews
were prompted by reports from trading standards officers about the sale of fake Jacob’s Creek wine at Tipple
and fake vodka at Rolyns. BRIGHTON ARGUS 19/12/2011 UK
Convenience store fined after selling fake vodka
A CITY centre convenience store has been fined for selling cut-price counterfeit vodka. Trading Standards
Officers first became suspicious when they noticed 70cl bottles of vodka sold a just £8.49 at The Premier
Store on West Street, Sheffield. SHEFFIELD STAR (SERIES) 19/12/2011 UK
Fakes get cheaper
Counterfeit goods are becoming cheaper and more easily available, according to a study by KPMG. The
accountancy firm found that fake goods were 80% cheaper than genuine items in nearly half of the 20 cities
that it surveyed across the world. Birmingham has knocked London of its perch as the most expensive place
in which to buy counterfeit goods included in the annual survey. TIMES, THE 19/12/2011 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Fake vodka has traces of chloroform
ILLEGAL vodka confiscated in York contained chloroform, council officials have confirmed. As reported in
The Press previously, six bottles of counterfeit vodka were sent for tests last month after being seized from a
city shop. Sean Suckling, head of the food and safety unit at City of York Council, said: "We confiscated six
bottles of counterfeit vodka from a premises in York last month following a complaint from a member of the
public. Tests have shown that the vodka was contaminated with chloroform”. YORK PRESS 19/12/2011 UK
Trader ordered to pay £60k or face jail
A TRADER who sold counterfeit clothes from his stall at Wellesbourne Market will have to sell a house he
owns to pay a £60,000 confiscation order or face 20 months in jail. STRATFORD-U-AVON MIDWEEK
20/12/2011 UK
Warning issue over sales of fake alcohol
DRINKERS are risking their health and wasting their money on fake wine and spirits in Bournemouth,
according to trading standards officers. They have seized a least 70 cases of counterfeit wine and several
bottles of so called Drop Vodka, which is harmful to health, smells like nail varnish remover and contains
lethal chemicals including methanol and isopropanol. BOURNEMOUTH DAILY ECHO 20/12/2011 UK
Fake fags danger
Pendle MP Andrew Stephenson has praised the work being done to convict people selling illegal tobacco.
He said: It was recently estimated that in East Lancashire we have some of the highest rates of fake
cigarettes being sold. LANCASHIRE TELEGRAPH 20/12/2011 UK
£24m counterfeits seized at airport
A leather handbag with a clutch that doubles up as a deadly knuckleduster, fake Ugg boots, iPhones, Rolex
watches and DR Dre headphones were among a haul of counterfeit goods ordered by Midland shoppers
over the internet. UK Border agency officers seized 20,000 parcels containing 500,000 illicit items worth £24
million at Coventry Airport this year. The agency has warned that unsuspecting customers are not only left
out of pocket, but could be putting their own safety at risk by exposing themselves to dangerous and
unregulated products. BIRMINGHAM MAIL 20/12/2011 UK; BIRMINGHAM MAIL 21/12/2011 UK
Warning over fake presents
Cost-conscious people in South Tyneside risk falling victim to rogue traders selling counterfeit goods,
according to new figures. A survey by YouGov found that nearly 17% of people in the area had knowingly
bought fake goods as they struggle to make ends meet, and a further 10% said that they had been tempted
to buy counterfeits. 20% would consider buying counterfeits because they are cheaper, and 16% say they do
it because they have less money to spend. SOUTH SHIELDS GAZETTE 20/12/2011 UK; WESTERN
MORNING NEWS (SERIES) 22/12/2011 UK
Fake goods seized at weekly market
A total of 2,000 counterfeit goods with a street value of £20,000 were seized during a police raid at Walsall's
Bescot Market. Five people were arrested during the raid. Fake DVDs, Ugg boots and handbags were
among the items seized. The pre-planned raid was part of Operation Verve, which aims to tackle criminality
in the run-up to Christmas. Four men aged 17, 19, 40 and 45 and a 21-year-old woman were arrested on
suspicion of selling goods bearing a false trademark. They have all been bailed pending further inquiries.
Police, trading standards officers and workers from the Federation Against Copyright Theft were all involved
in the crackdown. Sgt Paul Talbot, of Walsall police station, said: "We are extremely pleased with the results
this weekend. EXPRESS & STAR - WOLVERHAMPTON (CITY FINAL) 20/12/2011 UK
Watch out and enjoy the real deal at Christmas
Customs chiefs have warned people to be on the lookout for dodgy Christmas bargains. And the message to
shoppers is: If a bargain seems too good to be true, it probably is. Fake smart phones, tablet computers,
Hello Kitty products, GHD hair straigthteners and designer clothes are among the tens of thousands of
counterfeit items seized by officers from HM Revenue and Customs in recent months. Now HMRC bosses
have warned that counterfeit goods are illegal to import, even if they are bought online.
PAISLEY DAILY EXPRESS 20/12/2011 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Don’t get into the counterfeit Christmas spirit
EATING, drinking and being merry is what Christmas is all about but in a stark warning from Trading
Standards, people are being warned of the dangers of illicit or counterfeit alcohol. Consumers are being
reminded to be aware of illicit or counterfeit alcohol products, namely spirits and wine that are more widely
available at this time of the year. UTTOXETER ECHO 21/12/2011 UK
Fakes seized
Officers seized a haul of designer clothes and jewellery suspected to be fake. Police from the upper Valley
neighbourhood policing team found the goods on sale on Todmorden. A 31-year-old-man and a 28-year-old
woman have been arrested. Evening Courier, Halifax 21/12/2011 UK
Warning over fake goods
COST-conscious shoppers in West Yorkshire have been warned they could be buying counterfeit goods.
The public in Yorkshire need to wake up to the threat of counterfeit goods and realise that when they
purchase such goods online they are dealing with a faceless person in another part of the world.
HUDDERSFIELD DAILY EXAMINER 21/12/2011 UK
Guitars probe
Police officers working with Yorkshire Trading Standards issued two warrants to search properties in Norton
and Malton following information that counterfeit guitars were being distributed from the area.
RYEDALE GAZETTE & HERALD 21/12/2011 UK
Trader had fake goods on his stall
A Wolverhampton market trader who sold fake Ugg boots, Henleys hoodies and Lacoste tracksuits has been
given a community order and told to pay costs of £1,818. Max Davis knew he was selling dodgy goods from
his stall at Bilston Outdoor Market, Wolverhampton magistrates heard yesterday. Davis, aged 24, of St Johns
Wood, Rednall, Birmingham, admitted 18 counts of possessing goods with a false trademark for sale.
Watch out for fake goods
AVOID buying fake goods as cheap presents this Christmas. That's the warning from Hampshire County
Council's Trading Standards, who say that counterfeit perfumes, booze and electrical goods could be
dangerous. Every year, officers seize more than 10,000 items of fake goods at car boot sales and markets,
including clothing, handbags, watches, DVDs and cigarettes. They warn that fake vodka or whisky could
contain high levels of methanol, which can cause blindness, fake perfume could irritate or burn the skin, and
that fake electrical items could overheat, explode or burnout quickly. BASINGSTOKE EXTRA 21/12/2011
Soccer shirt faker jailed
A man who made £386,000 peddling counterfeit sports memorabilia on EBay has been jailed for 12 months.
Christian Cassidy, who at the time lived in Llys Madoc, Towyn was not only selling bogus soccer shirts but so
too was his claim that they were signed by the stars because he was signing them himself.
RHYL, PRESTATYN & ABERGELE JOURNAL 21/12/2011 UK; DAILY POST, THE 21/12/2011 UK
Fake fags shock
Tens of thousands of people in East Lancashire are smoking illegal cigarettes, according to an investigation.
The probe, on behalf of a legitimate cigarette firm, also revealed that in half of the areas shopkeepers knew
of rogue tobacco traders. A former top cop at Scotland Yard, who investigated the situation in Blackburn,
said that counterfeit cigarettes were freely available. And he said the easy sales of fake tobacco taking place
in the back streets of the town are funding organised crime. Local trading standards teams revealed the area
has a particular problem because of the use of unregulated shisha and other specialist Asian tobacco. There
is also a problem with fake cigarettes being sold in back alleys, car parks and shops, former Met Police
detective Will O’Reilly said. LANCASHIRE TELEGRAPH 21/12/2011 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Arrest after £20k of fake goods are seized
FIVE people have been arrested and released on bail after £20,000 were recovered at a local market. Police
and trading standards officers swooped on Bescot market on Sunday morning (December 18) as part of the
operation Verve a crackdown on illegal traders in the run-up for Christmas
WALSALL ADVERTISER 22/12/2011 UK
Counterfeit goods quick off blocks
OLYMPIC sportswear has joined booze and tobacco on the podium in the fakes race this Christmas. South
Yorkshire has seen an explosion in dodgy games-related goods being sold at markets and on the internet,
according to Trading Standards. The counterfeit industry is having one of its best Christmases ever - as
officials paid to protect the public are squeezed by spending cuts. Sheffield Trading Standards manager Phil
Glaves said: "We are dealing with big distribution networks at the moment, especially tobacco and alcohol,
but we're also seeing an explosion in sportswear in the run-up to the Olympics. "It's traditional brands, but
the quality varies, the makers are not paying taxes and it's funding other forms of criminality”.
DONCASTER STAR 22/12/2011 UK; SHEFFIELD STAR (CITY FIRST EDITION) 22/12/2011 UK
Rogue traders face jail
Festive shoppers are being warned to watch out for online scams. West Yorkshire Trading Standards has
warned consumers to beware of social networking websites selling cheap branded goods. Every year West
Yorkshire Trading Standards Service receives hundreds of complaints from consumers who have bought
counterfeit goods on line thinking they are getting a bargain. Often goods are described as genuine and are
offered at discounted prices accompanied by photographs of the real thing. But when the goods arrive they
are often poor quality replicas, cheaply made in the Far East. DEWSBURY REPORTER 22/12/2011 UK;
SPENBOROUGH GUARDIAN (INCORPORATING HECKMONDWIKE HERALD 22/12/2011 UK
Warning over gift bargains
Consumer watchdogs have warned shoppers to steer clear of bargain last-minute Christmas gifts which may
turn out to counterfeit. The alert from Trading Standards follows the prosecution of a man who was selling
counterfeit jewellery, clothing and toys online. MIDDLESBROUGH EVENING GAZETTE 22/12/2011 UK
Fake goods worth £30k are seized from vans
COUNTERFEIT goods worth £30,000 were seized in a crackdown on traders heading to a North Wales
market. Four people were arrested on Saturday as police pulled over vans and discovered thousands of
pounds, worth of fake designer clothing, shoes and make up. Officers began their checks at 5am, stopping
drivers on the A414 and M11. ESSEX CHRONICLE SERIES 22/12/2011 UK
Lorry’s 130,000 litres of smuggled booze seized
WITHAM: Counterfeit and smuggled alcohol has been seized in Witham. Officers from HM Revenue and
Customs searched a warehouse in Witham and discovered a lorry loaded with 130.000 litres of wine on
which the duty had not been paid. As well as smuggled alcohol, Trading Standards officers also found
bottles of fake Glen’s Vodka in independent storse in the town, but are refusing to reveal the two locations.
ESSEX CHRONICLE SERIES 22/12/2011 UK
Swoops on fake traders
Police carried out a series of raids in Evesham and seized a haul counterfeit goods. Entry warrants were
carried out at residential addresses and a business by Worcestershire Regulatory Services as part of its
Christmas anti-counterfeiting campaign. The exact locations of the raids can not be revealed as the
investigation is still currently ongoing but it comes after the service received complaints from people
concerned fake goods were being sold. EVESHAM OBSERVER 23/12/2011 UK
Fake labels are seized
One of Gloucester’s most popular markets provided the unlikely backdrop for a massive haul of suspected
fake goods. Items worth £1,000 were seized from Hempstead Market on Wednesday.
GLOUCESTER CITIZEN 23/12/2011 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
£110,000 from sale of fakes
A man made £110,000 selling fake Bose headphones imported from China, a court heard. Surmip Aoulik, of
Laurel Drive, Smethwick, pleaded guilty at Wolverhampton Crown Court yesterday to six charges relating to
selling counterfeit goods. Judge Michael Challinor adjourned the hearing until January 16 for sentencing and
ordered reports on the defendant to be prepared. EXPRESS & STAR - DUDLEY ( LATE FINAL) 23/12/2011
Counterfeit toys seized in raid on trader
Fake Thomas the Tank Engine and Roary racing car toys have been seized by trading standards in the runup to Christmas. Officers took 38 of the look-alike toys from a trader in Chatham. They said the toys could
easily be confused with genuine versions by parents and grandparents buying presents.
KENT MESSENGER (SITTINGBOURNE EDITION) 23/12/2011 UK
Indian firms in ‘fake Scotch’ row
AN INDIAN court has granted a temporary injunction against two drinks companies in the Country in a ‘fake’
Scotch whisky row, Scottish industry officials have said. The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) believes the
Indian whisky brands Royal Barrel, Glenmon and F&G were being passed off as Scotch Whisky through their
labelling and packaging. DUNDEE COURIER & ADVERTISER (SERIES) 23/12/2011 UK
Newsagents alcohol licence is suspended
A newsagents has had its alcohol licence suspended for two months for selling counterfeit bottles of whisky
and vodka. A Brigthon and Hove CC panel took the decision to suspend the license of Rolyns News in North
Road, Brighton, to allow the store’s staff to receive more training. BRIGHTON ARGUS 23/12/2011 UK
Taxman hammers cigarette smuggler
A Cardiff man jailed for smuggling 1.2 million counterfeit cigarettes into the UK has been ordered to pay
almost £300,000 or face another three and a half years in jail. Ihtesham Ali Hassan, 32, of Clive Street, had
admitted shipping the cigarettes from China to Southampton by concealing them in wooden doors.
Fake goods crackdown to continue
Council chiefs in Walsall have vowed to continue a crackdown on counterfeit goods. It comes after figures
revealed around £26,000 of fake items including trainers, DVDs and clothes, were seized during the past
year. This compares to more than £140,000 worth of goods the year before. Councillor Zahid Ali, cabinet
member for communities, said: "The reduction in the number and value of seized goods for this year
however should not be taken as an indication that the problem is decreasing”.
Vodka alert
Complaints from drinkers have helped trading standards officers uncover dozens of bottles of fake and
potentially harmful vodka. Eight different brands of illicit vodka have seized from small convenience stores in
Bournemouth in the run-up for Christmas. BOURNEMOUTH DAILY ECHO 28/12/2011 UK
Counterfeit goods are seized in raids
A haul of fake and potentially dangerous counterfeit goods were destined as Christmas gifts. Trading
standards officers seized the toys, fake mobile phone chargers, bottles of vodka and counterfeit make-up
products during a number of raids. NEWHAM RECORDER 28/12/2011 UK
Trio arrested following seizure of counterfeit clothing
Three people from Newham have been arrested after counterfeit goods with an estimated street value of
more than £330,000 were seized during an Essex Police operation near Harlow. The goods involved fake
designer clothes, boots and make-up and they were held for questioning when police were checking vans
and lorries that were heading for the Saturday market at NorthWeald airfield on December 17.
NEWHAM RECORDER 28/12/2011 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Four arrested on counterfeit goods charges
Four people from Newham were arrested after an operation in Hastingwood, Essex in which boxes of fake
designer clothes, boots and make-up were seized one week before Christmas. A 26-year-old man from
Canning Town and a 30-year-old man from Plaistow were detained on suspicion of having counterfeit
clothing. NEWHAM RECORDER 28/12/2011 UK
Man sold fake goods on eBay
A Newport man convicted of selling £22,000- worth of counterfeit goods online was ordered to pay back
almost £20,000. Richard Stratton, 39, of Llanwern Road, appeared at Cardiff Crown Court on December 21,
where he was made the subject of a Proceeds of Crime Act confiscation order worth £16,658.59. He was
also fined £1,500, told to pay £1,500 costs and ordered to carry out 160 hours of unpaid work.
SOUTH WALES ARGUS 28/12/2011 UK
Fake goods seized in big crackdown
Thousands of pounds worth of fake trainers, clothing, illegal alcohol and bracelets have been seized across
Walsall in a year-long crackdown. More than £26,000 worth of counterfeit items were discovered by trading
standards officers in the area during the last 12 months.
Record haul of tobacco seized
Coventry Trading Standards officers confiscated more than 500,000 individual cigarettes in the eight months
since April - a record amount and up 31% on last year. Trading Standards officials blame the rise on the
attractive risk to reward ratio for criminals, because the penalties for peddling illegal tobacco are less severe
than for drugs. COVENTRY TELEGRAPH (SERIES) 28/12/2011 UK
Fake booze could prove to be lethal
REVELLERS have been warned to keep their eyes peeled for potentially-lethal bootlegged liquor during New
Year celebrations. The alert was raised by trading standards officers in Staffordshire after around 1,800
bottles of fake booze were discovered in searches of off-licences in recent months. Tests carried out on the
bottles found the toxin methanol, a chemical used in antifreeze which can cause sickness, blurred vision,
blindness and even death. BIRMINGHAM MAIL 30/12/2011 UK
Fake wine warning
Hogmanay revellers are being warned to be on the lookout for a batch of fake wines. Following a complaint
from resident, East Renfrewshire Councils environmental health and trading standards officers this week
investigated bottles of alleged counterfeit Blossom Hill White Zinfandel wine.
Raids uncover £20,000 of fake goods
More than £20,000 of fake designer goods was seized during dawn raids in Turf Hill. Police and trading
standards officers took away three carloads of Ugg boots, adidas tracksuits and Calvin Klein perfumes after
swooping on a semi-detached house in Turf Hill Road on Weds December 21.
ROCHDALE OBSERVER (SATURDAY) 31/12/2011 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
PRESS CUTTINGS: November 2011
Sennheiser and Amazon to fight counterfeit goods
Sennheiser, the audio specialist, has announced a partnership with Amazon, to crack down on counterfeit
goods across Europe. To provide customers with the best service and protection against fake headphones,
the two companies will impose strict regulations, which will squeeze out offending resellers and safeguard
consumers and the integrity of Sennheiser products.
CHANNEL INFO 01/11/2011 UK
Keeping one step ahead of the criminals
COUNTERFEITERS continue to become ever more organised, professional and sophisticated. Packaging is
their first point of call, often producing near perfect copies of containers and boxes that even the genuine
producers finds difficult to tell apart from their own.
PACKAGING TODAY 01/11/2011 UK
Trapping whisky fakes
Scientists have developed a method of detecting counterfeit whisky using lasers which can test samples the
size of a teardrop. The research, which has been patented, was carried out by physicists at the University of
St Andrews and is being published by the journal Optics Express. DAILY TELEGRAPH, THE 01/11/2011 UK
DERBY TELEGRAPH 01/11/2011 UK; DUNDEE EVENING TELEGRAPH 01/11/2011 UK
Fighting back
Counterfeiting continues to be a huge challenge affecting both branded and generic products, which
although a worldwide issue, is especially prominent in developing countries; some reports suggest 80% of
the counterfeit products are now coming out of China.
PHARMACEUTICAL TECHNOLOGY EUROPE 01/11/2011 UK
Drug addition
The illegal drugs trade is big business, not just for street suppliers of heroin or cocaine, but for those that try
to produce and market counterfeit versions of prescription medicines. It is a massive trade and one on which
print plays a major role, both in persuading unsuspected users that the drugs they are about to take are
legitimated through look-alike packaging and in protecting packaging from the efforts of counterfeiters.
PRINT BUSINESS 01/11/2011 UK
Criminal trader to pay back £80,000
A counterfeit goods trader who was caught and prosecuted by Staffordshire County Council has been
ordered to pay back £80,000 to the public. H e was convicted of nine offences under the Trade Marks 1994.
A Proceeds of Crime Act confiscation order of £80,000 was made at Strafford Crown Court.
EXPRESS & STAR - WEST MIDLANDS (FIRST) 03/11/2011 UK
Warning over counterfeit pyrotechnics
SUFFOLK: Residents have been warned to be on the look-out for potentially dangerous fireworks. Following
the reports of an increase in the amount of illegal counterfeit and banned fireworks available in the UK,
Suffolk Trading Standards has urged people to be extra cautious this bonfire night.
IPSWICH EVENING STAR (SERIES) 03/11/2011 UK
Criminal trader to pay back £80,000
A counterfeit goods trader who was caught and prosecuted by Staffordshire County Council has been
ordered to pay back £80,000 to the public. H e was convicted of nine offences under the Trade Marks 1994.
A Proceeds of Crime Act confiscation order of £80,000 was made at Strafford Crown Court.
EXPRESS & STAR - WEST MIDLANDS (FIRST) 03/11/2011 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Illegal fireworks seized by police
POLICE in Brierfield have seized hundreds of illegal fireworks after a spate if incidents in the town. Around
800 of the fireworks, with a street sale value of £160, were taken into police possession after information led
them to a street trader. NELSON LEADER 04/11/2011 UK; BURNLEY EXPRESS (TUESDAY) (SERIES)
08/11/2011 UK
Lethal vodka seized
A haul of illegal and potentially harmful vodka has been discovered in Bromsgrove. The discovery often
bottles of counterfeit vodka branded as Arctic Ice comes after 12,000 litres of the drink was found in July
which led to three arrests. EXPRESS & STAR - WOLVERHAMPTON (CITY FINAL) 04/11/2011 UK
Women told to be wary of fake beauty products
WOMEN have been warned of the perils of buying fake cosmetics after it emerged that horse urine and
insects have been found in cut-price grooming goods such as perfume and false eyelashes.
HERALD, THE (GLASGOW) 04/11/2011; GLASGOW EVENING TIMES 04/11/2011 UK
Shops on alert as police find dangerous bangers
PARENTS and shops have been put on alert after police seized a stash of dangerous illegal fireworks in a
Doncaster village. Bangers have been illegal since 1997 but in Doncaster a number of the fire works have
been recently seized from children as young as 12. DONCASTER STAR 05/11/2011 UK
Traders stand up to fight the fakes
A CAMPIGN against counterfeit goods has got the backing of market traders. Members of the public worried
they might get ripped off by being sold fake goods will now have the reassurance of the Real Deal initiative.
BLACKPOOL CITIZEN (BLACKPOOL & LYTHAM ST. ANNES EDITION) 05/11/2011 UK
Honour for fight on fakes
A man from Willenhall who has spent the years battling against counterfeit electrical products that threaten
people’s safety has been presented with an award.
EXPRESS & STAR WEEKEND - EAST (WALSALL, SANDWELL & MID STAFFS) 07/11/2011 UK
Booze seized at 73 shops
BOOTLEG and fake booze was found at more than 73 shops and off-licences. More than 400 Independent
businesses across Staffordshire were visited by Trading Standards in a three week crackdown. Almost one
in five, a total of 73 stores was found to have counterfeit, bootleg or non duty paid alcohol.
STOKE ON TRENT SENTINEL 05/11/2011 UK; BURTON MAIL 08/11/2011 UK ; YOUR LEEK PAPER
09/11/2011 UK; STAFFORDSHIRE NEWSLETTER (SERIES) 10/11/2011 UK; COTSWOLD JOURNAL
10/11/2011 UK; EXPRESS & STAR - WOLVERHAMPTON (CITY FINAL) 10/11/2011 UK; PRESTON &
LEYLAND REPORTER 10/11/2011 UK; EVESHAM OBSERVER 11/11/2011 UK
Fake car accessories sellers is spared jail
A CAR dealer avoided jail after he was handed a four month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, for
selling tens of thousands of fake car accessories, a court heard. The items were also being sold through
various eBay accounts. He was found guilty at Bradford Crown Court of 12 counts of possessing and
exposing the counterfeit stock.
YORKSHIRE EVENING POST 08/11/2011 UK
Fake vodka found to contain cleaning fluid...
CLEANING fluid was found in samples of 900 bottles of fake vodka seized by Derby Trading standards
officers. Southern Derbyshire Magistrates Court yesterday condemned the bottles of counterfeit ''Drop
Vodka'' as unfit for human consumption. Trading Standards officer Thompson told the court that the van
driver, Erkan Kose, claimed to be delivered them for a third party.
www.ipcb.co.uk
Fears as illegal booze flooding our region
Fake alcohol laced with potentially life-threatening substances is being produced and sold on the cheap in
our region. Thousands of bottles and cans of counterfeit booze some laced with high levels of methanol
known to cause blindness or even death is finding its way onto the shelves of off-licences in the Black
Country and Staffordshire. EXPRESS & STAR - WOLVERHAMPTON (CITY FINAL) 10/11/2011 UK
Discovery brings a vodka warning
A BAD batch of vodka could be circulating the Vale after counterfeit alcohol was discovered in the north of
the country. There people were arrested in July by HM Revenue and Customs and another person is being
investigated by Trading Standards following the seizure of 12,000 litres of counterfeit vodka branded as
Arctic Ice. EVESHAM OBSERVER 11/11/2011 UK
Counterfeit CDs and toys seized
A HAUL of over a thousand counterfeit DVDs and CDs, along with counterfeit toys and illegal tobacco
products has been seized in Pendle. The seizure of the goods comes after recent raids on shops in Nelson
and Longridge by Lancashire County Council’s Trading Standards service. NELSON LEADER 11/11/2011
Surprise charity windfall from fake cigarettes haul
Council Trading Standards found thousands of packets of the cigarettes which were left inside an
abandoned lorry in Rainham. There were 100 laundry bags of cigarette packets, some which contained
Polystyrene shapes to make the packets seem full and lead, which weighted the same amount as cigarettes.
Couple sold imitation adidas goods in shop.
IT was designer wear with top names. But customers buying clothing by adidas, Henleys and Bench were no
getting what they thought. Hundreds of the items sold by husband and wife Jumanah Nadeem and
Mohammed Sarwar in their Kirklees shop were fakes.
HUDDERSFIELD DAILY EXAMINER 12/11/2011 UK; YORKSHIRE POST (SERIES) 12/11/2011 UK
Factory worker sold fake goods on website
A factory worker sold fake wireless microphones on eBay. When the complaint was made that they could be
counterfeit, he said that he sold reproduction microphones. But a court heard yesterday that they were
''clearly fake'' and it was illegal to sell them. He was fined £255 with £915 costs and magistrates ordered that
the offending goods be confiscated. WESTERN MAIL SERIES 12/11/2011 UK; LEADER (WREXHAM)
15/11/2011 UK
Couple guilty of fake clothing racket
A HUSBAND and wife were found to have counterfeit designer clothing for sale when trading standards
officers visited their premises on two occasions, a court heard. Howard Shaw, prosecuting, told Leeds Crown
Court yesterday when officers raided Miss Chief the following February they found more items and upstairs
premises being used to store counterfeit goods which Sarwar and his wife accepted selling.
Festive fakes funding brutal child cruelty in China
Shoppers risk being fleeced this Christmas by crooks selling rip-off goods. And far from being harmless
bargains, filthy hovels in China where child workers face brutal treatment at the hands of Snakehead people
smuggling gangs. DAILY STAR - SUNDAY 13/11/2011 UK
Smoked out
ALMOST a half-a-million pound worth of fake tobacco has been seized in one of Britain’s biggest raids on
the illegal trade. Customs officers swooped on a string of warehouses, shops and market stalls across the
country last week, discovering more than 700,000 illicit cigarettes and 25kg of roll-your-own-tobacco
destined for the black market. SUNDAY MIRROR 13/11/2011 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Fake brands trades who ‘conned’ £84,000
TWO West Yorkshire traders were spared jail after being caught with hundreds of items of fake fashion
brands at a potential £84,000 loss to the clothing industry. Husband and wife Mohammed Sarwar and
Jumanah Nadeem, who run Miss Chief, a retail shop on Foundry Street in Dewsbury, were found guilty at
Leeds Crown Court of ten counts of possessing and exposing for sale counterfeit designer clothing.
Fake booze leads to loss of licence for town shop
A DONCASTER shop has had its drinks licence confiscated after selling fake booze to unsuspecting
customers. South Yorkshire Police worked with HM Revenue and Customs and Doncaster Council’s trading
standards officers to have their licence revoked after counterfeit alcohol and cigarettes were found.
SHEFFIELD STAR (SHEFFIELD, ROTHERHAM & BARNSLEY) 14/11/2011 UK
Business set up to trade in counterfeit goods
A FACTORY worker sold desirable Shure wireless microphones for the music industry on his eBay account.
When the complaint was made they could be counterfeit, he said he sold reproductions. But Flintshire
Magistrates Court at Mold heard there was no difference and whatever the term used it was illegal to sell
them. LEADER (WREXHAM) 15/11/2011 UK
£300K of fake designer gear bagged in warehouse raid
Fake designer goods worth £300,000 and due to go on sale for Christmas were seized in a dawn swoop. It
included counterfeit Ugg boots, 150 bottles of fake Stella McCartney perfume and bogus versions of trendy
Paul's Boutique bags. Salford council trading standards, in partnership with the police, recovered the goods
from a unit belonging to Gorsi Trading Ltd on Broughton Lane.
Hundreds of bottles of fake vodka contain cleaning fluid
CLEANING fluid in samples of 900 bottles of fake vodka seized by Derby trading standards officers.
Southern Derbyshire Magistrates’ Court condemned the bottles of counterfeit “Drop Vodka” as unfit for
human consumption. The vodka was seized in August in a sting operation by trading standards officers, who
intercepted a van carrying the vodka to 102 Dale Road in Derby. DERBY EXPRESS 17/11/2011 UK
Olympic effort to crush counterfeit
Trading standard watchdogs in Birmingham today reveal the murky and dangerous world behind fake
merchandise ahead of the 2012 Olympics. To the average shoppers, the Olympic-themed cigarette lighters
look like the real deal. But to the trained eye of Birmingham consumer watchdogs it is clear that they are, in
fact, fakes. BIRMINGHAM MAIL 21/11/2011 UK
Ensure you’re not caught out by conmen
TRADING standards officers from Caerphilly county council are joining counterparts across the country to
encourage consumers to double check the authenticity of goods bought online. Our trading standards
officers are working alongside their colleagues across the country to stop fraudsters having a field day at the
expense of our enjoyment. SOUTH WALES ECHO 22/11/2011 UK
Scam alert 2012 Games
VIGILANCE has been urged among sports fan amid concerns fraudsters will be on the prowl for victims in
the lead up to the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics Games. Suffolk Trading Standards aims to shine
a spotlight on fakes and scams that use sport to lure people in as part of the annual National Consumer
Week. EAST ANGLIAN DAILY TIMES (SERIES) 22/11/2011 UK
Bogus sites
MORE than 2,000 web shops selling fake or non existent goods have been shut down by police. Goods
purportedly from GHD, UGG, Tiffany and Nike had been peddled by the sites, said the met Police E-Crime
Unit, with shoppers tempted by low prices. OXFORD MAIL 22/11/2011 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Warning over counterfeit
NEWPORT CITY Council’s trading standards officers are urging people to stay away from fraudsters selling
counterfeit sporting goods. The drive part of the annual national consumer week taking place from Monday,
with this year’s theme ‘Good Sports Don’t Fake It.’ SOUTH WALES ARGUS 22/11/2011 UK
Dodgy vodka con ends in court date
A RAINHILL businessman has been found guilty of selling counterfeit vodka. Michael Lane, aged 38,
Crosby, ran Kozi Ltd, Station Road, Rainhill. He was found guilty at St Helens Magistrates Court last week
for possessing for sale counterfeit Smirnoff branded vodka. ST HELENS STAR 23/11/2011 UK
Shop to show tricks of the rip-off bargain trade
A SHOP appearing to offer electrical goods, designer clobber and knock-off toys at bargain basement prices
has sprung up in the city centre. But goods at the MiMix store outside St Stephen’s shopping centre, are not
actually for sale. Hull City Council’s trading standards team set up the store to raise awareness of scams
ahead of the festive shopping period. EAST HULL & HOLDERNESS ADVERTISER 24/11/2011 UK
Be a sport don’t get cheated
Lincolnshire Trading Standards is urging consumer to check for fake sports products. The drive is part of the
yearly National Consumer Week taking place until Friday, November 25. Heather Bellamy, Lincolnshire
Trading Standards senior officer said: Unfortunately big game and sporting events present perfect
opportunities fro criminals who target passionate fans. SCUNTHORPE EVENING TELEGRAPH 24/11/2011
Warning after ‘lethal’ bootleg vodka seized
Town hall chiefs fear that bootleg vodka, laced with potentially lethal chemicals, is being traded on the black
market. Trading standards officers seized 150 bottles of the counterfeit spirits from licensed premises in
Salford. But they fear more dodgy booze is being sold from unlicensed premises and have launched an
appeal to trace it. Two people are being questioned about the vodka.
SALFORD ADVERTISER (INC. SALFORD CITY REPORTER) 24/11/2011 UK
Methanol found in off-licence booze raids
RESIDENTS are being warned to be vigilant when buying booze to look for signs that they may be
potentially dangerous counterfeit goods. Every independent off licence in the county has been visited by
trading standards officers and seizures have been made in 73 stores. Initial test have found bottles
containing methanol, a chemical used in anti-freeze and which can cause sore throats, dizziness, sickness,
blurred vision and even blindness. STAFFORDSHIRE NEWSLETTER (SERIES) 24/11/2011 UK
Beware fake goods scams in build up to the Olympics
WIGAN Council’s Trading Standards officers are out and about in Wigan this week to advise shoppers how
to spot fakes and avoid rogue traders. It’s National Consumer Week and this year it has been focusing on
the sale of counterfeit goods, particularly around sports-related merchandise, fake tickets, and bogus travel
and accommodation packages. WIGAN REPORTER 24/11/2011 UK
Fake wine store in licence review
A TOWN centre off-licence could be drinking in the last chance saloon after having its licence called in for
review a second time. Trading standards now wants the future of the store discussed by the council’s
licensing committee after 57 bottles of fake Jacob’s Creek wine were found on its shelves in April.
MAIDENHEAD ADVERTISER 24/11/2011 UK
Warning over fake vodka
MORE than 30 bottles of potentially dangerous vodka may have been sold to the public from a convenience
store in Wesham. Lancashire County Council Trading Standards Service received police information that the
store was selling a fake brand called Drop Vodka, bottled in Italy, from under the counter. Trading Standards
officers and police inspected the shop and seized three bottles from behind the counter.
LYTHAM ST ANNES EXPRESS 24/11/2011 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Mother’s eBay business made thousands selling fake goods
A mother who set up her own eBay children’s party shop was caught selling fake goods after being ensnared
by spider-man. Natalie McCarthy, aged 47, imported tens of thousands of goody-bags, pencil kits and other
toys from the Philippines without realising they were fakes. She was trapped when suspicious trading
standards officials bought a £4.99 Spider-Man rucksack and found it was a cheap copy of the original.
WESTERN MORNING NEWS (SERIES) 24/11/2011 UK
Shoppers warned of online scams
OXFORDSHIRE’S Trading Standards team is warning people to be careful when purchasing gifts online in
the run up to Christmas, as complaints in the county rise by 29% compared to last year. According to Anticounterfeiting Group (ACG), with more people choosing online more than £30bn is spent for 20% of all retail
sales. OXFORD MAIL 24/11/2011 UK
What’s in a name? Trade design being ripped off
PEOPLE are being warned to look out for fake sportswear and other goods as the Olympic Games
approach. Cumbria Trading Standards is holding a series of events around the country to try and teach
people how to spot the items. NORTH WEST EVENING MAIL (SERIES) 25/11/2011 UK
Gang of five jailed over £1.5 million fake vodka plot
A MAN from Weston-Super-Mare who helped flood the drinks market with thousands of bottles of dangerous
and illegal vodka has been jailed. Michael Matthews, from Stanley Road, was sent to prison for 18 months
for his role in manufacturing almost 175,000 bottles of fake. ‘Glen’ vodka on a farm in Leicestershire.
BRISTOL EVENING POST (SERIES) 26/11/2011 UK; HUDDERSFIELD DAILY EXAMINER 26/11/2011 UK
Rogue traders plague small ventures with cheap copies
COUNTERFEITERS are moving in on niche product categories, creating a legal headache for owners of
small businesses trying to protect fledgling brands. The rapid growth in internet shopping and the ability to
source products easily from around the globe has meant that counterfeiting is not longer merely limited to
multinational fashion labels and sporting brands. FINANCIAL TIMES (UK & IRELAND EDITION) 26/11/2011
Six held in blitz on counterfeit goods
SIX people were arrested in raids across Failsworth, Manchester and Salford, in a pre-Christmas crack down
on counterfeit trading. The counterfeit goods trade cost legal traders millions of pounds every year, and
Friday’s operation part of project Gulf smashed a good fake DVD and CD ring.
OLDHAM EVENING CHRONICLE 28/11/2011 UK
Man fined £200 for counterfeit goods
A MAN who was running a counterfeit operation from his home in Caerphilly has been fined £200 and
ordered to pay £690 court costs. Leighton Davies, from Gwaun Hyfryd, was prosecuted by the local
authority’s trading standards service after it received information that he was supplying counterfeit luxury
branded perfume, jean and leather wallets. SOUTH WALES ECHO 29/11/2011 UK
4 On fake Nike rap
A COUNTERFEIT gang smuggled in fake designer goods worth millions from China including ‘Nike’ trainers
and Louis Vuitton handbags, a court heard yesterday. The four men allegedly held the gear in storage
centres before flogging it to market traders to sell at discount prices. SUN, THE 30/11/2011 UK
Beware of dangerous vodka drink
OXFORDSHIRE trading standards has warned people no to drink an illegal brand vodka containing chemical
found in de-icer and industrial cleaning products. The advise comes after Food Standards Agency report that
the drink, called Drop Vodka, is not registered by any company in the UK and could be harmful.
SURREY HERALD & STAINES NEWS SERIES 30/11/2011 UK; SURREY TIMES 30/11/2011 UK; LUTON
NEWS 30/11/2011 UK; DUNSTABLE GAZETTE 30/11/2011 UK; WESTERN MAIL SERIES 30/11/2011
UK; CROWTHORNE & SANDHURST TIMES 30/11/2011 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Shop sold counterfeit cigarettes
OWNERS of a Westcliff shop are £2,750 out of pocket after being caught selling dangerously strong
counterfeit cigarettes. The company claimed it had been sold the cigarettes, which came in counterfeit
Benson and Hedges packets, by a member of the public but it paid in cash, received no invoices and had no
documentation of the transaction. SOUTHEND EVENING ECHO 17/11/2011 UK
Kids glorify killer vodka on Facebook
Kids are setting up Facebook pages to promote deadly bootleg booze and boast about the terrifying effects
from drinking it. The drinks contain poison including Chloroform, meths and isopropanol and can cause
cancer, liver, failure, blindness, and even death. SUN, THE 18/11/2011 UK
Fake clothes pair in court
AN INVESTIGATION into a shop selling fake UGG boots and branded clothing led to the discovery of the
couple’s mortgage fraud. Leeds Crown Court heard how Sarwar held leases for both Foundry Street shops,
which West Yorkshire Trading Standards visited in December 2009. Prosecutor Howard Shaw said officers
saw counterfeit clothes on sale in both shops and found flyers bearing brand trade marks.
Don’t get caught out by deals too good to be true.
A shop appearing to offer electrical goods, designer clobber and knock-off toys at bargain basement prices
has sprung up in the city centre. But goods at the Mimix Store, outside St Stephen’s shopping centre, are not
actually for sale. Hull City Council’s Trading Standards team set up the store to raise awareness of scams
ahead of the festive shopping period. HULL DAILY MAIL (SERIES) 18/11/2011 UK
Beware of fake products online
ONLINE shoppers in the county are being warned to be careful in the run-up to Christmas. Oxfordshire
County Council’s Trading Standards services has seen a 29 % rise in complaints compared to last year. It
has received 60 complaints about counterfeit products since April, half of which were online. Last Christmas,
the majority of complaints were about counterfeit UGG boots and GHD hair straighteners.
ABINGDON HERALD 23/11/2011 UK
Fake jewel trade jailed
A Chinese student has been jailed after being caught with a £3m haul of fake jewellery that contained
dangerous levels nickel. Tests on pieces of fake designer jewellery he sold revealed nickel levels up to 28
times higher than is legal. He was given an 18-month prison sentence at Kingston Crown.
WANDSWORTH GUARDIAN SERIES 24/11/2011 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
PRESS CUTTINGS: October 2011
Fake debate: Are things ever as they seem?
Northern Ireland Trading Standards had alerted the Beeb’s ‘Fake Britain’ programme to some bogus
Volkswagen brake pads that it had uncovered. CAR & ACCESSORY TRADER [CAT] 01/10/2011 UK
Fake parts : new victims emerge
The war against fakes in the aftermarket continues with big players like Autodata finding itself the victim of
counterfeits. The vehicle information suppliers recently discovered a garage in Warwickshire was using a
fake autodata CD. CAR & ACCESSORY TRADER [CAT] 01/10/2011 UK
Stopping the counterfeiters
Manufactures of microprocessor-based systems where the product manufacturing costs are low but the
development and marketing costs are high often find themselves victims of product counterfeiting attacks.
COMPONENTS IN ELECTRONICS 01/10/2011 UK
Xbox copier sold fakes for £4.50
A JOBLESS Southampton man made a £10,000 a year living selling counterfeit computer games from a
homespun website. Jamie Urbacz, 26, was caught out in an investigation by trading standards officers at
Southampton City Council who bought some of the games which were found to be copies.
SOUTHERN DAILY ECHO 03/10/2011 UK
Video shows raccoon dogs being flayed alive...
CRUEL breeders are skinning helpless raccoon dogs alive so their pelts can be used to churn out cheap
copies of Ugg boots. A horrific video shows the terrified creatures being put through terrible torture to fuel the
vile trade. SUN, THE 04/10/2011 UK
Air freshener alert
Fake Air Wick air fresheners with chemical that can knock people out have been discovered on sale at
markets. Trading standards officers found more than 160 counterfeit refills for battery-powered Air Wick
Freshmatic sprays on sale at markets in Mold and Prestatyn in north Wales.
DAILY TELEGRAPH, THE 04/10/2011 UK; WALES DAILY POST 30/09/2011 UK
£1BN Booze scam
BLACK market beer and spirits worth £1.2billion were sold in Britain last year - up 46 % costing the treasurer
more than £800million in lost duty, customs chiefs revealed. They estimated that the bootleg booze takes up
around 11 % alcohol sold and the total is around £850million up on the previous 12 months.
SUN, THE 04/10/2011 UK
Sale of fake wine denied
A 34-YEAR-OLD man is to stand trial accused of selling fake wine. Salvatore Capuano is facing four counts
of breaking trade marking and food safety laws by selling 60 bottles of fake Jacob’s Creek wine in March this
year. A trial is due to be held at Brighton Magistrate’s Court on December 15.
Fake bottles of wine found in Training Standards raids
SHOPPERS are being warned to be extra vigilant with the products they buy after 40 bottles of counterfeit
wine were found on sale in a shop. The wine, labelled as Jacob’s Creek, was seized from an independent
off-licence in North Nottinghamshire following a series of visits to shops as part of crackdown on counterfeit
alcohol. SHEFFIELD STAR (SHEFFIELD, ROTHERHAM & BARNSLEY) 06/10/2011 UK; DONCASTER
STAR 06/10/2011 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Counterfeit goods seized from market
THOUSANDS of pounds’ worth of fake goods were seized form stallholders at Bovingdon market on
Saturday during a raid by police and Hertfordshire Trading Standards. Counterfeit CDs, DVDs, clothing
jewellery, handbags, belts, and purses worth about £70,000 to £260,000 had they been genuine were taken
from eight stalls. WATFORD OBSERVER 07/10/2011 UK
Fake medicines seized in raids
Millions of pounds of fake medicines have been seized in areas around Cardiff as soaring numbers of cashstrapped Britons gamble with their lives by buying counterfeit drugs over the internet.
Woman sold clothes with fake brand logos
A WOMAN has been found guilty of selling clothes featuring rip-off logos. Jamanah Nadeem, 32, of Millwater
Avenue, Dewsbury, was convicted 26 counts of possessing and selling counterfeit goods after a trial at
Leeds Crown Court on Wednesday. Jackets, Jeans, boots, T-shirts and handbags with unauthorised logos
were at Nadeem’s shop, Miss Chief, in Foundry Street, Dewsbury, in February last year.
Warning: Fake booze can be a killer
A TIDE of smuggled goods, including alcohol, tobacco and even condoms, is threatening to cause illness
and death in Islington, according to a report this week. A staggering 800 litres of spirits, 5,000 bottles of wine
and more than 3,500 cigarettes and other tobacco products have been seized so far this year.
ISLINGTON TRIBUNE 07/10/2011 UK
Fake tobacco and DVDs found in customs raid
More than 130kg of fake tobacco and dozens of counterfeit DVD's have been seized from a Derby home in a
dawn raid. Officers from HM Revenue and Customs targeted the property, in Normanton, during the early
hours of Tuesday. DERBY TELEGRAPH 08/10/2011 UK; DERBY EXPRESS 13/10/2011 UK
Police swoop in crackdown on fake vodka sales
A CRACKDOWN on fake vodka in Derbyshire has led to the seizure of bottles from a shop in Chesterfield.
Trading standards officers removed the bottles from the store and the contents are being analysed.
A warning has been issue about the dangers of counterfeits vodka after a number of seizures in the county.
DONCASTER STAR 08/10/2011 UK; SHEFFIELD STAR (SHEFFIELD, ROTHERHAM & BARNSLEY)
08/10/2011 UK
Seized clothing to be given to city’s homeless
COUNTERFEIT clothing and trainers seized from rogue traders, will be used to help homeless people in
Plymouth. The goods with a street value of about £184,000 were forfeited after three court cases in
Plymouth. Goods seized by trading standards used to be destroyed or sent to landfill. Now a partnership with
‘His Church’ means the clothing can be recycled and redistributed to the poor and needy.
Stubbing out of fake goods
PEDDLERS of counterfeit goods are feeling the pinch after a string of seizures by the authorities. Trading
standards officers in Sunderland have confiscated thousands of pounds-worth of dodgy items including
cigarettes, DVDs, vodka and clothing. SUNDERLAND ECHO 11/10/2011 UK
Call to turn in the illegal cig dealers
A BID to stub out illegal cigarettes sales has been launched in South Tyneside. Council bosses have opened
a tip-off hotline to crack down on ‘tab houses’ and shops, which are involved in selling tobacco, especially to
children and young people. SHIELDS GAZETTE 12/10/2011 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Fake phone cover trade has stock seized
A trader has been sentenced to 180 hours unpaid work after selling fake branded mobile phone covers on
two mobile phone stalls within the Xscape building. The majority of the fake phone covers were branded with
the apple logo, but also included Premier League football clubs and Ed Hardy labels.
MK (MILTON KEYNES) NEWS 12/10/2011 UK
Fake vodka found in shops
DANGEROUS counterfeit vodka which is known in extreme cases to cause blindness if drunk has been
seized from shops across the county. DERBYSHIRE TIMES (SERIES) 13/10/2011 UK
Seized fake clothes to go to charity
Fake designer clothes from dodgy market stallholders will be donated to charity. The haul, worth an
estimated £25,000, was seized by Hackney Council’s trading standards steam during two operations early
this year. HACKNEY GAZETTE 13/10/2011 UK
Student jailed for selling illegal impotence drugs
A student who sold unlicensed impotence labels and buttons for use on fake designer clothing has been
jailed. Harrow Crown Court heard 24-year-old Daanish Mulla ran a counterfeit racket selling tablets and
sachets to treat impotence. KILBURN TIMES 13/10/2011 UK
Mini-mart closes after owner sold dodgy tobacco
A LOLLIE Road mini-mart has been shut down by Trading Standards after repeatedly selling fake goods.
The cigarettes did not carry health warnings. The 25-years-old was fined £1,015 and ordered to pay costs of
£1,435. FULHAM CHRONICLE SERIES 14/10/2011 UK
TV FAN SWINDLED 200K
A REAL-life Del Boy who bought a replica of the van in TV's Only Fools and Horses after making a fortune
selling dodgy gear has Trottered off to jail. Trevor Wales, 54, evaded paying £200,000 in duty during a sixyear counterfeit tobacco scam. He used the cash to buy a 4X4, jet skis, motorbikes and luxury caravans and
built a two-storey extension on his semi complete with a games room and gym. But his pride and joy was a
perfect replica of Del Boy's three-wheeler complete with the Trotters Independent Traders logo on the side.
He was jailed alongside his wife and son, who were also in on the dodgy dealings.
SUN, THE 14/10/2011 UK; YORKSHIRE POST (SERIES) 14/10/2011 UK
Jail for ‘Del Boy’ tobacco scammer
A FATHER and son were today behind bars over their counterfeit tobacco scam. Trevor and Richard Wales
dodged £200,000 in duty during the six year cigarette-selling operation. Trevor’s wife, Mary, acted as the
banker of the profits, Leeds Crown Court heard. The trio enjoyed a life of luxury, despite only one of them
working 20 hours a week. YORKSHIRE EVENING POST 14/10/2011 UK
SCOTS flying during the school break were today warned over counterfeit goods at Glasgow Airport. The
warning came as airport chiefs prepared for a busy October week, with thousands of holidaymakers set to fly
out over the weekend. Europe and parts o f Africa are favourite haunts of the conmen selling fake goods
because they attract so many visitors from Scotland and the rest of the UK.
GLASGOW EVENING TIMES 14/10/2011 UK
Don’t buy fake gifts that fund crime gangs, tourists warned
SCOTS holidaymakers have been urged to avoid buying counterfeit goods abroad in a bid to crack down on
serious organized crime. Gangs used the trade in fake goods to fund activities such as human trafficking,
firearms and illegal drugs, officials have warned. SCOTSMAN, THE 15/10/2011 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Publican caught with fake goods loses licence
A PUB landlord has had his personal licence revoked after being caught plying illegal booze and tobacco.
Gray’s Corner landlord Geoffrey Davies appeared before Stoke-on-Trent City Councilors yesterday, and
expressed his deepest regret after being caught with £11,363 worth of dodgy stock, including 37 counterfeit
Stoke City track suit tops with the club logo and 55 kilos of non duty paid rolling tobacco.
STOKE ON TRENT SENTINEL 18/10/2011 UK
Fireworks Warnings
They are dangerous and they could be on sale in Huddersfield. Unsafe fireworks have been made and they
are illegally and wrongly being sold under the name of a reputable Huddersfield Fireworks Company. People
buy fireworks from black Cat because of the company’s good name.
HUDDERSFIELD DAILY EXAMINER 18/10/2011 UK; MORLEY OBSERVER & ADVERTISER 19/10/2011;
Charged with selling fake vodka
A MAN has appeared in court to deny an offence of selling vodka which bore a false trademark. Rashid Aziz
is alleged to have committed the offence at the lifestyle shop in High Street, Swansea, on November 12 last
year. In addition Aziz pleaded not guilty to possessing material which bore a false trademark and failing to
comply with regulations by not being able to identity the person who supplied him a bottle of Chekov Vodka.
SOUTH WALES EVENING POST (SERIES) 19/10/2011 UK
20,000 cigs seized in raid
A TOTAL of 20,100 cigarettes and around 10kg of rolling tobacco have been seized in a raid in Mansfield.
Officers from Notts trading standards and the police searched an address in the area this month. Some of
the products found are counterfeits of brands including Golden Virginia tobacco and Regal cigarettes.
NOTTINGHAM EVENING POST 21/10/2011 UK
Fake goods trader jailed for two years
A large-scale importer of counterfeit items whose fake goods where distributed in Camden - including its
markets has been jailed. Blackfriars Crown Court heard the 40 year-old, who holds a personal licence for the
club, was caught following a three year investigation by Camden Council’s trading standards.
Mock medicine
A 57-years-old man has admitted producing counterfeit medicine. Philip Knowles, of Abingdon, appeared at
Oxford Crown Court yesterday and admitted possession of medicinal products without a marketing
authorisation and assembling medicinal products without authority.
OXFORD MAIL 24/10/2011 UK; OXFORD MAIL 24/09/2011 UK
Businessman is smuggling gang is jailed
A COMPANY director who became a key member in a criminal gang which smuggled more than 64 million
fake cigarettes into the UK has been jailed for five years. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) found the
gang had arranged 25 shipments of cigarettes in a major criminal operation which cost the taxpayer more
than 10m in lost duty.
BAT: squeeze pushes smokers to illicit brands
British American Tobacco has warned that a squeeze on disposable income and tax rises by cash-strapped
governments are pushing smokers into a booming illicit tobacco market. GUARDIAN, THE 27/10/2011 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
PRESS CUTTINGS: September 2011
Chloroform found in fake vodka drink
TRADING standards have issue a warning after confiscating a vodka drink, which contained chloroform, from
several local shops. Staffordshire County Council officers also found methanol, which can cause blindness,
and a chemical commonly used in cleaning products, in Arctic Ice Vodka.
STAFFORDSHIRE NEWSLETTER (SERIES) 01/09/2011 UK
‘Our prisons are full’ judge tells offender
A REPEAT offender convicted of selling fake goods at a Cambridgshire market has evaded jail after a judge
said the prisons were ‘full to the brim’. The decision’s prompted a top Councillor and former Magistrate to call
for the ministry of justice to act on the issue of prison capacity. CAMBRIDGE NEWS 01/09/2011 UK
Pay for your crime or go back to jail
DISGRACED former Hull FC star Gareth Raynor is being pursued for illegally gained cash from an internet
scam. A court has ordered him to sell personal assets to raise almost £120,000 to pay for his counterfeit
eBay crime or go back to jail. HULL DAILY MAIL (SERIES) 02/09/2011 UK; EAST HULL & HOLDERNESS
ADVERTISER 08/09/2011 UK; GOOLE TIMES 15/09/2011 UK
Whisky makes drinker feel ill
TRADING standards officers have seized a bottle of fake whisky after a drinker complained it made him feel
ill. Tests carried out on the fake Highland Glen Scotch Whisky found it contained cleaning chemicals.
Entire stall seized as Tradings Standards officers raid market
A MARKET trader vanished as a stall selling more than £16,000 worth of fake Ugg boots was seized in front
of Saturday shoppers. LEAMINGTON SPA COURIER 02/09/2011 UK
Your venture can have all the trademarks of a success
IN the last 18 months we’ve assisted almost 30 businesses from the North to set up in China, many of them
from Yorkshire, and one of the recurring concerns is intellectual property (IP)
Fake designer clothes are donated to charity
FAKE designer clothes with an estimated street value of £200,000 have been donated to charity by
Warwickshire Trading Standards Services. More than 230 bags of counterfeit clothing, seized from markets
stalls and other locations by trading standards officers, have been donated to the International Aid Trust.
STRATFORD UPON AVON MIDWEEK 06/09/2011 UK; NUNEATON NEWS 02/09/2011 UK; BANBURY
GUARDIAN 08/09/2011 UK; HENDON & FINCHLEY TIMES 08/09/2011 UK
De-icer found in bottles of vodka
AN off- licence in Potters Bar is under investigation after an industrial solvent used in windscreen de-icer was
found in bottles of alcohol. The entire stock of Drop Vodka at the store was seized by trading standards
officers on August 16 after one customer said the spirit had left them feeling ill.
EDGWARE & MILL HILL TIMES 08/09/2011 UK; BARNET & POTTERS BAR TIMES 08/09/2011 UK
Warning after dangerous fake vodka is seized at off-licence
TAMWORTH drinkers are being warned to be on their guard after potentially-lethal fake vodka was seized
from a town off-licence. Staffordshire County Council’s public protection team removed eight bottles of Arctic
Ice Vodka from an unnamed shop and are already investigating another premises in the town.
TAMWORTH HERALD 08/09/2011 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Safety alert after fake toys seized from stall
DOZENS of potentially dangerous fake toys were seized from a market stall in Gillingham when trading
standards officers swooped on the area last week. As many as 80 counterfeit toys, including popular brands
such as Ben Ten and Toy Story 3 were confiscated. The trader could now face up to ten years in jail or an
unlimited fine for selling them. Experts are warning anyone who may have bought the products which have
been sent for safety standards testing to avoid giving them to children. MEDWAY NEWS 08/09/2011 UK
RL star ordered to pay back 120k; MEDWAY NEWS 21/09/2011 UK
Officers scoop a Jacob’s Creek cracker!
Bournemouth trading standards have seized a large amount of counterfeit wine from shops in Bournemouth.
Replicas of Jacob’s Creek wine, totalling 51 bottles, were found in three newsagents in the area and it
believes there may be many more still out on the shelves of other off-licences and shops. The labels on the
bottless look convincing to the eye and it is only when you look at the back of the bottle that the misspelling
of ‘Australia’ (Austrlia) is the only give-away. BOURNEMOUTH DAILY ECHO 09/09/2011 UK; SUN, THE
10/09/2011 UK
Raids discover 3,000 fake goods
A HUGE haul of 3,000 counterfeit cigarettes and more than 90 litres of illegal vodka and wine has been
seized in raids across Northamptonshire. NORTHAMPTON CHRONICLE & ECHO 10/09/2011 UK
Trader jailed for fake Viagra pills
A HARD-UP trader who imported fake Viagra pills into Britain from India and China tried to sell them over the
internet from his Northampton. NORTHAMPTON CHRONICLE & ECHO 10/09/2011 UK
Dawn raid at home of internet trader
AN ONLINE trader suspected of selling fake chemical products had his home raided by Trading Standards
officers yesterday. The man in his forties from Rising Bridge was the target of an early morning raid, after
concerns were raised by consumers over the quality of an apparently branded product. The products were
found not only to be fake but of poor quality, and would be likely to damage any system using them,
according to Trading Standards. LANCASHIRE TELEGRAPH 10/09/2011 UK; ACCRINGTON OBSERVER
16/09/2011 UK
Counterfeit tobacco worth £25,000 found
Trading Standards officers have seized counterfeit tobacco with a street value estimated at more than
£25,000. The 125kg haul was found in black bin liners, along with around 3,000 yet-to-be-filled tobacco
pouches, from premises in the Cornwall. WESTERN MORNING NEWS (SERIES) 14/09/2011 UK; ST
AUSTELL VOICE 21/09/2011 UK; CORNISH GUARDIAN (SERIES) 21/09/2011 UK; NEWQUAY VOICE
21/09/2011 UK
City shop caught selling illicit vodka and cigs
A STORE caught selling fake vodka and illicit tobacco will have its fate drcided tomorrow. A licensing
committee, made up of councillors, will discuss whether to modify the conditions of the licence, suspend it for
up to three months or revoke it. DERBY TELEGRAPH 15/09/2011 UK
Tobacco criminals warned to stub out illegal activity
TRADERS in illegal tobacco are being warned to quit their criminal activities, following a number of
successful raids in North East Lincolnshire. The warning comes from the borough council after more illegal
traders have been caught in ongoing operations carried out by local public protection officers.
GRIMSBY EVENING TELEGRAPH 16/09/2011 UK
One in seven cigarettes in city ‘from an illicit source’
Almost one in seven cigarettes being smoked in Derby have been sold illegally, new figures suggest. Last
month officers found and removed 16 packs of illicit tobacco, four bottles of smuggled vodka from the JD
shop Dale Road, Normanton. DERBY TELEGRAPH 20/09/2011 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Car garages raided in trading standards sting on software
SMALL car garages are being warned not to use counterfeit software to provide them with technical data on
vehicles. Stoke-on-Trent Trading Standards has issued the warning after raids on counterfeit suppliers and
garages. STOKE ON TRENT SENTINEL 21/09/2011 UK
Cover story counterfeit brands
A new wave of black market operations is taking counterfeiting away from market stalls selling poor
imitations of luxury goods into three distinct new territories - sophisticated imitation websites, search and
social media communications; low-cost everyday consumer goods; and bogus branded retail outlets. As
much as 5-7% of the world merchandise trade is fake, according to the International Chamber of Commerce.
This statistic has prompted the UK government to take action, with culture secretary Jeremy Hunt last week
unveiling plans to increase pressure on search engines and internet service providers to close down
fraudulent sellers, along with a proposed industry body to better identify counterfeit websites.
MARKETING WEEK 22/09/2011 UK
Prison for ‘fake Club mastermind’
DESIGNER goods sold in Camden Town are so often counterfeit that anyone who shops there cannot claim
to have been duped, Blackfriars Crown Court was told on Friday. The claim came from the defence team of a
“man of multiple identities” jailed following the discovery of a mountain of fake bags, clothes and watches
stored in a nightclub in Hartland Road, Camden Town. Bizarrely, given the nature of the case, the bar was
called the Fake Club. Adrian Hindson, from Maida Vale, was sent to prison for two years after pleading guilty
to 25 counts of trademarks offences and money laundering. Around 15,000 bags, clothes and watches –
stamped with top brand symbols like Gucci, Rolex, Louis Vuitton and Prada – were found in his club in 2008.
CAMDEN NEW JOURNAL 22/09/2011 UK
10,000 cigarettes and booze seized in bootleg crackdown
A strong warning was today issue to independent traders after bootleg booze and nearly 10,000 illegal
cigarettes were seized in a black market crackdown. The alcohol and tobacco products found during
yesterday’s purge are now being analysed too see what hazardous materials may have been used in their
production. IPSWICH EVENING STAR (SERIES) 22/09/2011 UK
Narrow escape for £83,000 internet counterfeit trio
THREE people have narrowly avoided jail after selling £83,000 worth of designer clothing, electric
toothbrushes and razor blades. They were each sentenced to nine months imprisonment, suspended for two
years, and ordered for each to do 300 hours unpaid work.
MILTON KEYNES CITIZEN 22/09/2011 UK
Trader jailed for selling fakes at hospital
A TRADER has been jailed for four months after admitting selling fake designer clothing at Milton Keynes
General Hospital. Derek Simms from Ruislip in Middlesex received the sentence at Amersham Crown Court
after pleading guilty at an earlier hearing. The Court heard in April 2010, a tip off led Trading Standards
officers to carry out test purchases at a temporary stall in the hospital foyer operated by Simms.
Fake golf clubs trader must return 1m or head back to prison
A Raynham businessman who pocketed a fortune by selling fake branded golf clubs on eBay was ordered to
pay back £1million or face five more years behind bars. The hearing has been schedule to last for up to
three weeks, with both prosecution and defence expected to present evidence in a bid to establish the true
extent of his wealth. ROMFORD RECORDER 23/09/2011 UK
Fake booze sees more off-licences punished
SIX more off-licences have been punished by the Town Hall for selling smuggled and counterfeit booze.
The Rose Wine Off Licence in Fonthill Road, Finsbury Park, had its licence suspended for two weeks after
bogus bottles of vodka, whisky and wine were found on its shelves. The Nag’s Head Off Licence in Seven
Sisters Road, Finsbury Park, had its licence terminated for selling counterfeited bottles of sambuca, vodka
and wine and selling vodka to children. ISLINGTON TRIBUNE 23/09/2011 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Fake vodka is found in raid on city plant
Thousands of litres of fake vodka was seized during a raid on an illegal alcohol manufacturing plant in
Birmingham. HM Revenue & Customs seized 2,000 litres of the Arctic Ice-branded vodka, which is not safe
to drink. They also found glass bottles, a labelling machine and other items relating o the production of illegal
alcohol. EXPRESS & STAR LATE FINAL (DUDLEY) 28/09/2011 UK
Man in court over fake goods
A MAN pleaded guilty to possessing several thousand pounds of counterfeit goods. James Boere, 57, of
Burnett’s Field, Horton Heath, admitted having a quantity of fake items including Lacoste T-shirts, Versace
clothing and Harrods bags. SOUTHERN DAILY ECHO 29/09/2011 UK
Fake breast cancer treatments ordered through the internet
Millions of pounds of counterfeit medicines, including fake treatments for epilepsy, asthma and breast
cancer, have been seized as growing numbers of Britons resort to buying drugs over the internet (Sam Lister
writes). TIMES, THE 30/09/2011 UK
Cash offer is a novel idea
The trade in counterfeit cigarettes is an absolute disgrace. No one can blame smokers for being tempted to
buy them, due to the astronomical price of tobacco-related products. But counterfeit cigarettes often contain
much higher levels of dangerous substances than the genuine article and pose a far greater risk to their
health. LINCOLNSHIRE ECHO 30/09/2011 UK
Fake fags among haul confiscated from four city shops
OFFICIALS seized 11,845 dubious cigarettes in raids on four shops in Lincoln. The echo can reveal they
were taken out of circulation in a single day last month. It followed a year long intelligence gathering
operation involving HM Revenue & Customs, Lincolnshire Police and Lincolnshire Trading Standards.
LINCOLNSHIRE ECHO 30/09/2011 UK
Counterfeiters widen their reach
Anyone with access to a computer would find it fairly easy to fake a label for any popular drinks brand.
Counterfeiting has become a major bugbear for producers who spend millions building up their brands, only
to see them undermined by knockoffs. OFF LICENCE NEWS [OLN] 30/09/2011 UK
Fake doses
Millions of pounds of fake medicines have been soaring as cash-strapped Britons gamble with their lives
buying counterfeit drugs over the internet. About 1.2 million suspect doses were discovered en route to the
UK during a seven day crackdown on rogue websites selling treatments for an array of conditions including
epilepsy and cancer. DUNDEE EVENING TELEGRAPH 30/09/2011 UK; SHEFFIELD STAR (SHEFFIELD,
ROTHERHAM & BARNSLEY) 30/09/2011 UK; OXFORD MAIL 30/09/2011 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
PRESS CUTTINGS: August 2011
Couple facing cigarette scam charges
A husband and wife accused of laundering cigarettes worth more than £180,000 have appeared in court.
LEADER (CHESTER) 01/08/2011 UK
Faked in China: from Apple’s misery
FAKE STAFF, fake interior decoration and a complete shop full of fake electronics devices: The recent news
regarding five bogus apple stores in China; perfect one-to-one copies of the original shops, showed once
again that there are not limits to the creativity and ingenuity of counterfeiters in all industries.
EE TIMES EUROPE (BELGIUM) 01/08/2011 UK
Raid smokes out fake fags
ALMOST 15,000 illegal cigarettes have been found after a raid by trading standards chiefs in Blackpool.
Permanent blindness and kidney failure...
An explosion at an industrial unit in Boston, which killed five people in July, uncovered equipment for
producing illegal alcohol. It threw the business of making and selling counterfeit booze under the spot light.
‘Fake cigs shops raid’
A MASSIVE haul of fake cigarettes were found when two Gloucester shops were raided. The unnamed
stores include one which The Citizen investigated last month after a reporter was sold illegal Jin Ling fags.
Fake designer clothing found
Fake designer clothing worth £750,000 has been found in freight containers at Stansted Airport. About
15,000 counterfeit Giorgio Armani, Ralph Lauren and Gucci items were found in containers flown in from
Turkey. CAMBRIDGE NEWS 02/08/2011 UK; SOUTHEND, BASILDON & CASTLEPOINT EVENING
ECHO (SERIES) 03/08/2011 UK; COLCHESTER DAILY GAZETTE 30/08/2011 UK; ESSEX CHRONICLE
SERIES 04/08/2011 UK; BISHOP`S STORTFORD & SAWBRIDGEWORTH OBSERVER 04/08/2011 UK
eBay scam netted faker £86,000
AN eBay scammer made £86,000, in five months peddling counterfeit sports memorabilia, a court heard.
RHYL, PRESTATYN & ABERGELE JOURNAL 03/08/2011 UK
Man sold designer fakes on Facebook
Police acting on a tip-off searched a house and found a large amount of counterfeit designer gear. It turned
out glazier Benjamin James Austi, 26, was selling items via his facebook site.
WALES DAILY POST 03/08/2011 UK
Rogue trader had £77,000 of fake designer clothes in van
A trader caught with thousands of pounds of fake designer goods en route to Wembley Market has been
sentenced to community service. KILBURN TIMES 04/08/2011 UK
Fake wine seized in city swoop
Shops across the Capital are being checked after potentially harmful bottles of fake wine were found in
Liverpool five week ago. EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS 05/08/2011 UK
Fake booze seized in off-license raids
Lethal counterfeit alcoholic drinks containing the same chemicals found in cleaning products has been
seized from off-licenses in North Staffordshire. STOKE ON TRENT SENTINEL 06/08/2011 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Fancy some fakes? Check out our catalogue
Cheeky counterfeiters are using glossy brochures to lure people in Glasgow into buying fake goods. A
catalogue was seized along with three van-loads of counterfeit goods - thought to have a retail value of £1
million - during a raid on a warehouse, on the South Side of the city.
Lethal alcohol seized in series of raids
Lethal counterfeit spirits and wines have been seized from shops in Staffordshire, it was revealed today.
Bottles of Blossom Hill wine, arctic Ice vodka and Glens vodka were discovered in raids on several
businesses in the county.
EXPRESS & STAR CITY FINAL (WOLVERHAMPTON WEST MIDLANDS) 08/08/2011 UK
Glasgow tops illegal tobacco trade market
MORE than one in tenth cigarettes smoked in some parts of Scotland were sold illegally, new figures
suggest. Illicit sales of cigarettes and hand rolling-tobacco cost the UK around 2 billion a year in lost tax and
are increasingly linked to organized crime. GLASGOW EVENING TIMES 09/08/2011 UK
DODGY DRINK
COUNTERFEIT spirits and wines which could cause serious harm to health-or even death had been seized
from Staffordshire shops. Staffordshire County Council’s public protection team has made its fifth seizure
counterfeit alcohol at off-license, in the county, with all seizures taking place over the last two months.
BURTON MAIL 09/08/2011 UK
Half buy fake goods
Almost half of UK holidaymakers buy counterfeit goods when abroad, often after being duped into believing
they were saving money on branded handbags, clothes and another items, according to a new report.
Operation in wake of distillery blast clears off-licenses
A covert operation carried in the wake of fatal explosion at an illegal vodka distillery has given Boston’s offlicenses a clean bill of health. BOSTON TARGET 10/08/2011 UK
Fake booze containing poisonous chemicals seized in shop raids
Lethal counterfeit alcoholic drinks containing the same chemicals found in cleaning products have been
seized from off licenses. Trading Standards officers have taken several hundred bottles of bogus vodka,
wine and whisky from the shelves after inspections at a total of five shops in the authority’s laboratories in
Stafford. LEEK POST & TIMES 10/08/2011 UK
Swoop on off-licenses secures counterfeit haul
COUNTERFEIT spirits and wines have been seized from off licenses in the Moorlands following a countrywide operation. YOUR LEEK PAPER 10/08/2011 UK
OUR BLACK MARKET FAGS SHAME
A SOARING black market cigarette trade in Paisley is funding organised crime in the town. Shock figures
unveiled yesterday in an investigation by tobacco giant Philip Morris found that more that one in TEN fags
smoked were illegal as Paisley topped the league of shame for fake cigarette sales.
PAISLEY DAILY EXPRESS 10/08/2011 UK; LANCASHIRE TELEGRAPH 17/08/2011 UK
Officers seize fake booze and warn cheap copies are lethal
Tamworth retailers and drinkers are being warned to watch out for fake alcohol after hundreds of bottles of
potentially-lethal cheap booze were seized from shops in Staffordshire.
TAMWORTH HERALD 11/08/2011 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Fake fags kids ‘prop up crime’
Around 4% of cigarettes sold in the city come from illegal traders and the council’s environment convener
Bob Duncan said youngsters who can’t get served in shops are prime targets for sellers who channel the
profits back to organised gangs. DUNDEE EVENING TELEGRAPH 11/08/2011 UK
Two are treated after collapse
PARAMEDICS were called when two teenagers collapsed after consuming what was suspected to be fake
vodka. They were at the Todstock festival and it is believed the fake vodka had been bought from a shop in
Halifax. TODMORDEN NEWS 11/08/2011 UK
More traders back campaign against counterfeit goods
MORE market traders in Grimsby are backing a campaign to project shoppers from counterfeit goods and
misleading sales. North East Lincolnshire Council (NELC) has signed up to the National Real Deal scheme
to ensure local markets and car boot sales are safe and fair for customers.
Off-license sold fake wine
AN off-license has been punished for selling fake Jacob’s Creek and smuggled cigarettes, as well as letting
children buy booze. BRIGHTON ARGUS 13/08/2011 UK
Team given award for stopping fake goods being sold
A TEAM of Derbyshire Country Council trading standards officers have been applauded for their work in
getting counterfeit goods off the street. The officers are part of the East Midlands Scambusters team, which
has won an award from the Anti-Counterfeiting Group for its work across the region.
DERBY TELEGRAPH 16/08/2011 UK; SHEFFIELD STAR (SHEFFIELD, ROTHERHAM & BARNSLEY)
17/08/2011 UK; BURTON MAIL 17/08/2011 UK
Fake cigarettes warning
ILLEGAL cigarettes are being sold through under cover ‘fag houses’, Sunday markets and stores. That is the
warning from trading standards chiefs who want smokers to report those responsible and steer clear of such
products as they do not know what they are smoking. NUNEATON NEWS 16/08/2011 UK
Warning issued over counterfeit booze
COUNTERFEIT spirits and wines which could cause death have been seized from Staffordshire shops. The
county council public protection team has seized dodgy booze from off licences in the north of the country
over the last two months. STAFFORDSHIRE NEWSLETTER (SERIES) 18/08/2011 UK
Market trader caught selling fake fags
A market trader faces having his assets seized after he was caught selling fake designer clothing. Harrow
Crown Court heard how the 34-year-old sold counterfeit bags, belts, sunglasses, caps, and jewellery at both
Willesden and Kempton markets. KILBURN TIMES 18/08/2011 UK
Market trader selling goods caught by trading standards
A STALL owner who sold fake bags, belts sunglasses, caps and jewellery at a market in Willesden has been
ordered to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work. Amit Kumar admitted three offences of possessing
counterfeit items for sale at Harrow Crown Court. WEMBLEY OBSERVER 18/08/2011 UK
Fake cigs shock
AN investigation by tobacco giant Philip Morris has named Blackpool as being among the worst places for
illegal cigarettes. A spokesman for the international cigarettes manufacturer told the Gazette: “Blackpool has
the North West’s third highest figures in smokers purchasing illicit tobacco”.
www.ipcb.co.uk
900 bottles of fake vodka seized in blitz on dangerous counterfeits
NINE hundred bottles of fake vodka and 150 packs of counterfeit tobacco were seized by trading standards
officers in Derby during two operations on the same day. DERBY TELEGRAPH 19/08/2011 UK; SUN, THE
20/08/2011 UK
Swoops on rogue traders nets deadly vodka
ALMOST 40,000 fake items including clothes and potentially deadly vodka have been in Lancashire in the
past two years. Lancashire County Council1s Trading standards discovered 23,000 packets of cigarettes,
8,000 of loose tobacco, 1,000 items of clothing and 6,000 illegal items.
LANCASHIRE EVENING POST 20/08/2011 UK
Fake cigarettes and booze seized in raids
Four stores in Lincoln’s Lower High Street were swooped on in a coordinated strike yesterday morning. It
came after a year of intelligence gathering by officers from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), the county’s
Trading standards team and Lincolnshire police. LINCOLNSHIRE ECHO 20/08/2011 UK
CAPITAL OF COUNTERFEIT
LIVERPOOL today emerged as the region’s capital of crooked goods after seizures of fake clothes, illicit
cigarettes and dodgy DVD’s from rogue traders. Bootleg vodka, smuggled perfume and knock-off computer
software were among and incredible 183,222 items of counterfeit goods captured in the city in the past three
years. LIVERPOOL ECHO 22/08/2011 UK
Latest city shop found selling fake vodka...
MORE evidence of a surge in the sale of fake vodka has come to light in Derby as trading standards officers
call for another shop to be striped of its alcohol license. Last week, Ezee Shop in Yates Streets, Normanton,
had its license removed by Derby City Council. DERBY TELEGRAPH 23/08/2011 UK
Inquiry into deadly chemicals in booze
CONSUMER watchdogs are investigating claims that deadly chemicals are being used to make fake spirits
across West Yorkshire. HUDDERSFIELD DAILY EXAMINER 23/08/2011 UK
Rise in illegal tobacco trading
MORE of the tobacco smoked in St Helens has been smuggled illegally than in any other major town in the
North West. HMRC chief’s say illicit cigarettes and hand rolling tobacco are more often smuggled by the
same sophisticated distribution networks as those who smuggled drugs and illegal weapons.
Danger warning on fake alcohol
Traders and consumers in Staffordshire are being warned about the dangers of counterfeit alcohol.
Staffordshire CC public protection team has made a number of seizures of fake alcohol at off-licences across
the county over the past two months but they are urging business and members of the public to remain alert
to the its availability. EXPRESS & STAR CITY FINAL (WOLVERHAMPTON W. MIDLANDS) 25/08/2011,
MAYA NEWS 29/08/2011 UK
Online trader is spared prison term
Time has run out for an online trader from Kingsbury who sold fake designer watches to his unsuspecting
customers. Manish Patel, 32, of Kingsmead Avenue, sold imitation Rolex, Breitling, Panerai and Omega
watches and accessories on auction websites including eBay and CQout.com for up to £259 a piece. Harrow
Crown Court heard the former graphic designer drove a luxury Range Rover with a £20,000 personalised
number plate which was bankrolled by his four-year scam. KILBURN TIMES 25/08/2011 UK
Fake goods seized
ALMOST 40,000 counterfeit items ranging from clothing and toys to electrical items, computer parts and
potentially lethal Vodka have been seized by Lancashire CC Trading Standards services in the past two
years. The fake goods were seized from a variety of places from car boot sales to private houses.
LANCASTER & MORECAMBE REPORTER 25/08/2011 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Trader sold fake goods
An online trader sold hundreds of fake luxury items. Dean Cartwright, 34, was caught after trading standards
officers bought fake UGG boots AND Christian Dior aftershave from his pure Impulse website.
Crackdown on fake alcohol sales
FOUR shops face loosing their drink licenses and several others are being investigated in a zero “tolerance”
crackdown on fake and smuggled alcohol. Shops now routinely face the loss of their licenses officers find
counterfeit alcohol or imported drinks where duty has been evaded. BRIGHTON ARGUS 27/08/2011 UK
BOOTLEG VODKA DANGER
TRADING standards detectives in Midlands have seized fake vodka so potent it could BLIND anyone who
drinks it. Bottles of supposedly premium vodka bearing the Arctic Ice label are packed with dangerous
chemicals found in cleaning products. There are dangerous levels of isopropanol used to clear oils slicks
and clean laser lenses and the anaesthetic chloroform. BIRMINGHAM SUNDAY MERCURY 28/08/2011
DEADLY VODKA
Fake vodka Arctic Ice, which is packed with killer chemicals, has been seized by trading standards officers in
Staffordshire. DAILY MIRROR 29/08/2011 UK
Counterfeit items valued at £100,000 seized at market
AN estimated £100,000 of counterfeit shoes, clothing, tobacco, watches and devices to enable people to
play counterfeit Nintendo DS games, were seized from Wellesbourne Market recently. The items were
discovered when Wellesbourne Safer Neighbourhood Team carried out operation Childwicksbury, along with
th
Warwickshire TS, on 20 August. STRATFORD UPON AVON MIDWEEK 30/08/2011 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
PRESS CUTTINGS: July 2011
Warning over fake cigarettes
THE READY availability of cheap counterfeit cigarettes is introducing young people to smoking when they
otherwise could not afford the habit, according to a public health specialist who addressed a conference on
smuggling in Dublin. Rat droppings and pieces of red duct tape have been found in counterfeit cigarettes
which are smuggled from China and account for about a fifth of tobacco smoked in the country. The
conference also heard that Ireland’s organised crime gangs have joined forces with Russians and Eastern
European criminals to flood the country with the counterfeit cigarettes. IRISH POST 02/07/2011 UK
Stallholders join counterfeit watch
A CRACKDOWN on fake goods being sold on Burnley market has been launched. Fake goods make profits
for criminals and damage honest businesses. BURNLEY EXPRESS (TUESDAY) 05/07/2011 UK
Market traders sold fake goods
Two market traders have admitted selling fake goods at Bovingdon Market. Khaver Ehsan, 31, from Forest
Gate, London, and Shakeel Khan, 35, from Tilehurst, Reading both appeared at Watford Magistrates Court
on Monday, June27. Goods were seized from their stalls on Saturday, March 6, 2010 during a raid by Herts
Trading Standards. Officers took more than 1,400 counterfeit CDs from Eosin’s stall. He pleaded guilty to
eight offences under the Trade Marks. Act1994. BERKHAMSTED & TRING GAZETTE 06/07/2011 UK;
WATFORD OBSERVER 08/07/2011 UK; BERKHAMSTED & TRING GAZETTE 27/07/2011 UK
Illegal cigarettes hamper quitters
Health chiefs today admitted the illegal tobacco trade was hampering their bid to get smokers in Blackpool to
quit. As revealed in yesterday’s Gazette, cheap, untaxed and often counterfeit cigarettes are being sold
cheaply out of ‘fag houses’ or by ‘Robin Hoods’. BLACKPOOL GAZETTE 07/07/2011 UK; BLACKPOOL
GAZETTE 06/07/2011 UK; BLACKPOOL GAZETTE 02/08/2011 UK; SCOTTISH SUNDAY POST
(SERIES) 07/08/2011 UK
Pair are jailed for smuggling more than a million cigarettes..
TWO men have been jailed for smuggling more than one million cigarettes avoiding tax of more than
£150,000. Wolverhampton Crown Court heard how the Walsall pair were involved in a scam investigated by
HMRC officers who recovered counterfeit Regal Kingsize cigarettes and brands which have no legal UK
market. WALSALL ADVERTISER 07/07/2011 UK
Another counterfeit conviction on the market
A TRADER found guilty of selling counterfeit goods on his stall at Milton Keynes market has been convicted.
Warning as gangs flood city with dodgy vodkas
ALCOHOL gangs are flooding Sheffield with record amounts of illicit vodka sparking fears over health,
violent crime and antisocial behaviour. DONCASTER STAR 08/07/2011 UK
Tobacco seized from shops
ILLEGAL tobacco has been seized from a number of premises in the Freeman Street area of Grimsby by
North East Lincolnshire Council and Humberside Police. In a series of inspections to retail premises and
homes, counterfeit Golden Virginia and Amber leaf tobacco was found. In total 9kg of tobacco and one
packet of cigarettes were seized in June. Most of the illegal tobacco seized last month was taken from a
shop. The authorities are now considering taking further action against those involved and more raids are
planned. In total, since the council’s tobacco control officer post was created in December 2009, 3,500
packets of cigarettes and 41kg of tobacco have been seized.
www.ipcb.co.uk
Counterfeits seized at gig
FAKE T-shirts, sweatshirts and posters were seized at a mid-week gig attended by thousands of pop fans.
Counterfeiters who targeted pop fans at a Black Eye Peas gig were themselves swooped on by a council
team at Alton Towers on Wednesday night. STOKE ON TRENT SENTINEL 09/07/2011 UK; LEEK POST &
TIMES 13/07/2011 UK
£250,000 in counterfeit goods seized by trading standards
More than £250,000 worth of counterfeit goods was seized by Leicestershire Trading Standards last year.
Leicestershire County Council has urged people to be vigilant after Trading Standards seized more than
8,000 counterfeit goods, from fake jewellery to alcohol.
Market trader had fake designer clothes on stall Bridlington:
A man from Bridlington has been found guilty of dealing in counterfeit goods at Skirlington Market.
HULL DAILY MAIL (SERIES) 12/07/2011 UK; DRIFFIELD TIMES 13/07/2011 UK
eBay faces fake goods liability after ruling by European court
Online marketplaces, such as eBay, will have to remove advertisements for fake goods from their sites and
be careful about the assistance they give sellers in promoting products in order to avoid being held liable for
trademark infringements, Europe’s top court has ruled. The ruling follows a case brought by L'Oreal, the
French cosmetics group, against the sale of branded goods on eBay four years ago. It will have
consequences for the way online marketplaces are run. Luxury brand owners have complained for years that
the growth of the internet has facilitated the trade in counterfeit goods. Dominic Batchelor, Intellectual
Property partner at law firm Ashurst, said: “eBay will be concerned by this decision, which means it could be
forced to prevent IP infringements by its users.
FINANCIAL TIMES (UK & IRELAND EDITION) 13/07/2011 UK; ; FINANCIAL TIMES (UK & IRELAND
EDITION) 13/07/2011 UK; EXPRESS & STAR CITY FINAL (WOLVERHAMPTON WEST MIDLANDS)
13/07/2011 UK; WESTERN MAIL SERIES 13/07/2011 UK
Real fears over fakes
eBay took a pounding yesterday in a ruling over sales of fake clobber. The European Court of Justice ruled
the internet auction site could be liable for counterfeits listed on its pages if it “actively” promoted them. The
complex judgment was seen as a huge victory for luxury firms LOUIS VUITTON and cosmetics giant
L’OREAL, which have sought damages for years. The Court signalled the ultimate decision on a crackdown
lay with national governments. But Kirsten Gilbert, partner at solicitors MARKS &CLERK said: “Brand owners
will be jubilant.” SUN, THE 13/07/2011 UK
Fake vodka could blind
DRINKERS are being urged to look out for counterfeit bottles of vodka after a batch containing high levels of
methanol was discovered in Bedford.
COVENTRY TELEGRAPH (SERIES) 13/07/2011 UK; NUNEATON NEWS 13/07/2011 UK
FIVE DEAD IN `BOOZE INFERNO`
FIVE people died in a blast last night at an industrial unit allegedly used by migrants as a vodka plant. A sixth
man was seen with his arms on fire escaping the burning building. His clothes were burnt off and he looked
like his feet had melted a source at the site said. The survivor was fighting for his life in hospital last night.
The source said he was 100% sure the unit was being used to make vodka. He added: “They were brewing
vodka there it’s a well-known fact. They were just young lads, its absolutely tragic what has happened. They
were foreign and could only have been in their 20s”. A police source said the victims were foreign nationals.
Latvians and Portuguese were among those arriving at the industrial estate fearing they had friends among
the dead. SUN, THE 14/07/2011 UK; SUN, THE 15/07/2011 UK; LINCOLNSHIRE ECHO 15/07/2011 UK
LANCASHIRE TELEGRAPH 15/07/2011 UK; SUNDAY EXPRESS 17/07/2011 UK
Trader’s imported tables were fake
A BUSINESS breached copyright and trade mark legislation by passing off fake medication as Viagra, a
Court heard. NORTHANTS EVENING TELEGRAPH 14/07/2011 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Trading Standards clamp down on fake JLS goods.
MILTON Keynes Council’s trading standards team seized hundreds of counterfeit items at the packed out
JLS concert. MILTON KEYNES CITIZEN 14/07/2011 UK
Traders arrested on busy market day
Shoppers busy buying cheese, sausages and bread stared as police arrested two market traders and
confiscated thousands of fake watches, handbags and sunglasses.
CHESTER CHRONICLE (SERIES) 14/07/2011 UK
Smugglers jailed on 1m cigarettes hoard
Two men from Walsall who smuggled more than one million cigarettes into the country have been sent to
prison. Paul Harris and Graham Billingham pleaded guilty to tobacco smuggling.
WALSALL CHRONICLE 14/07/2011 UK
Sports shop owner who sold fakes is behind bars
A sports shop owner who cheated customers by selling fake versions of top designer has been jailed.
Trading standards officers seized 349 garments from Nazakat Hussains Sportsbox stores, one in Cape Hill,
Smethwick, and the other in High Street, West Bromwich.
SANDWELL & GREAT BARR CHRONICLE 4/07/2011 UK
Shopkeeper fined for tobacco haul
A SHOPKEEPER has been fined after being caught with hundreds of pounds of counterfeit cigarettes and
tobacco. SHEFFIELD STAR (SHEFFIELD, ROTHERHAM & BARNSLEY) 15/07/2011 UK
Booze warning to vodka drinkers
RESIDENTS in Barnsley are now being warned to look out for potentially harmful counterfeit vodka, after
officials seized bottles from an off-licence in the Borough. DONCASTER STAR 15/07/2011 UK
Harmful bottles of industrial vodka at shops
ILLEGAL bottles of vodka containing industrial alcohol have been found in small retailers in Hoyland, Darfield
and wombwell. Residents are urged to check any vodka they have purchased in the last few weeks as it
could harm their health. BARNSLEY CHRONICLE (SERIES) 15/07/2011 UK
Shop’s champagne was bubbly Cava...
TWO shops have been prosecuted for selling fake champagne when the contents of the bottles was actually
Cava, a Spanish sparkling wine. All food and wine on Bath Road and Metro Food and Wine, in Farnham
Road Slough, had a number of bottles labelled Champagne costing from £59 for a magnum and £30 for a
bottle. ROYAL BOROUGH OBSERVER 15/07/2011 UK
FAKE VODKA
THE VODKA toast by Rebecca Dickson was meant to be a celebration of her love for her partner and a
marker of their intention to marry but instead the clink of her glass against his proved to be her death knell.
DAILY MAIL, THE 16/07/2011 UK
Britain flooded with fakes, EU figures show
BRITAIN is being deluged with fake cigarettes, clothes, toys and medicines from China, official customs
statistics from the European Commission have indicated. DAILY TELEGRAPH, THE 16/07/2011 UK
Stamp out Illegal tobacco
The murky world of tobacco smuggling is a billion pound industry here in Northern Ireland - and while buying
a packet of illicit cigarettes may seem like an easy way to save a few quid - the profits are being ploughed
straight back into the criminal underworld to fund drug and weapons deals, people smuggling and fraud.
BELFAST SUNDAY LIFE 17/07/2011 UK
Shoppers warned of bogus booze risk
www.ipcb.co.uk
POTENTIALLY deadly counterfeit alcohol may be on sale in Peterborough, police have warned. AN HM
Revenue and Customs (HMRC) spokesman said over the last 12 months the HMRC has helped close down
three illegal stills in the UK. PETERBOROUGH EVENING TELEGRAPH 19/07/2011 UK
LETHAL COCKTAIL
POLICE investigating the explosion on the Broadfield Industrial Estate on Wednesday night have confirmed
that illicit alcohol was being produced at the unit and distributed and sold as vodka.
BOSTON TARGET 20/07/2011 UK; BOSTON STANDARD 20/07/2011 UK
Half of tourists buy counterfeit
ALMOST half of holiday makers buy counterfeit goods when abroad, often after being duped into believing
they were saving money on branded items, according to a report.
HERALD, THE (GLASGOW) 21/07/2011 UK; EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS 21/07/2011 UK; SOUTH
WALES EVENING POST 21/07/2011 UK; SHIELDS GAZETTE 21/07/2011 UK; SUN, THE 21/07/2011 UK
Sentencing delayed by bid to recover counterfeit gains
A HAY-on-Wye man in court on fraud and trademark offences won’t be sentenced until next year. Trading
Standards officers recovered 1,500 items from the 44-years-old’s home and a further 15,000 from his
Hereford employer Orbiting Books. He has admitted nine trademark offences.
HEREFORD TIMES 21/07/2011 UK
China sinks its teeth into Apple with fake stores
China, long known for producing counterfeit consumer gadgets, software and brand name clothing, appears
to have reached a new piracy milestone: fake Apple shops.
SCOTSMAN, THE 22/07/2011 UK
Shopper’s secret hoard
A SHOPAHOLIC housewife had a secret hoard of fake designer goods in her home, a court has heard.
EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS 22/07/2011 UK
Trader jailed for selling counterfeit goods at market
A TRADER who sold counterfeit goods at Bovingdon Market has been jailed for eight weeks.
WATFORD OBSERVER 22/07/2011 UK
FAKE CIGS SOLD TO CHILDREN
CHILDREN as young as seven are being sold fake cigarettes at dozens of “tab houses” in Middlesbrough,
officials have warned. EVENING GAZETTE (MIDDLESBROUGH) 22/07/2011 UK
Smugglers’ stash of cigs
AN UNDERWORLD smuggling network operating on Tyneside has been smashed after the biggest seizure
of illegal cigarettes the region has ever seen.
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE EVENING CHRONICLE (SERIES) 23/07/2011 UK; NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE
EVENING CHRONICLE (SERIES) 23/07/2011 UK; NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE SUNDAY SUN 24/07/2011
12m faked cigarettes seized by Customs
More then 12 million counterfeit cigarettes were seized as Customs officers smashed a £3 million smuggling
operation. The huge haul, believed to have been imported from China, was destined for the black market.
MAIL ON SUNDAY, THE 24/07/2011 UK
Dyson is no fan of copycats
Industrial designer Sir James Dyson has ceremoniously destroyed 700 fake Air multiplier fans churned out
by Chinese counterfeiters. He crushed them with a digger outside his firm’s Wiltshire headquarters in protest
at Beijing turning a blind eye to the problem. METRO LONDON (INC, BRIGHTON) 25/07/2011 UK
11M fake cigs haul
www.ipcb.co.uk
Eleven million fake ciggies have been seized by customs officers in a swoop which smashed a Chinese
smuggling gang. The haul, worth £3million on the black market, was imported from China and destined for
UK black market outlets. DAILY MIRROR 25/07/2011 UK; DAILY RECORD (SCOTLAND) 25/07/2011 UK
Test can detect fake whisky
A NEW test to find counterfeit Scotch whisky brands has been developed by scientists.
DUNDEE COURIER & ADVERTISER (DUNDEE EDITION) 26/07/2011 UK
City scientists test to sniff out fake drams
Scientists at Glasgow University have found a new way of identifying fake whisky. The discovery will be used
to tackle the trade in counterfeit whisky, which costs Scottish companies huge sums in lost revenue.
Help prevent another tragedy
POLICE and the council have made an urgent appeal for illegal brewing activity to prevent a repeat of the
tragedy which claimed five lives in Boston last week.
BOSTON TARGET 27/07/2011 UK; BOSTON STANDARD 27/07/2011 UK
Fake vodka seized in city shop contained cleaning fluid
TEST on fake vodka seized in Derby have found it contained cleaning fluid and was “unfit for human
consumption”. HM Revenue ad Customs (HMRC) discovered nearly 15 litres of the illicit booze on shelves in
the shop and in a nearby storage area.
Counterfeit alcohol sparks warning
DRINKERS are being warned to be vigilant after trading standards discovered counterfeit vodka and wine
being sold at convenience store in High Wycombe.
BUCKS FREE PRESS 29/07/2011 UK
25,000 illegal cigarettes seized
More than 25,000 cigarettes, 20 kilos of tobacco and a Range Rover were seized in a police and Customs
swoop. NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE SUNDAY SUN 31/07/2011 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
PRESS CUTTINGS: June 2011
Councillor is cleared of bootleg alcohol charges
AN Enfield councillor accused of selling bootleg alcohol from his shop in Ealing has been cleared of all
charges. Councillor Ali Bakir was arrested in November last year when suspicion fell on alleged bogus
bottles of Glenn’s Vodka being sold at his shop, the Broadway International Food Centre in West Ealing. The
42-year-old was formally charged in February with three counts of possession of counterfeit goods, and his
case was passed up from Ealing Magistrates Court to Isleworth Crown Court. But at a hearing on Tuesday,
May 10, CPS barristers admitted the charged against Cllr Bakir was incorrect and applied to change it to a
charge of evasion of duty. The judge decided there was insufficient evidence to carry on with prosecution
and the case was dismissed with the CPS offering no evidence. ENFIELD INDEPENDENT 01/06/2011 UK
A Gadget by any other name...
Some may call them bargains, but everybody really knows them as fakes. It’s a billion dollar industry that
encompasses everything from perfume to cigarettes, clothes to technology, and it’s growing all the time.
MICRO MART 02/06/2011 UK
Council goes after disgraced former FC player’s assets
EAST Riding Council is taking legal action to confiscate assets held by disgraced ex-Hull FC Gareth Raynor.
The rugby league player went to prison for a total of 15 months in May last year for running an internet ink
cartridge scam worth £95,500. He pleaded guilty to 14 counts of counterfeiting and one count of fraud.
Trading standards officers raided Raynor’s home in Brough in August 2008, seizing a large number of fake
ink cartridges. Hull Crown Court subsequently heard how he ran an internet company selling cartridges
containing low quality ink from China on the auction website eBay, passing them off as high quality brands
such as Epson. He also counterfeited computer games. Now it has emerged the council is set to bring
confiscation proceedings against Raynor under the proceeds of Crime Act.
EAST HULL & HOLDERNESS ADVERTISER 02/06/2011 UK
Stallholder was trading in fake designer clothes
AN EASTLEIGH trader has been handed a 12 month suspended sentence for selling fake designer clothes.
Arvinder Singh Kang, 26, was caught selling knock-off Lacoste polo shirts for £10 from his market stall by
undercover Hampshire TS officers who seized just over 400 items of clothing, including T-shirts and
tracksuits. Tests confirmed that 369 of the items were counterfeit goods which, if genuine, would have been
worth around £9,000. Kang, from Coventry pleaded guilty to eight charges relating to the sale and
possession of counterfeit clothing contrary to the Trade Marks Act 1994.
DODGY DEALERS HIT BY £3M OF SEIZURES
THOUSANDS of dodgy goods including computer games, sunglasses and clocks totalling nearly £3million
were seized in the Black Country last year. Sandwell Council trading standards officers smashed into the
fake goods trade with a series of raids. Officers also took legal action under the Proceeds of Crime Act to
seize cash in 12 UK bank accounts in Spain, as well as a house in the UK, an apartment in Spain, land in
Brazil and more than £13,000-worth of jewellery. BIRMINGHAM MAIL 03/06/2011 UK
Shocked Eileen landed with threat of legal action...
IT was a charity shop bargain but when Eileen Hollingworth put her new handbag on eBay she was stunned
to be threatened with legal action for selling a ‘counterfeit’ product. The 50-year-old grandmother said the
popular internet auction site pulled the listing for the bag because of its similarity to products by London
based handbags maker Radley. And just days after she said she received a letter from solicitors saying they
would “pursue further action” unless she provided further details about where she got the bag. Mrs
Hollingworth, of Ettas Way, Ettwall, said she first saw the bag in a charity shop in Burton and noticed its
similarity to a Radley bag which typically sell for more than £100 on the high street.
www.ipcb.co.uk
Counterfeit sales warning
CAR boot sale visitors are being urged by HM Revenue & Customs to be on the lookout for traders selling
counterfeit and smuggled cigarettes and alcohol at “bargain” prices. HMRC said expert packaging makes it
almost impossible to spot the difference, but the cigarettes themselves may be made in back-street or
underground factories with no guarantee of the quality or content.
SOUTH WALES ARGUS 03/06/2011 UK; SOUTH WALES ECHO 06/06/2011 – 07/06/2011 UK
Watch out for fake fags and booze
SOUTH WALES Visitors to car boot sales are being urged by HM Revenue & Customers to be on the
lookout for traders selling counterfeit and smuggled cigarettes and alcohol at ‘bargain’ prices. Expertly
crafted packaging makes it almost impossible to spot whether the tobacco and alcohol products are
counterfeit and there is not guarantee of the quality or content. SOUTH WALES ECHO 07/06/2011 UK
Fake clothing salesmen facing jail
TWO men who tried to sell thousands of pounds of fake merchandise at one of the city’s biggest events
could face jail. Simon Hempsall, 39, of Loughshaw, Staffordshire and his father John Hempsall, 62, of
Hockley Road, Tamworth were caught selling counterfeit Scania truck clothing at a Truckfest at the East of
England Showground last year. Trading Standards officers visited the pair, who are directors of clothing firm
Work Wear UK, at their stall and seized a total of 1,600 items, including jackets, caps, coats, and polo shirts
which were valued at £18,000. On Monday, the pair appeared at Peterborough Crown Court after they
pleaded guilty to two offences under the Trade Mark Act at a preview hearing. James Earle. Prosecuting,
told the court that although the pair did not make the items, they had imported them to sell.
PETERBOROUGH EVENING TELEGRAPH 08/06/2011 UK
Spot the fakes, plea
TRADING standards bosses in Renfrewshire are calling on consumers to come forward with information
about counterfeit crime. Renfrewshire Council is marking World Anti-Counterfeiting Day by asking buddies to
be aware of the impact the sale of such goods can have on the local economy. Counterfeit goods are often
produced by organised criminal gangs and the money made from unsuspecting shoppers goes to fund gunrunning, people trafficking and the drugs trade. PAISLEY DAILY EXPRESS 08/06/2011 UK
Vodka from anti-freeze is among fake goods seized
Consumer watchdogs have warned people to watch out for fake and potentially dangerous goods on sale in
Norfolk. Today is world anti-counterfeiting day, and Norfolk County Council Trading Standards is warning
consumers to be on their guard. In the past 12 months, they have seized counterfeit alcohol and tobacco in
Norwich, Great Yarmouth and King’s Lynn. Their haul included Vodka containing dangerous chemicals
believed to have been produced by vehicle anti-freeze. It was difficult to distinguish this product, falsely
labelled as Glen’s Vodka, from the genuine examples of the brand of vodka, but it would have posed
significant danger to health if drunk. Officers have also seized counterfeit champagne, with similar concerns
about how they were made. Officers have found toys with dangerous and illegal levels of led and chromium,
plus counterfeit CDs, DVDs and clothing. NORWICH EVENING NEWS 08/06/2011 UK
Action on fakes for sale
Bosses at Bescot Sunday Market are aiming to crack down on counterfeit goods after agreeing to a national
customers charter ensuring customers get a fair deal. LSD Promotions Ltd have signed up to the Real Deal
initiative which has been backed by Walsall Council trading standards. In March this year more than £4,500
worth of fake footwear and clothes were seized.
www.ipcb.co.uk
Take advantage of a new website
ONLINE shoppers are being urged to take advantage of a new website that could help prevent them from
inadvertently buying fake goods online. Bosses at Warwickshire County Council’s Trading Standards Service
are appealing to people to take a look at www.brand-i.org, which has been launched to coincide with World
Anti-Counterfeiting Day. It is very easy to set up a professional looking website that gives the seller of fake
branded goods legitimacy and many are being sold at very similar prices to the genuine articles. Anyone in
the world can register a website ending it .co.uk to give a customer the impression that the website relates to
a company based in the UK. NUNEATON NEWS 08/06/2011 UK
Warning over counterfeit goods on sale
Consumer watchdogs have warned people to watch out for fakes and potentially dangerous goods on sale in
Norfolk. In the past 12 months, they have seized counterfeit alcohol and tobacco in Norwich, Great,
Yarmouth and King’s Lynn. Their haul included vodka containing dangerous chemicals believed to have
been produced from vehicle anti-freeze. It was difficult to distinguish this product, falsely labeled as Glen’s
Vodka, from genuine examples of the brand, but it would have posed significant dangers to health if drunk.
Officers have also seized counterfeit gin and champagne, with similar concerns about how they were made.
Seizures of counterfeit tobacco have increased over the past 12 months. The tobacco, a mixture of bootleg
foreign imports and hand rolling variety, carried no health warnings and little or not labeling. Officers also
found children’s toys with dangerous and illegal levels of lead and chromium.
EASTERN DAILY PRESS 08/06/2011 UK
Police seized fake goods
COUNTERFEIT clothing worth £3,665 has been seized from a stall on a South Yorkshire market. The items,
with the trade names Ugg, Jack Wills and Barbour items, were seized by police during a check on all goods
being sold on the Barnsley stall. The stall owner has had their licence allowing them to trade on the market
terminated. SHEFFIELD STAR (SHEFFIELD, ROTHERHAM & BARNSLEY) 09/06/2011 UK
Bootleg clothes seized
ALMOST £3 million worth of fake goods were confiscated by trading standards officers in Sandwell last year,
including up to £2 million of counterfeit designer clothes. Once fake goods have been picked up, trading
standards officers can apply to freeze suspect bank accounts under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
Fake luxury goods seized at horse fair
TRADING standards officers seized £50,000 of counterfeit goods at Appleby Horse Fair including fake
designer potties claimed to be from the Chanel and Dior labels. A counterfeit Swarovski crystal washing up
bowl and Christian Dior wash basket were also found. A team from Cumbria County Council was joined by
brand holders from the Anti-counterfeit Group to target traders selling fake goods at the fair.
CUMBERLAND NEWS (SERIES) 10/06/2011 UK; NORTHERN ECHO 11/06/2011 UK
Bad hair day for fake trader
A MAN found selling fake hair straighteners has been ordered to pay thousands of pounds by magistrates.
Oxfordshire Trading Standards pounced on Michael Williams, after an Abingdon woman reported buying a
defective pair of GHDs from his website cguklondon.co.uk. The item would not turn on properly and the plug
went up in sparks. The ceramic coating on a replacement pair then started to come away, but the woman
was unable to contact 27-year-old Williams. Prosecutor Anu Prashar said: “Michael Williams was making a
staggering 100% profit on the hair straighteners. Records show he had purchased each set for around £40
from China, and sold them for on or around £80”. OXFORD MAIL 10/06/2011 UK; ABINGDON HERALD
15/06/2011 UK
POLICE SEIZE FAKE X BOXES
More than £500,000-worth of illegally ‘chipped’ X box consoles and copied video games have been seized
by Birmingham Trading Standards and police officers. BIRMINGHAM MAIL 14/06/2011 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Counterfeit cigarettes seized in raid on flat
A SHOPKEEPER has been fined after more than 40,000 counterfeit cigarettes were seized in a flat above a
Coventry store. Mustafa Abdulla, of CP supermarket, in Humber Avenue, Stoke, was fined almost £4,000 at
Coventry Magistrates Court. COVENTRY TELEGRAPH (SERIES) 14/06/2011 UK
Council joins the Real Deal
MARKET organisers and businesses in North East Lincolnshire are being encouraged to support a national
campaign which protects shoppers against the trade in fake goods. The trading standards team at North
East Lincolnshire Council has signed up to the ‘Real Deal’ campaign, demonstrating their commitment to
ensuring that the borough’s markets are safe and fair. Market and car boot sales are not uniformly regulated
nationally and, therefore, can offer opportunities for illegal traders, particularly in counterfeit and pirate
goods. The Real Deal is supported by many major organisations, including Crimestoppers, Consumer Direct,
and several big business names such as Manchester United FC, adidas, GHD hair products and BPI (British
Recorded Music Industry). GRIMSBY EVENING TELEGRAPH 14/06/2011 UK
‘Bargains could be counterfeit’
VISITORS to car boot sales in Merthyr Tydfil are being urged by HMRC to be on the lookout for traders
selling counterfeit cigarettes and alcohol at “bargain” prices. HMRC said packaging is making it “almost
impossible” for customers to spot whether cheap tobacco and alcohol products are fake, leaving no
guarantee of the product’s quality. Stuart Cruikshank, assistant director at HMRC, said: “Low-cost tobacco
and products can often seem very attractive to people who believe they are buying genuine products at a
knock-down price. But those involved are not concerned if they are selling to under age young people, and
the illicit trade has a devastating impact on legitimate retailers and the local community. We all pay extra to
compensate for the money these criminals steal and with the economic challenges being faced by business
and the public, our focus must remain relentless to deter and disrupt the illegal trade”.
WARNING TO WASHERS
SHOPPERS and traders on Teesside are being warned not to be taken to the cleaners by fake washing
powder. Consumer watchdogs in Middlebrough have found hundreds of boxes of phony washing powder on
sale. The discovery of the fake “Persil Non Bio Washing Powder” was made at a number of retail outlets by
Middlesbrough Council Trading Standards. The counterfeit washing powder can be distinguished from the
genuine products by the box which is made of flimsy cardboard with poor quality printing and muted colours.
The traders concerned claimed to have purchased the powder in good faith from what they though was a
legitimate trader, although it was not their usual supplier. Trading standards’ advice to business is to buy
only from reputable sources where they can be certain of the origin of the product. EVENING GAZETTE
(MIDDLESBROUGH) 15/06/2011 UK; MIDDLESBROUGH HERALD & POST 23/06/2011 UK
Shopkeeper fined for tobacco haul
A SHOPKEEPER has been fined after being caught with hundreds of pounds of counterfeit cigarettes and
tobacco. Hussain Asem, who runs Halan Grocers, Bellhouse Road, Shiregreen, pleaded guilty to charges of
possession for sale of illicit cigarettes and tobacco products without proper health warnings and also offering
for sale ‘black snuff’ oral tobacco which cannot be legally sold in the UK. Asem was fined £2,000 and
ordered to pay £337 towards the council’s costs.
Rogue trader to pay £701.70
A man found in possession of more than 50 items of fake designer clothes and footwear has been ordered to
pay more than £700 in costs and carry out unpaid work. Arron Street, aged, 25, of Hadley Road, Walsall was
found with a haul of counterfeit Nike trainers, Lyle and Scott polo shirts, G-Star Raw hooded tops and jeans,
Timberland shorts, Dolce and Gabbana jeans and Henleys t-shirts. Police made the discovery when they
stopped his van in Telford Road, Beechdale, on April 19, 2009.
EXPRESS & STAR LATE FINAL (DUDLEY) 15/06/2011 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Footballer’s goal is to repay £65k after selling fakes
A SEMI-PROFESSIONAL footballer from Hoddesdon was ordered to hand over £65,000 after he was caught
selling fake Nike trainers on eBay. Christopher Wild who plays for Billericay Town in the Ryman League was
found to have hundreds of pairs of counterfeit Air and Air Max Shoes when trading standards officers raided
his Hoddesdon home. The 28-years-old, of Roselands Avenue, pleaded guilty on the first day of his trial to
11 charges of contravening the Trademarks Act 1994. Trading standards officers made a test purchase of
Nike trainers from an eBay account in February 2008. The trainers, which were fake, had a return label
giving Wild’s address. In May that year some 425 pairs of counterfeit Nike trainers Wild’s home.
HODDESDON & BROXBOURNE MERCURY 16/06/2011 UK; LEA VALLEY STAR 15/06/2011 UK
Swoop on eBay traders
COUNTERFEIT goods worth £34,000 for sale in an internet business scam have been seized by trading
standards officers from Lancashire County Council. More than 850 items were seized; including 777
garments mainly polo shirts and 92 wallets and key rings. The goods were found in a bedroom, study and
attic at the property, which was being used to run an eBay retail business by two women in their thirties. One
of the women was inside at the time of the raid but neither has been arrested. The items have been sent
away for investigation and the haul is being treated as suspicious.
ACCRINGTON OBSERVER 17/06/2011 UK
Give and fake Brits
SOME six million Brits have given counterfeit goods as gifts, a study revealed yesterday. Of those, 32%
were unable to tell the difference so wouldn’t pay for the genuine item. More than half of the 2,000 polled by
Microsoft did not think piracy was serious. But Ruth Orchard, of the Anti-counterfeit Group said: “You are
helping fund global organised crime”. SUN, THE 21/06/2011 UK
Fake cigarettes seized
More than 4,000 counterfeit cigarettes have been seized in a raid on a shop in West Bromwich. Trading
standards officers also seized 20 pouches of counterfeit tobacco, 100 counterfeit DVDs and three bottles of
suspected counterfeit Bacardi rum in the swoop.
Fake vodka haul could ruin drinkers’ eyesight
COUNTERFEIT vodka that can lead to blindness has been seized by trading standards officers in Swansea.
An investigation is now under way after a local shop was allegedly found selling it. Effects of methanol
poisoning include abdominal pain, drowsiness and dizziness, blurred vision leading to blindness, and
breathing difficulties.
SOUTH WALES EVENING POST 16/06/2011 UK
Man told to pay 41k over fake manuals
A STRAFFORD man who made £85,000 selling counterfeit car repair manuals has been ordered to payback
nearly half of his ill-gotten gain. Kristopher Ombler, 25, of Avon Bank Drive, Luddington Road, was told by a
judge at Leamington Crown Court to cough up £41,000 within six months or go to prison for a year.
A MAN from Kenton accused of trading in counterfeit inhalers
A MAN from Kenton accused of trading in counterfeit inhalers for asthmatics has been acquitted. Anand
Mehta, 28, of Oakfield Avenue, has been charged with possessing, importing and selling the inhalers but
denied all knowledge. At Harrow Crown Court on Monday a jury found him not guilty on all counts.
Prosecutors Dominc Connolly admitted afterwards that the case that the Mehta was not strong enough. He
told the observer: “There was insufficient evidence to convict him. He had denied all knowledge of the deal
and the jury agreed.” WEMBLEY OBSERVER 23/06/2011 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Warning after fake wine scam discovery
A FAKE wine scam was exposed after a raid on a city off-licence. The wine was being sold in used bottles of
such well-known brands as Echo Falls, Blossom Hill, Kumala, and Hardy’s. It’s now being analysed to see if
it is harmful to people’s health. One of the bottles recovered by Trading Standards officers even had used
chewing gum at the bottom of it.
LIVERPOOL DAILY POST 23/06/2011 UK; LIVERPOOL ECHO 23/06/2011 UK
Danger toys
PARENTS are being reminded to be on their guard against dangerous fake toys after some were found to be
potentially poisonous. Trading Standards officials in Leicestershire issued the warning after finding
potentially poisonous heavy metals and hormone-disrupting plastics in fakes of the popular Ben 10 toys.
WALES DAILY POST 24/06/2011 UK; SOUTHEND, BASILDON & CASTLEPOINT EVENING ECHO
(SERIES) 24/06/2011 UK; LIVERPOOL DAILY POST 24/06/2011 UK
Brits buy bogus presents
NEW RESEARCH has revealed Brits are turning to counterfeit gifts for friends and family members. Figures
show that six million people in the UK may have knowingly bought fake goods as a present last year. 40% of
those who admitted buying bogus merchandise had revealed they had bought a fake gift as a birthday
present. 19% had bought a counterfeit item as a Christmas gift, and a distinctly unromantic 15% had given a
fake as a Valentine’s Day present. The report, by Internet giants Microsoft, said 32% of Glaswegians who
had bought counterfeits had done so because of cash worries. When asked if they would still buy fake goods
such as pirate software knowing that it funds prostitution, drug trafficking and kidnapping, 8% said they
would still do it. SCOTTISH SUNDAY POST (SERIES) 26/06/2011 UK; DAILY RECORD (SCOTLAND)
27/06/2011 UK
Car boot sale to be the ‘Real Deal’
TRADING standards officers are putting the boot in to pedlars of fake goods Genuine market traders and
car-booters have been invited to sign up they are the Real Deal as part of a national campaign to stamp out
those selling fake goods. Trading Standards officers are now inspecting everything from medicines to car
parts to ensure no counterfeit goods slip through the net. GRIMSBY EVENING TELEGRAPH 27/06/2011
MAN FINED FOR FAKE CIGARETTES
A MAN was fined £8,000 for illegally selling alcohol and counterfeit cigarettes. Stephen Henry, 61, pleaded
guilty at Knowsley magistrates’ court to two offences of selling counterfeit tobacco and one offence of selling
alcohol without a licence. Henry of Westminster Grove, Prescott was offering the goods as part of his
business selling soft drinks and crisps door to door. Officers seized almost 44,000 cigarettes, more than
£31k of hand rolling tobacco and 340 litres of alcohol, along with £5,000 in cash. Investigations by Knowsley
council’s trading standards team and the North West regional illicit tobacco team revealed that a large
quantity of the seized tobacco was counterfeit. Magistrates also instructed that all of counterfeit items
seized should be destroyed. LIVERPOOL ECHO 27/06/2011 UK
Jailed father and son stood to make £6,000 from fakes
A FATHER and son from Tamworth caught selling counterfeit clothing they claimed they didn’t know were
fakes have been jailed. Simon Hempsall, aged 39, of Loughshaw, Stonydelph and his father Jon Hempsall,
aged 62, of Hockley Road, Winecote sold the fake Scania truck clothing at Truckfest at the East of England
Showground last year. Appearing before Peterborough Crown Court the duo were both sent to prison for two
months. The Hempsalls, who trade as Workwear UK, were also ordered to pay a combined total of £18,000 £8,000 each and £2,000 for the company after admitting two offences under the Trade Marks Act at a
previous hearing. In addition they were made to pay £1,500 costs each, and the company was fined £5,000.
Judge Madge ordered that the all clothing seized in the operation be destroyed. Both men looked stunned as
Judge Madge passed the sentence. TAMWORTH HERALD 30/06/2011 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
PRESS CUTTINGS: May 2011
BACK ON THE FAGS
A BRAZEN smuggling gang has been caught dealing deadly counterfeit cigarettes just months after they
were exposed on TV. Shocking pictures show crook John Scullion back at Ayr market peddling tobacco after
he was named and shamed in a BBC Scotland Investigation in January. Cheeky Scullion and his cronies
openly sold ‘illicit whites’ tobacco from China with 30 times more lead than normal cigarettes at Ayr Sunday
market on April 17. The images were taken by former Metropolitan Police officer Bob Fenton during an
undercover swoop on tobacco smugglers, who rob the country of £4billion a year in tax.
SCOTTISH SUNDAY MAIL 01/05/2011 UK; SCOTTISH SUNDAY MAIL 01/05/2011 UK
Pair jailed over fake cigarettes scam bid
A BID to smuggle 3.6 million counterfeit cigarettes into Britain hidden in plastic toys led to jail for two men.
Gerald Courtney and Mark Anthony Rees, planned to flood South Wales with their illicit haul which was
thwarted when HMRC officers overheard them discussing their scam at Cardiff Docks. The cigarettes had
been hidden in a container shipped into the UK via Felixstowe, and were then transported to the city by road.
The amount of duty evaded was £670,000. Rees and Courtney were both sentenced for five years.
WALES ON SUNDAY (SERIES) 01/05/2011 UK; BARRY GEM 05/05/2011 UK; BARRY & DISTRICT
NEWS 05/05/2011 UK; WALES ON SUNDAY (SERIES) 01/05/2011 UK
Counterfeit Spares now a very real problem in the UK
Problems arise when fake or counterfeit goods are passed off in varying degrees of success as the real
thing. Sadly, in the world of maintenance and engineering, the consequences of inadvertently buying
counterfeit goods can lead to, at best, anything from premature wear and failure of the part concerned, to
hugely costly damage to associated plant and machinery. In the worst case scenario, users, employees and
the general public can be subjected to a serious safety risk. In a recent incident, a total of 2.5 tonnes of
counterfeit SKF bearings were seized by Trading Standards officers from a non-authorised SKF bearing
distributor in the UK. This has prompted Brammer, a supplier of maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO)
products and services, to issue a fresh warning to UK industry about the problems posed by counterfeit
spares, as there is now mounting evidence to show that the threat in the UK is very real.
MAINTENANCE & ENGINEERING 01/05/2011 UK
Pensioner fined for selling cheap goods out of van
A 70-YEAR-OLD pensioner drove around ‘underprivileged’ areas of Swansea on a weekly basis to sell cutprice goods to the community including fireworks, counterfeit tobacco and booze. City magistrates heard that
van-man Terence Maynard, of Heol y Cadifor, Penlan, took the task upon himself over a time span of a
decade, but on more than a social basis than to make profit. Katia Daw, prosecuting, said he was not
authorised to do so. SOUTH WALES EVENING POST 02/05/2011 UK
Alert over car boot sale fakes
VISITORS to the string of car boot sales in South Devon during the spring and summer are being urged by
customs officers to be wary of traders selling counterfeit alcohol and smuggled cigarettes at ‘bargain prices’.
They said expertly crafted packaging makes it nearly impossible to spot whether cheap tobacco and alcohol
products are not the real deal. A customs spokesman said: “Like any other counterfeit products, there is no
guarantee of the quality or content. They are not genuine cigarettes brought back from holiday but they were
probably made in back streets or underground factories across the world and their manufacture and sale is
unlicensed and unregulated”. TORQUAY HERALD EXPRESS SERIES 03/05/2011 UK
PAIR SOLD SPORT FAKES IN SPITE OF WARNING
A married couple sold counterfeit sporstwear at a Wolverhampton market for almost seven years, including
rip-offs of major brands such as adidas, Superdry, and G-Star. Jasmeet Kaur Bhagi and Makhan Singh
Bhagi were warned by trading standards officers about selling the fakes at Bilston Market in May 2004 and
again in October 2009, city magistrates heard.
www.ipcb.co.uk
Couple face court over fakes claim
A couple are to stand trial accused of selling fake designer clothes and sunglasses. Keith and Hayley
Horton, of Harborne Road, Oldbury, denied more than a dozen charges each at Wolverhampton Crown
Court yesterday. The couple, who stand accused of selling brands purporting to be designer labels like
Karen Millen, Gucci and French Connection, will face a two week trial later this year. It was not disclosed
how much money was made through the alleged forgeries. Both were bailed to a date to be set.
Hard-up L-driver instructor may lose house...
A DRIVING instructor could be forced to sell his house after admitting selling fake designer goods on eBay.
Cardiff Crown Court ordered Matthew Knight, 41 to forfeit £29,650 under the proceeds of Crime Act (POCA).
He said he’d looked for a second income after 10 years in the L driver business because too many people
were trying their hand at being self-employed driving instructors, following redundancy, and that means less
work for him. He needed to supplement his income but in order to raise the amount he may have to put his
home at Tan y Fron, Barry, on the market. Knight, a married man with no previous convictions, said he didn’t
know the goods he bought and sold were counterfeit but he accepted he didn’t make as many checks as he
should have done. Judge Patrick Curran QC said: “the prosecution have accepted this was a case of
negligence not fraud. Deliberated fraud would have mean jail”. SOUTH WALES ECHO 05/05/2011 UK
Raid on city market
FAKE designer goods worth more than £150,000 were seized during a bank holiday raid on a city market.
Trading standards officers and police swooped on Brighton Racecourse Market on Monday in a bid to catch
peddlers of fake goods in the act. Hundreds of items, including pirate CDs and DVDs, computer games and
clocks bearing fake designer labels such as Ralph Lauren, Calving Klein, and Dolce & Gabbana were all
found. It is the third major haul taken from the market in the past year. Officers netted a black market vanload of goods that included fake Nintendo games and piles of phoney Ugg boots. Officers targeted five stalls
on Monday but said that with extra staff they would have come away with even more fakes.
Woman, 71 in court on fags rap
A PENSIONER was in court charged with two offences of supplying over 3,000 counterfeit cigarettes and
four offences of supplying tobacco products which failed to display the required health warnings on the
packaging. June Kinvig, 71, of Heskin Road, Kirkby, pleaded guilty to the offences when she appeared at
Huyton Magistrates Court. She was fined £200 and ordered to pay £300 costs.
Cigarettes seized in house raid
ILLEGAL cigarettes were seized in a raid on a house in on Wednesday, April 13, after receiving a tip-off
about its occupants dealing in counterfeit tobacco and cigarettes. NEWS POST LEADER 12/05/2011 UK
Sport fakes trader is ordered to repay £104k
A MARKET trader from Wolverhampton who was caught selling counterfeit football merchandise at car boot
sales has been ordered to repay £104,000. Trading standards officers swooped on Gurdeyal Rhoad at a car
boot sale in Saredon near Cannock. They recovered a pile of “cheap knock-offs” including boxes containing
250 counterfeit baseball caps, 59 T-shirts and nine jackets bearing the trademarks of Premiership clubs.
Rhoad, of Avondale Road, Whitmore Reans, was ordered to pay back £104,000 at Stafford Crown Court this
week following a Proceeds of Crime Hearing, He was warned he would be jailed for two years if he did not
produce the money within six months. WOLVERHAMPTON CHRONICLE 12/05/2011 UK; CANNOCK &
LICHFIELD CHRONICLE 12/05/2011 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Fake sports goods seized from stall
A MARRIED couple sold counterfeit sportswear at a Wolverhampton market for almost seven years,
including rip offs of major brands such as adidas, Superdry and G-Star. Jasmeet Kaur Bhagi and Makhan
Singh Bhagi were warned by trading standards officers about selling the fakes at Bilston Market in May 2004
and again in October 2009, city magistrates heard. But the couple, both aged 51, continued the illegal trade
to pay debts and their mortgage. That was despite seven further visits from trading standards and brand
protection services. WOLVERHAMPTON CHRONICLE 12/05/2011 UK
Trading teams accolade for smashing golf scam
A crack team from Havering Council which smashed a huge eBay scam worth millions of pounds has been
recognised with a national accolade. Havering Council trading standard’s team were named best department
in the country in the Anti-Counterfeit Group’s annual awards held last Thursday. It recognises the
outstanding work in Operation Augusta, the biggest counterfeit scam of its kind investigated by a Council
trading standards team and the largest ever uncovered on eBay. The defendants sold fake gold clubs and
merchandise internationally through the website between June 2003 and March 2008. Ringleader Rainham,
organised the delivery of more than six tons of golf equipment into the UK alone. He was jailed for four years
and three months in March 2010. Six others were also convicted at Snaresbrook Crown Court.
Tripped up by trainers
Just how safe is online shopping? Perfectly, if you buy from a reputable retailer but how can you tell who is a
reputable retailer and who isn’t? Its one thing when the seller carries a recognisable high street name, but
many shops today are web only, and a worryingly large numbers of those are not what they seem. It's much
easier to set yourself up as an online shopkeeper than it is to open an actual shop. You don’t need any
capital, and surprisingly, you don’t even need anything to sell. All you need is the right software and good
English to make your site look convincing. As for stock, you simply buy it from another supplier when an
order comes in, apply your mark up and arrange for it to be sent on. That of course assumes that you intend
to fulfil your orders. This morning, I searched online for Nike Air Max Trainers; not because I yearn for street
credibility, but because I have been inundated with unwanted emails about them for two weeks now. They
are flavour of the month for counterfeiters, and sure enough, among the search results I found several
traders hiding behind aliases in China, whose stock appeared to be either phoney or non-existent.
£100,000 to be paid back
A MOTHER and son who made tens of thousands of ponds from selling fake designer gear online have been
ordered to pay back the cash. Sharen and Guy Wetson must repay almost £100,000 they made through the
eBay scam. Detectives discovered they had been buying in dodgy designer goods, including handbags and
clothing, from china, and flogging it on eBay. In December, Guy was jailed for 12 months while his mother
Sharen was sentenced to 51 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to do 100 hours’
unpaid work. JOURNAL, THE (NEWCASTLE) 14/05/2011 UK; NEWS GUARDIAN WHITLEY BAY
EDITION 19/05/2011 UK
Shoppers are warned after counterfeit iPhones seized
Leicester City Council officers have seized three of the fake devices, which were seized by police from
people selling them in the city during the past few months. The phones were being offered for sale as new in
the street for £60. However they are copies of an earlier iPhone model which sell for £120. Three people
have been interviewed as officials try to establish how the handsets came to be in the UK and how many are
in circulation. LEICESTER MERCURY (SERIES) 18/05/2011 UK
Raid found £30k counterfeit goods
A HAY-ON-WYE man could go to prison after about £30,000 of counterfeits were found at his house.
Trading standards officers who recovered 1,500 items from his Warren Close home and a further 15,000
from his book firm employer in Hereford said it was one of the biggest counterfeit operations they had ever
seen. Michael Perangie, 43, appeared at Brecon Law Courts on Friday on several charges related to the
unlawful sale of various DVD box sets, cosmetics and clothes. Orbiting Books Ltd, was also charged with
similar offences. Both parties entered guilty pleas. HEREFORD TIMES 19/05/2011 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Fake iPhones could be on sale in city
TRADING standards officers in Derby are warning people to beware of cheap counterfeit iPhones which
could be offered for sale in the city. Although the handsets look the same, officers say they are inferior.
Counterfeit clothes trade gets suspended sentence
A MARKET trader who sold counterfeit clothes from his stall at Wellesbourne market had fakes worth
thousands of pounds in his van and his home when he was arrested. But at Warwick Crown Court stall
holder Zaheer Ahmed escaped a prison sentence for selling the illegal clothing at Wellesbourne and
Donnington markets. The court heard the clothing seized from Ahmed, which would have been worth
£58,000 if it was genuine, would have sold for around £16,000 on his two stalls. Ahmed, aged 32, of
Avondale Road Sparkhill, Birmingham, was sentenced to six months in prison suspended for 18 months. He
was also ordered to do 120 hours of unpaid work and a confiscation hearing under the Proceeds of Crime
Act was adjourned for an investigation into his finances to take place.
STRATFORD-UPON-AVON HERALD 19/05/2011 UK
Shops fine for dodgy phone accessories
TWO shopkeepers who run neighbouring businesses in Harrow town centre have been fined for selling fake
and unsafe mobile telephone accessories bearing the trademarks of manufacturers such as Nokia, Playboy,
Sony Ericson and Apple on July 19 last year. Mobile phone chargers were seized as part of the haul and
found to be unsafe and dangerous. Kawaljeet Sign Anand, 20 owner of Anand Accessories, in St Ann’s
Road, Harrow, admitted offences under the Trade Marks Act 1994 and Consumer Protection Act 1987 and
was fined £2,000 and ordered to pay prosecution costs of £1,425 to Brent and Harrow Trading Standards.
Farhad Naffee, 26, who runs Euro Fashions next door, was fined £1,250.
WEMBLEY OBSERVER 19/05/2011 UK
BOOZE SEIZED
A HUGE haul of counterfeit alcohol and tobacco has been seized by police and customs officials. They
swooped on a property in Kincardine, Fife, after a tip-off from a member of the public earlier this week. The
operation between Fife Police and HMRC was part of a larger crackdown on youth disorder and anti-social
behaviour in the area. The seizure included 752 litres of wine spirits, 1118 packets of cigarettes and 24 kg of
rolling tobacco. DAILY RECORD (SCOTLAND) 21/05/2011 UK
Counterfeit goods alert for car boot sales customers
TRADING standards watchdogs have sent out a warning for people to beware of counterfeit goods. Many
people will attend car boot sales over the warmer months both as customers looking for a bargain and as
sellers running stalls to make some extra money. But trading standards officers say some ‘bargains’ may not
be what they appeared. A spokesman for the department said: “There are an increasing number of stalls
operating regularly through the car boot season who may be selling fakes such as branded perfume or
beauty products that could leave you with a nasty burn or rash. There is also counterfeit clothing that falls
apart at the seams after a few wears, and copied or downloaded DVDs and MP3s that are of poor quality
and ruin your overall enjoyment. These are just a few examples that are both illegal and damaging for the
legitimate business who sell the real articles. Counterfeiters cost jobs and if caught selling such articles could
face heavy penalties. Trading standards attend car boot sales both undercover and openly.
LEADER (WREXHAM) 20/05/2011 UK
Counterfeit Spurs goods seized from European cup
AN ‘Aladdin’s cave’ of football merchandise was confiscated by Haringey Council officers during six
Champions League games. Police and council officers picked up thousands of counterfeit goods which were
falsely displaying the Spurs brand as well as logos from competing football clubs. With six Champions
League games at White Hart Lane this year, each European game attracted local and foreign illegal traders
who come from as far away as Spain. Officers said that the traders often hawk their wares inside cafés,
restaurants, pubs, betting shops or directly on the streets around the ground. They try to shift fake
merchandise, namely football scarves, T-shirts, hats, and badges which are often sub-standard.
HARINGEY ADVERTISER 25/05/2011 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Trader is fined for selling counterfeit superhero bags
A market vendor who has been trading in Ipswich for 28 years has been fined thousands of pounds for
retailing counterfeit superhero bags. Mitchell Donald Lloyd will pay £2,315 after pleading guilty to selling
goods bearing a false trademark, possessing an article which infringed copyright and seven charges of
possessing a false trademark for sale or hire. IPSWICH EVENING STAR (SERIES) 25/05/2011 UK
Wine scam probe after store raid in county
A NATIONWIDE wine racket is thought to be opening in North Yorkshire after counterfeit bottles were seized
in a raid on a store in Selby. The bottles of Shiraz, Merlot, Semillon Sauvignon Blanc, and Semillon
Chardonnay were taken away for testing after a customer reported concerns about £6.99 bottles she had
bought. She complained the wine tasted bad and she has concerns about its authenticity.
Market trader facing court
A MARKET trader who sold counterfeit clothes from his stall at two Midlands markets had fakes worth
thousands of pounds in his van and at his home when he was arrested. Zaheer Ahmed, of Avondale Road,
Sparkhill, admitted seven charges of possessing counterfeit goods and seven of having them on sale at
Donning and Wellesbourne markets. The 32 year old was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for
18 months. BIRMINGHAM MAIL 28/05/2011 UK
Fake Viagra is found in house
THOUSANDS of fake Viagra pills and items of counterfeit clothing were found after trading standards officers
raided a Northampton house. Victor Cheke, edge 41, of Leyside Court, Overstone Lodge, was charged with
importing a prescription drug for sale without authority and possessing clothing with a false trade mark for
sale. The court heard that a raid of Cheke's house on April 9 uncovered ore than 8,000 tablets, which
contained Sildenafil, a drug used to treat erectile dysfunction. Counterfeit clothing with designer names such
as Ralph Lauren, adidas and Lyle & Scott were also found on the premises.
NORTHAMPTON CHRONICLE & ECHO 28/05/2011 UK
Designer fakers hit in pocket
Two men found in possession of fake designer belts and bags had more than £25,000 confiscated by
Snaresbrook Crown Court. On May 13, Fashal Khan of Wallesley Road, Slough was served with a
confiscation order of £17,000 and Idris Khan of Pepys Close, Colnbrook was served with a confiscation order
of £11,143 on May 19. Each was sentenced to 200 hours of unpaid work. The fakes, including copies of
Louis Vuitton and Gucci, were discovered at a self-storage site in Tower Hamlets.
Fake fags full of rat droppings are hitting our streets
THE ECHO today lifts the lid on the black market trade that starts in China and ends up behind the counters
of corner shops, pubs and newsagents across Liverpool. Illegal cigarettes are flooding into the city as
organised gangs look to make millions off the back of the UK’s sky-high tax policy. Tax hikes have seen the
recommended retail price for 20 cigarettes hit the £7 mark making Britain the second most expensive place
in the world to smoke behind Ireland. Behind the soaring prices have been people on a tight budget resorting
to buying under-the-counter packets unaware of the massive added health risk they are exposing
themselves to. On top of the normal risks associated with smoking the cut-price packs and rolling tobacco,
pouches can be filled with plastic, sand, dust, dead insects, and even rat droppings. They look like many of
the regular brands seen on display but have names like Comelot, Raquel Gold, Jin Ling and Gold Classic.
And they sell for £3-£3.50, half the price of regular 20 packs making them attractive proposition.
www.ipcb.co.uk
Fakers cash in on success of Potters
WEMBLEY-BOUND Stoke City fans are being warned to beware of fake merchandise. The warning comes
as trading standards investigators seized counterfeit FA Cup semi-final memorabilia.
Are supply chain secret agents the way to fight fakers?
Fake products cost millions and can also cost lives. Changes in the supply chain have made life easier for
counterfeiters, so the time is right to consider counter-measures. For some tourists a trip to the Far East
wouldn’t be complete without picking up a fake Rolex or dodgy copy of the King’s Speech, but for industry,
counterfeiting is a scourge cutting into revenue, destroying reputations and in some cases putting lives at
risk. Counterfeiting is a major criminal enterprise that costs the world economy some 465m euro last year
and destroying 2.5 million legitimate jobs through lost sales to counterfeiters, according to the International
Chamber of Commerce. It expects the cost of counterfeit products is lost revenue, lost taxes and police time
to double by 2015. LOGISTICS MANAGER 01/04/2011 UK
Crack down on counterfeit whisky
Experts at the University of Leicester’s Space Research Centre are working with colleagues at De Montfort
University to create a handheld device, which will detect fake whisky and wine through the bottle. The
exciting research project is being supported by the Food and Drink iNet. The technology has already been
developed by the University of Leicester to spot counterfeit medicines by scrutinising the packaging. Now
experts are working to transfer the technology to analyse liquids in a bottle. As well as helping to stamp out
the big problem of counterfeit whisky and fine wine, this could also have major potential for airline security
systems, they believe. METROPOLITAN LIFE 01/04/2011 UK
Using X-ray to crack counterfeit
One estimate values the worldwide market for counterfeit electronics at up to $10 billion annually and names
China, particularly the Shenzhen area, as the source of approximately 70% of those counterfeits. “Since the
counterfeit parts mix openly with other products, it doesn’t take long for them to slip into the inventory of even
reputable firms”, explained Steve Zweig, VP of sales for Glenbrook Technologies. And many assemblers
look for the lowest bids, even for critical applications such as military or commercial aircraft. It is in just such
instances that counterfeit parts can be introduced into the supply chain.
ELECTRONICS MANUFACTURE & TEST 01/04/2011 UK
Faking it
A survey that questioned 1000 consumers found nearly a third thought counterfeit goods tarnish the
reputation of brands. The survey was carried out by Ingenia Technology, which develops products and
solutions for brand protection, authentication and track and trace applications.
PACKAGING SCOTLAND 01/04/2011 UK
Crime crackdown
PROPOSED legislation to tackle the manufacture of counterfeit medicines is expected to strike a blow
against criminals involved in the trade. The European Parliament’s decision to adopt the Falsified Medicines
Directive was welcome by trade bodies convinced it will seize the initiative in the battle to thwart the
production of counterfeit goods. The directive, which was adopted in February, promotes the latest anticounterfeiting safety features as well as encouraging greater vigilance of pharmaceutical packaging.
(IHMA) also welcome the moves that will help to distinguish falsified medicinal products from other illegal
products, as well as from infringements of intellectual property rights. PACKAGING SCOTLAND 01/04/2011
Council says it’s not in the market for fakes
COUNCIL bosses have signed a pledge to keep dodgy traders out of Huddersfield's Market. The Real Deal
charter is gained by local authorities and markets that vow to bar anyone found to be trading in counterfeit
and other illegal products. It will apply to all the Huddersfield and district markets in the borough, including
the town's Open Market off Brook Street. Chris Cotton, Kirklees markets manager, said: "We want people to
be confident about shopping in our markets and getting what they paid for. Kirklees markets don't and won't
www.ipcb.co.uk
tolerate people muscling in with counterfeit gear and we will clamp down on anyone who tries to"
Market fakes seized
More than 70 counterfeit goods worth more than £4,500 have been seized from a Walsall market after a
swoop by police and council chiefs. Fake footwear and clothes were recovered during a raid on Bescot
Market following a tip off. Household names were among the brands on display. The operation was led by
Trading Standards officers, police and brand protection representatives. After an examination of the goods
they were discovered to be counterfeit. The swoop at the market was carried out recently. It's estimated if the
items had been genuine they would have generated more than £4,550. Council chiefs said they work
alongside market operators LSD Promotions to rid Bescot Market of all counterfeit products.
WALSALL CHRONICLE 07/04/2011 UK
Councillor charge
AN ENFIELD councillor has reappeared in court accused of selling counterfeit alcohol from his Ealing shop.
Haselbury ward councillor Ali Bakir, 42, denies three counts in prosecution of bogus booz after trading
standards officers allegedly seized bottles of fake Glen’s vodka from his West Ealing shop in November.
Bakir, who was suspended by the Council’s Labour group, appeared at Ealing Magistrates Court on Monday.
He returns on April 14 for committal. ENFIELD GAZETTE 07/04/2011 UK
£300k tobacco ring is busted
MORE than £100,000 of counterfeit cigarettes have been seized in Burton in a police operation that netted a
£300,000 haul. Detectives linked up with customs agents in raids at five addresses in the Anglesey suburb,
which also yielded hundreds of kilos of black rolling tobacco. A quantity of cannabis wraps prepared ready
for sale was recovered from one of the properties. Two men aged 23, and 25, were arrested in the swoops,
part of the ongoing operation Enigma crackdown. HM Revenue and Customs spokesman Jenny Kendall
said: Gangs behind this form of criminality reap huge profits which are ploughed straight back into the
criminal underworld, feeding activities like drug dealing and fraud. BURTON MAIL 07/04/2011 UK
Warning on counterfeit cigarettes
PEOPLE in the Bristol area are being warned of the dangers of buying illicit or counterfeit cigarettes and
tobacco following a raid at a car boot sale in Bleadon, near Weston-Super Mare, last September. Two men
were arrested as a result of the incident and bailed pending further investigations by trading standards. Paul
James Mackay, of Midsomer Norton, appeared at North Somerset Magistrates Court on March 30, when he
pleaded guilty to six offences. These were selling Richman cigarettes which had a tar content 39% in excess
of the legal limit and which had a carbon monoxide content 45% in excess of the legal limit. In addition he
sold Richman cigarettes which did not have the correct safety labelling such as written warning and yield
statement in relation to the tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide levels.
BRISTOL EVENING POST (SERIES) 07/04/2011 UK
Fake label goods sold on market
FAKE designer label goods on sale at a local market led to a man being charged at Hull Crown Court. Faisal
Mahmood, 31, pleaded guilty at a hearing last Monday to dealing in counterfeit goods at Skirlington market
on Sunday May 16 last year when Mahmood was found to be selling clothing falsely marketed with well
known adidas, Fred Perry, Nike, Henri Lloyd, Lacoste and G-Star trade marks.
BRIDLINGTON FREE PRESS 07/04/2011 UK
Four jailed in massive smuggling conspiracy
A SUFFOLK man has been jailed for his part in a major international smuggling operation which had the
potential to manufacture millions of pounds worth of tobacco. Fixer Robert Minshall was one of four men who
received prison sentences at Norwich Crown Court after being arrested during raids involving 100 customs
officers, including many based in Ipswich. The 68-year-year-old, of Falmouth Avenue, Newmarket, was
imprisoned for two years and has been given a Serious Crime Prevention Order for five years. The gang was
in the process of setting up an illegal counterfeit tobacco factory when HMRC, supported by police and
Serious Organised Crimes Agency raided premises in Suffolk, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and Essex.
www.ipcb.co.uk
Officers discovered more than sixteen tonnes of raw leaf tobacco on a farm in Leicestershire, which would
have been manufactured into hand rolling tobacco.
EAST ANGLIAN DAILY TIMES (SERIES) 07/04/2011 UK
Fake Jacob’s Creek found
Fake bottles of the best-selling Australian wine have flooded into Britain, TSOs warned today. Hundreds of
bottles of imitation Jacob’s Creek, which have made their way into off-licences across the country, have
already been seized. The wine appears identical to the real thing; apart from a misspelling of Australia on the
label - it is spelt "Austrlia". Trading standards officials say it is from China and it tastes terrible.
EXPRESS & STAR CITY FINAL (WOLVERHAMPTON WEST MIDLANDS) 06/04/2011 UK; DRINKS
BUSINESS 01/04/2011 UK; OFF LICENCE NEWS [OLN] 01/04/2011 UK; SOUTH WALES ARGUS
01/04/2011 UK; EXPRESS & STAR CITY FINAL (WOLVERHAMPTON WEST MIDLANDS); SOUTH
WALES ECHO 02/04/2011 UK; 06/04/2011 UK;SOUTH WALES ECHO 02/04/2011 UK; DAILY MAIL, THE
06/04/2011 UK; BRIGHTON ARGUS 06/04/2011 UK; DAILY RECORD (SCOTLAND) 07/04/2011 UK;
SOUTH WALES ARGUS 07/04/2011 UK; ABERDEEN EVENING EXPRESS (SERIES) 07/04/2011 UK;
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READING 15/04/2011 UK
LICENCE SUSPENDED OVER DODGY VODKA
COUNCILLORS have suspended the licence of a popular Huddersfield restaurant after police discovered
dozens of bottles of counterfeit vodka. Kirklees Council's Licensing Panel yesterday slapped a three-month
booze ban on Grappolo in Lockwood. However, the ban will not come into force until after owner Mr Hamid
Mehrgan appeals against the decision at Huddersfield Magistrates' Court, which he has 21 days to do after
receiving official notification of the ban. Councillors suspended the licence to serve alcohol after 36 bottles of
counterfeit vodka were discovered at the Italian Restaurant. However, the three strong panel refused to
consider evidence from West Yorkshire Trading Standards showing exactly what had been in the
liquid serve to customers. HUDDERSFIELD DAILY EXAMINER 08/04/2011 UK
Warning over risk of buying fake golf clubs
THOUSANDS of golfers are being warned about the risks of buying counterfeit golf equipment. As this
weekend's Scottish Golf Show 2011 gets under way at Glasgow's SECC, the Scottish Crime and Drug
Enforcement Agency will be at the event to highlight the dangers. Officers will be warning about the
involvement of serous organised crime in the production and sale of fake accessories. Fake golf goods,
including fake Titleist irons, fake Titleist Pro V1 golf balls and a fake Ping driver will be on display.
Man jailed for massive counterfeit drugs scam
A MAN was jailed for eight years yesterday for his involvement in the most serious fake scam ever seen in
the European Union. Businessman Peter Gillespie, 64, of Bovingdon, Hertfordshire, was involved in an
operation to import from China to the UK more than two million doses of counterfeit prescription drugs for
conditions including prostate cancer, heart disease and schizophrenia.
Man in court for selling fake car manuals
A COMPANY director has admitted selling £30,000-worth of counterfeit car manuals on the internet. Lee
Harris, aged 38, appeared at Nuneaton Magistrates Court on five charges against the Copyright Designs and
Patents Act. In a case brought by Coventry CC, prosecutor Andrew Burton explained that Harris had been
copying and selling workshop car manuals from his home in Penzance Way, Nuneaton. For almost three
years he ran a small enterprise, which through his eBay account, made him a net profit of £30,350. This
figure does not include any payments he may have received in cash or cheques.
www.ipcb.co.uk
MAN SOLD FAKE GOODS AT ‘SHOP’
A MAN who admitted selling counterfeit goods worth £102,000 at a Stonehouse ‘shop’ will be sentenced
next week. Andrew Pollard aged 45 of Carradale Road, Egg Buckland, pleaded guilty yesterday at Plymouth
Crown Court. His 19-year old daughter Josie and his 16-year old son Josh, both of the same address, both
pleaded guilty to a similar charge. At a previous hearing, city magistrates were told that police seized more
than 1,000 counterfeit items with a street value of £102,000. The clothes, jewellery and perfume with false
trade marks were on sale at the ‘shop unit’ in Wyndham Place on October 26 last year. The fake items
included Prada jeans, Stone Island denim, Henri Lloyd T-shirts, Ugg boots, a Tiffany bracelet and Hugo
Boss eau de toilette. PLYMOUTH HERALD 12/04/2011 UK
Fake condom seller to pay back £37k
THE owner of a Birmingham firm prosecuted for attempting to flog fake products including condoms, toys
and batteries has been ordered to pay back over £37,000 or go to jail. At a confiscation hearing at the city’s
Crown Court, Judge Peter Carr ruled that Sandeep Arora had benefitted from a criminal lifestyle and that he
must hand over £37,190. Arora was also ordered to pay £11,000 cost. The 35-year-old from Yeading,
Middlesex was given six months to find the money or face a 16 month jail sentence. At a previous hearing
Ben Mills, prosecuting, said trading standards seized 50,000 items from two outlets in Great Hampton Row,
Hockley in January 2008. Twenty thousand of them were found to be fake and they included a large quantity
of counterfeit sunglasses, stickers, toys and Durex condoms. BIRMINGHAM MAIL 13/04/2011 UK
eBay trader ignored counterfeit warning
A FATHER OF ONE has been ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work after selling thousands of
pounds worth of goods bearing fake trademarks on eBay. Muzaffar Hanif offered customers the choice of
putting hundreds of different logos on vehicle number plates or stickers, Stoke on Trent Crown Court heard
yesterday. The 31-year-old was caught in the test purchase sting in December with a plate bearing the
badge of West Ham Utd FC, despite not having permission to use the emblem. He was also found to be
using Ford trademarks without the manufacturer’s permission. STOKE ON TRENT SENTINEL 14/04/2011
Fugitive trader faces payment order and jail
A WANTED trader who sold clothes with forged labels and is on the run has been ordered to pay more than
£250,000. Swee Teong Chew, 43, is being hunted by Brent and Harrow TS after officers discovered he was
selling counterfeit clothing and fashion accessories at his shop in Oriental City, in Edgware Road, Colindale.
Mr Chew was originally sentenced in May last year to three years in jail for conspiring to commit trade mark
offences but he went on the run before being sentenced and is still wanted. A confiscation order was made
in his absence at Blackfriars Crown Court on March 24 for £269,815, which he must pay back within six
months. If he does not pay the amount in full, interest will be added to the outstanding balance. He will at
some stage have to face the consequences of his actions by not only having to serve his prison sentence,
but also repaying his ill-gotten gains. WEMBLEY OBSERVER 14/04/2011 UK
Our ‘must have’ desire for the latest designer items
CLEARLY it’s very easy to produce, market and sell counterfeit goods. Today we read how a trader at a
local car boot sale was issued with a formal warning, after selling imitation Pandora jewellery. This is against
the law and rightly angers those who are trying to make an honest living in our local area which is hard
enough in these difficult economic times. It’s the same with fake CDs, black market videos and cigarettes.
The latter though, could well be more serious as a person’s health could be affected if they take the risk and
puff away at a packet of 20 they may have picked up from a market stall! It’s also extremely hard to believe
that the buyers who purchase such goods have no inclination that they are not the ‘real deal’!! It can be
assumed that the majority of buyers do indeed know, they simply turn a blind eye.
Fake jewellery alert
CAR boot and market customers are being warned to beware of buying fake goods after a trader was caught
selling imitation Pandora jewellery. Following a complaint from another trader, the female Pandora seller was
given a formal warning by trading standards officers. She was caught selling the counterfeit jewellery at
Oaklands car boot sale. Officers immediately seized the jewellery. GRIMSBY EVENING TELEGRAPH
14/04/2011/25/04/2011
www.ipcb.co.uk
End to ‘Handbag lady’ counterfeit operation
A TRADER has been banned from working at any markets or attending any car boot sales in the country for
selling counterfeit goods. Barbara Hubbard, 47, was found to have more than 2,330 counterfeit designer
goods after being caught selling items at the Bonzer fair Romford. Trading standards officers from Havering
Council visited her stall on two different days and bought branded items including a Tiffany money clip and a
Cartier watch. A week after the second purchase council officers returned and seized all items on display, in
addition to those stored in the defendant’s van. Later that day officers searched the defendant’s home in
Antill Road, Bow and they found a lounge full of counterfeit goods imitating Chanel, Gucci, Ugg, Rolex, GHD,
Louis Vuitton, DKNY and Christian Dior. EAST LONDON ENQUIRER 14/04/2011 UK; ESSEX ENQUIRER
14/04/2011 UK; ROMFORD RECORDER 15/04/2011 UK
Wanted trader ordered to pay back 270,000
A TRADER who on run to avoid jail for selling fake goods has been ordered to pay back 270,000 under the
proceeds of Crime Act. Swee Teong Chhew, 43, was sentenced to three years in prison last may after
Islington Council`s trading standards team seized counterfeit designer jeans, handbags and sunglasses from
stores units in Holloway Road, Holloway. He skipped bail prior to sentencing and is currently on the polixce
wanted list but this weekend Blackfriars Crown Court he was gives confiscation order. Chew will have to pay
269,815 in full within six month. Chew, of Wylde Place, Palmers Green, has a number of aliases including
Richard Yang and Robert Chew. Councillor Paul Smith, Islington Council`s executive member for
environment said: We don`t want shoppers to be ripped off by scams merchants. This ruling comes after
hard work by the council`s trading standards team and sends a clear message traders in fake goods risks jail
and the loss of their loot.
ISLINGTON GAZETTE 14/04/2011 UK
Forgers let down by spelling
Illiterate forgers made a glaring spelling mistake on their counterfeit bottles of Jacob`s Creek on sale in
Surrey and London. The con men misspelt `Àustralia`` on the labels of the fake grog, so the label read
``Wine of Austrlia``. And perhaps even more importantly, as well as the spelling error a spokesman for
trading standards said: There was another sign the wine was fake its foul taste. Over the past month, trading
standards officers in Surrey have already seized 20 bottles of the counterfeit wine, which has been on sale in
shops for as little as 2. Hundreds more bottles, thought to have originated from Asia, have also been found in
London Reading and Brighton. Drinkers are now being urged to look out for fake bottles, but it is not
believed the wine is harmful to drink.
Fake drugs man jailed
A WINDSOR fraudster, who masterminded Europe's biggest ever fake-medicine scandal, has been jailed for
eight years. Chartered accountant Peter Gillespie, 65, of Carey close, imported fake Chinese manufactured
drugs via Singapore and Brussels with 100,000 doses ending up in patient’s hands. "They were high-value
drugs that were in big demand for serious illnesses. Stephen Waller told the defendant as he sentenced him
of Friday. "They were very good counterfeits, the packing looked just like the real thing." The charges relate
to 'Casodex', used to treat advanced prostate cancer, 'Plavix', prescribed to prevent blood clots and heat
attacks for angina patients and 'Zyprexa' an antipsychotic prescribed to schizophrenic and bipolar patients.
Medicine watchdogs ordered a Class One recall of all suspected drugs taken by heart and cancer patients
and the mentally ill resulting in shelves being cleared in pharmacies all over the country and half of the
73,000 fake packs recalled. ROYAL BOROUGH OBSERVER 15/04/2011 UK
Four arrested in counterfeit goods raid on taxi firm
A TAXI driver was raided by detectives leading a major counterfeit goods and money laundering
investigation. Four men were arrested at Alpha Cars, in High Street, Swadlincote, on suspicion of handling
stolesen goods and money laundering. Police seized £2,000 in cash under the proceeds Act as well as
property. Despite repeated attempts by the mail, no-one from ALPHA Cars was available for comment. The
swoop was made as part of Derbyshire police’s operation Lurcher, a county-wide crackdown on dodgy
traders and stolen merchandise. The initiative aims to make it as difficult as possible for criminals as possible
www.ipcb.co.uk
for criminal to trade stolen goods by squeezing the market. The men were quizzed by detectives and bailed
pending further enquirers. BURTON MAIL 15/04/2011 UK
Police arrest 33 people and recover cash ...
POLICE have arrested 33 people and seized £36,000 in a crackdown on stolen goods in Derby. Officers
have now raided 42 addresses, including 18 business, and recovered mobile phones, laptops, purses,
counterfeit alcohol and cigarettes. DERBY TELEGRAPH 16/04/2011 UK
Smugglers sent down
A GANG of four midland men who tried to smuggle over three million counterfeit cigarettes into the country
has been jailed. The counterfeit cigarettes would have resulted in a £500,000 tax dodge, and "flooded" the
West Midlands with the fags, Revenue and Customs officials said. HMRC officers discovered the fakes being
shipped from Belgium. They are now pursuing a confiscation order against the four smugglers.
Beware of car boot bargains
BARGAIN hunters visiting car boots during the Easter break are being urged to keep an eye out for traders
selling counterfeit and smuggled cigarettes and alcohol. HMRC chiefs are sending out the message to
residents in Nuneaton, Bedworth, N. Warwickshire and the rest of the county. Expertly crafted packaging
makes it more impossible to spot whether ‘bargain priced’ tobacco and alcohol products are counterfeit and
there is no guarantee of the quality. With the warmer weather and the arrival of the Easter break people are
being asked to stay extra vigilant and not buy cut price products.
NUNEATON NEWS 18/04/2011 UK; BURTON MAIL 18/04/2011 UK; CAMBRIDGE NEWS 20/04/2011 UK;
PLYMOUTH HERALD 22/04/2011 UK; DUNDEE COURIER & ADVERTISER (SERIES) 22/04/2011 UK;
HALIFAX COURIER (SERIES) 26/04/2011 UK
Jury will decide on bootleg case
AN ENFIELD councillor will appear in court next week accused of selling bootleg alcohol from his shop in
Ealing. Councillor Ali Bakir denied three counts of possession of counterfeit goods at Ealing Magistrates
Court, in February, and asked for the case to be heard by a crown court jury. He was arrested last November
on suspicion of selling fake Glenn's vodka from his store in West Ealing. The 42-year-old, who represents
Haselbury ward on Enfield Council, is due to appear on Thursday, April 14 for a committal hearing. He is
currently suspended by the Labour group pending the outcome of the criminal prosecution.
ENFIELD INDEPENDENT 19/04/2011 UK
Trader who sold fakes has his jail term halved
An East London market trader who was jailed for selling counterfeit designer jewellery has had his sentence
halved by appealed judges. Park ShingLam, 47, of Churchill Road, Canning Town, was caught in August
2007 with dozens of fake items at Surrey Quays shopping Centre, in Canada Water. Of forty items actually
tested trading standards officers found 36 to be counterfeit, bearing the names of designer brands such as
Chanel, Tiffany and Louis Vuitton. In February of this year after he had earlier been convicted of nine counts
of unauthorised use of trademark, he was jailed for eight months at Inner London Crown Court. But today,
following an appeal by his lawyers, three senior judges slashed his "manifestly excessive" prison
sentence for four months at the Court of Appeal. Judge Nicholas Cooke QC, sitting with Lord Justice
Pitchford, and Mr Justice Wilkie, said: Trade marks holders needed to be protected by the law, but Lam`s
case was not the most serious of its kind.
NEWHAM RECORDER 20/04/2011 UK
Keep an eye out for fake goods at car boot sales
BARGAIN hunters are being urged to watch out for traders selling illegal alcohol and cigarettes at Easter car
boot sales. It almost impossible to spot weather cheap tobacco and alcohol products are counterfeit because
of expertly copied packaging. according to HM Revenue and Customs. Spokesman Stuart Crookshank said:
"Low cost tobacco and alcohol products can often seem very attractive to people who believe they are
buying genuine products at a knock-down price. "Those involved are not concerned if they are selling to
children underage young people and the illicit trade has a devastating impact on legitimated retailers and the
local community"
www.ipcb.co.uk
Warning on fake ciggies
VISITORS to Easter car boot sales in Staffordshire are being urged by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)
to be on the look out for traders selling counterfeit and smuggled cigarettes and alcohol at what may appear
to be bargain prices. Expertly Crafted packaging makes it almost impossible to spot whether such products
are counterfeit. But all of the large cigarettes HMRC made last year cigarette seizures HMRC made last yea,
around half were counterfeit. They are not genuine cigarettes brought back from holiday, but were probably
made in back street or underground factories across the world and they manufacturers and sale is
unlicensed and unregulated. Stuart Crookshank, assistance director for HRMC, SAID: "Low cost tobacco
and alcohol can seem very attractive to people who believe they are buying genuine products
LEEK POST & TIMES 20/04/2011 UK
JAIL FOR FANTASY FRAUD
AN internet fraudster who created an elaborated world of fictional characters has been given a two years and
eight months prison sentence. Anthony Popoola, 49, coned his victims by pretending that his business,
Histanos (UK) Ltd had assets totalling $10,000,000. In fact it was a one man operation being run from his
two bedroom flat in Gosfield Road, Dagenham. He conned a West Londoner out of 9,045 by tricking him into
believing that he could deliver 500 computer monitors to Kenya. He also sold fake Omega watches as
genuine for hundreds of pounds via the internet. His website carried the Olympic and claimed he was an
official partner of the 2012 London Games. This untrue and is an offence under consumer protection
regulations. He also falsely claimed that he was selling Olympic tickets. He was caught after an investigation
by Barking and Dagenham Council's trading standards team. The London Olympic Organising Committee
was also involved because of the abuse of the Olympic logo.
EAST LONDON ENQUIRER 21/04/2011 UK
Crackdown on `bargain` cigarettes
CUSTOMS officers are planning checks on Easter car boot sales across West Yorkshire. They are on the
lookout for counterfeit goods and had appealed for the public`s help. They believe dodgy traders may be
selling counterfeit and smuggled cigarettes and alcohol at what may appear to be `bargain prices`
Fake mistake
SURREY: Illiterate forgers who misspelt labels on knock down bottled of wine have sparked trading
standards. Twenty bottles of bogus Jacob`s Creek wine were seized in Surrey over the past month with
labels saying the drink was a "Wine of Austrlia" rather than Australia. Test had shown it is not a health
hazard, but drinkers are urged not to buy it despite the bargain price of as little as 2 a bottle.
LEATHERHEAD ADVERTISER 21/04/2011 UK
Counterfeit Àustrlia`wine seized
Fake bottles of Jacob`s Creek wine have been seized form shop in Brent. At one shop, trading standards
officers confiscated 250 bottles. Evidence shows that London has been flooded with the dodgy booze.
Consumers can spot a fake as Australia is misspelt as Austrlia on the label. Some consumers have noticed
the difference in taste, although test has revealed that the fake Jacob`s Creek wine is not harmful to health.
Bill Bilon, head of Brent and Harrow Trading Standards said: ``Traders should only buy legitimated from
sources and advise them to check their stock carefully for any fake bottles. Traders are
responsible for the goods they sell. ``
Fake Olympic goods seized at boot sale
TRADING standards officers have seized fake Olympic goods from car boot sale in Coventry. Cigarette
lighters displaying the iconic Olympic five interlocking rings and ‘London 2012’ logo were discovered as part
of a regular inspection at city car boot sales. Although only a small number were found, officers believe they
are part of a larger consignment and steps are now being taken to trace the supplies to these lighters.
www.ipcb.co.uk
Fake goods are seized
POLICE have seized over £10,000 worth of fake merchandise in an operation outside LG Arena. Officers
from the Marston Green and NEC neighbourhood team confronted the bootleggers on Saturday. Traders
had travelled from as afield as Dublin, Manchester and Leeds to sell counterfeit World Wrestling
Entertainment (WWE) items. SOLIHULL NEWS 22/04/2011 UK
Bar owner fined over fake gin scam
A TAPAS bar owner who tried to pour fake gin down the drain to avoid prosecution has been fined. West
Sussex Trading Standards officers visited the Sen Mediterranean Tapas Bar, in Suddley Road, Bognor,
which is owned by Mustafa Sen, in July and began checking optics to ensure they did not contain cheaper
substitute spirits. The test on the Gordon’s gin came back negative and as an officer started to secure the
evidence, Sen, of The Paddock South Bersted, near Bognor, grabbed the bottle and attempted to pour the
contents down the sink before running off. He was fined £233, ordered to pay £589 cost and a victim
surcharge of £15. BRIGHTON ARGUS 23/04/2011 UK
Fake trade warning
TRADING standards officers are reminding car boot sale customers to be aware of imitation jewellery. The
warning comes after a female trade was caught selling fake Pandora bracelets in Grimsby. As reported, the
woman was selling the bracelets for just 4 individual beads are usually 40. John Seale, head of public
protection at North East Lincolnshire Council, said: "Fake goods are cheap, low quality imitations and those
who profit from them damage the business of popular brands and legitimated traders."
Car boot caution
EASTER car boot sale visitors are being urged by HM Revenue and Customs to look out for traders selling
counterfeit and smuggled cigarettes and alcohol at seemingly `bargain prices`
Shops stock contraband
A MAJOR swoop on businesses in Peterborough has resulted in thousands of contraband cigarettes and
litres of illicit alcohol being taken off the streets. A high-profile, two-day operation has resulted in the seizure
of 32,000 cigarettes some containing anything from rat droppings to high levels of arsenic. More than 4,220
litres of alcohol including wine, beer, cider and vodka some of which had been made with a mix of methanol
a chemical used to make antifreeze were also seized from Peterborough shops. The crackdown took place
on Tuesday and Wednesday last week and was part of a joint initiative by HMRC, Cambridgeshire Police
and Peterborough City Council’s trading standards officers. More than fifty retail, business and domestic
premises were raided across the city. PETERBOROUGH EVENING TELEGRAPH 26/04/2011 UK
Fakes worth millions are seized in swoops
MILLIONS of pounds worth of fake DVDs, cigarettes, alcohol, and toys have been seized during trading
standards swoops in Sandwell in the last year. Fake iPhones, designer label clothes and alloy wheels were
found amongst goods which were worth about £2.5million in lost money to the industries involved, more than
twice last year’s £1 million haul. The latest haul saw 75,000 cigarettes, 25kg of tobacco, 652 litres of wine
and 111 bottles of vodka. Officers also confiscated 6,500 games, DVDs, 300 toys, 600 fake designer
dresses and 40 modified Xbox consoles. The growth of the internet has posed a greater challenge for
officers as crooked traders try to remain ‘invisible’ to the authorities. However, forensic analysis of seized
computers and more sophisticated surveillance has helped the clampdown on dodgy traders. SANDWELL &
GREAT BARR CHRONICLE 28/04/2011 UK
MARKET RAIDED FOR FAKE GOODS
THOUSANDS of counterfeit DVDs worth about £100,000 have been seized by police and trading standards
officers who were also assisted by HMRC when they raided a bank holiday market on private land at
www.ipcb.co.uk
Sturbridge just outside Eccleshall. They seized a total of 12,000 counterfeit DVDs, which were being sold for
£2 each, along with 12 kilos tobacco and 4,500 cigarettes. Eleven arrests were made.
Trader ordered to hand over all his 60,000 assets
A WALLESBOURNE market trader caught with a stash of counterfeit clothes hiding behind a ‘wall of jeans’
in his van, has been ordered to hand over assets of £60,000 and a judge at Warwick Crown Court ordered
that Irfan Khan, who also has to pay £5,000 costs, should be jailed for 15 months if the money is not paid
within six months. An investigation into Kahn’s finances was launched after he was sentenced at the court in
May last year for five charges of possessing goods with signs likely to be mistaken for registered trademarks.
Fakes worth millions are seized in swoops
MILLIONS of pounds worth of fake DVDs, cigarettes, alcohol, and toys have been seized during trading
standards swoops in Sandwell in the last year. Fake iPhones, designer label clothes and alloy wheels were
found amongst goods were worth about 2.5million in lost money to the industries involved more that twice
last year 1 million haul. The latest haul sow 75,000 cigarettes, 25kg of tobacco, 652 litres of wine and 111
bottles of vodka seized. Officers also confiscated 6,500 games, DVDs, 300 toys, 600 fake designer dresses
and 40 modified Xbox consoles. The growth of the internet has posed a greater challenged for officer as
crooked traders try to remain `ìnvisible`` to the authorities. However, forensic analysis of seized computers
and more sophisticated surveillance has helped the clampdown on dodgy traders. The borough`s deputy
trading standards manager Bob Charnley said: `Ìt's a constantly evolving battle of wits as rogues adapt
themselves.
MARKET RAIDED FOR FAKE GOODS
THOUSANDS of counterfeit DVDs worth about 100,000 have been seized by police and trading standards
officers. Officers who were also assisted by HM Revenue and Customs raided a bank holiday market on
private land at Sturbridge just outside Eccleshall. They seized a total of 12,000 counterfeit DVDs, which were
being sold for 2 each, along with 12 kilos tobacco and 4,500 cigarettes. Eleven arrests were made.
Councillor Pat Corfield, Staffordshire County Council`s cabinet member for culture, communities and
customers, said: ``This was great result and shows the county council and our colleagues at the
police and HM Customers will not tolerate the sale of illegal goods.
Trader ordered to hand over all his 60,000 assets
A WALLESBOURNE market trader caught with a stash of counterfeit clothes hiding behind a ``wall of jeans``
in his van, has been ordered to hand over assets of 60,000. And a judge a Warwick Crown Court ordered
that Irfan Khan, who also has to pay 5,000 costs, should be jailed for 15 months if the money is not pay
within six months. An investigation into Khan`s finances was launched after he was sentenced at the court in
May last year for five charges of possessing goods with signs likely to be mistaken for registered trademarks.
An a following last-minute discussions at the court Paul Rooney, prosecuting on behalf of Warwickshire
Trading Standards, said a dispute over the figures had been resolved. He said it was agreed Khan`s
benefit from his illegal activities was a total of 285,132.16-but his available assets totalled 60,000.
Fake cigarettes and booze found in raids
A MAJOR swoop on businesses in Peterborough has resulted in thousands of contraband cigarettes and
litres of illicit alcohol taken off the streets. A high-profile, two day operation in the city to clamp down on illicit
tobacco has resulted in the seizure of 32,000 cigarettes-some containing anything from rat droppings to
high-levels of arsenic. More than 2,220 litres of alcohol including wine, beer, cider and vodka some of which
have been made with a mix of methanol a chemical used to make antifrizze were also seized form
Peterborough shops. The crackdown took place on Tuesday and Wednesday last week and was part of a
joint initiative by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), Cambridgeshire Police and Peterborough City
Council`s Trading
www.ipcb.co.uk
standards officers. More than fifty retail, business and domestic premises were raided across the city. They
seized contraband, representing a total tax loss to the government of 20,000, from 26 of the properties.
Many of the products were real brands which had been smuggled into the country without tax and duty being
paid.
PETERBOROUGH CITIZEN 28/04/2011 UK
Man jailed as cigarette scam goes up in smoke
AN ELMDON man has been jailed for his part in a separate smuggling operation, which sold three million
counterfeit cigarettes shipped into the region of Belgium. Robert Stephen Orton, of Walford Drive, Solihull,
was sentenced to ten months in prison at Birmingham Crown Court. Orton, a father-of-one, had worked in
the motor trade and, more recently, the music industry, prior to his arrest. The 46-years-old`s three
accomplices, form Nottinghamshire, were also jailed. A confiscation order was being pursued against the
defendants. HM Revenue and Custom said: The gang hid their consignment of fake Regal Kingsize
in sealed glass units as they shipped them into Britain. Officers found them during a raid at commercial unit
at Hales Industrial Estate in Coventry in April 2007. If they had hit the streets they would have cost the public
purse 500.000 in unpaid revenue.
SOLIHULL NEWS 29/04/2011 UK
Customs officers crack down on illegal trade
SMOKERS in North East Lincolnshire are being warned to beware of counterfeit cigarettes being sold at car
boot sales. The warning comes from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), which is urging car boot buyers to
be on the look-out for traders selling counterfeit and smuggled cigarettes and alcohol at what appear to be
bargain prices. Stuart Crookshank, assistance director at HMRC, said: ``Low-cost tobacco and alcohol
products can often seem very attractive to people who believe they are buying genuine products at a knock
down price. ``Those involve are not concerned if they are selling to children underage young and the illicit
trade has devastating impact on legitimated retailers and the local community. ``We all pay extra to
compensate for the money these criminals steal with the economic challenges being face by business and
the public, our focus must remain relentless to deter and disrupt the illegal trade.``
TWO men have been jailed for trying to smuggled more than three
Man jailed as cigarette scam goes up in smoke
AN ELMDON man has been jailed for his part in a separate smuggling operation, which sold three million
counterfeit cigarettes shipped into the region of Belgium. Robert Stephen Orton, of Walford Drive, Solihull,
was sentenced to ten months in prison at Birmingham Crown Court. Orton, a father-of-one, had worked in
the motor trade and, more recently, the music industry, prior to his arrest. The 46-years-old’s three
accomplices, from Nottinghamshire, were also jailed. A confiscation order was being pursued against the
defendants. HMRC said: The gang hid their consignment of fake Regal Kingsize in sealed glass units as
they shipped them into Britain. Officers found them during a raid at a commercial unit at Hales Industrial
Estate in Coventry in April 2007. If they had hit the streets they would have cost the public purse £500.000 in
unpaid revenue. SOLIHULL NEWS 29/04/2011 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Retailers urged to stick to trusted suppliers
Spot checks carried out by Trading Standards officials late last year in the South West revealed that 26% of
outlets had counterfeit products on their shelves, while in Manchester 17% were offering fake stock.
FORECOURT TRADER 01/03/2011 UK
Combating IP theft
Whilst new security technologies and solutions will make life increasingly difficult for counterfeiters over the
next five years, research conducted by ECSN indicates that the organisation will continued to try to defeat
the extended manufacturer's lead-times for the foreseeable future by sourcing electronic components from
dubious, particularly Asian-sources. ECSN joins with other international electronic component trade bodies in
urging customers to only purchase components direct from the manufacturer's authorised distributor or an
established and trustworthy local source. COMPONENTS IN ELECTRONICS 01/03/11 UK
Jailed for selling fake fags
A shopkeeper who netted almost £300,000 by selling illicit cigarettes from his rundown store has been jailed
for eight months. CROYDON GUARDIAN 02/03/2011 UK
Market trader guilty of selling fake trainers
A market trader has been found guilty of selling fake trainers. Mostapha Safi, 39, was found guilty of selling
counterfeit Nike trainers at Bovingdon Market. BERKHAMSTED & TRING GAZETTE 02/03/2011 UK
Warning over counterfeit clothes
New research reveals the Scottish shoppers are "faking it" more than ever before - with a staggering 30% of
them freely admitting to buying copycat clothes and accessories. PAISLEY DAILY EXPRESS 05/03/2011
Trader caught selling fakes
A TRADER at Wembley Market has been sentenced for selling fake sportswear to his customers. Sajjad
Ghaffar, 42, was snared after officers from Brent and Harrow TS teamed up with police to raid his stall in
September last year. Brent magistrates heard that 2,142 items bearing well-known names including Ben
Sherman, adidas, Superdry and Lyle&Scott were seized from his stall along with £1,256 in cash. If genuine
they would have been worth more than £120,000. Ghaffar, from E. London admitted 11 offences under the
TM Act and a further two relating to another stall he has. The trader admitted that he knew the goods were
counterfeit but he 'needed the money'. KILBURN TIMES 10/3/11 UK
Pensioner in Court facing cigarette fraud charge
A PENSIONER who admitted a £5,000 plus tobacco fraud has been warned he could face jail. Ian Fitton 67,
pleaded guilty to fraudulently evading paying any duty on a large stash of cigarettes and hand-rolling tobacco
before Wigan Magistrates' Court. The court also heard how Fitton, of Maple Crescent, Leigh, had previously
been convicted of selling cigarettes to children through a window in his house. Prosecutors told how officers
from HMRC and trading standards searched the defendant's house on August 11 last year. Officers
discovered a large stash of counterfeit cigarettes many of which were not even known to be available on the
European market and hand-rolling tobacco. The defendant initially said he had bought the goods from "a
friend" for his own personal use but in a subsequent police interviews, he offered no comment to all
questions. LEIGH REPORTER 10/03/11 UK
Fake goods find
Illicit cigarettes, hand rolling tobacco and counterfeit DVDs have been seized from a Cannock car boot sale.
HMRC joined forces with Staffs Police, TS officers and FACT on the March 6 raid. HMRC officers seized
12,000 cigarettes, 10 kilos of hand rolling tobacco and a BMW car. CANNOCK CHASE POST 10/3/11 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Huge haul of fake goods found on sale at market
Counterfeit goods worth £200,000 have been seized from Donington Market. TS and Police seized adidas,
Ralph Lauren and G Star goods from one stall, while copied DVDs were were found at another. One of the
six people arrested was found to be an illegal immigrant. Investigations are continuing into five other people,
who have been released on bail, pending further inquirers. Police said they had recently received complaints
and intelligence that counterfeit goods were being sold. DERBY TELEGRAPH 10/3/11 UK
Fakes trader told to repay £12,000
A trader who sold fake Nike trainers at a market at Filton Leisure Centre has been ordered to hand over
nearly £12,000 after a Bristol Crown Court confiscation hearing.
Counterfeit cigarettes haul uncovered in raid
TRADING standards officers have swooped on four businesses in Northampton, seizing more than 45,000
counterfeit cigarettes thought to have been illegally smuggled into the country. Officers from Northants CC
TS team seized a total of 2,316 packs of 20 cigarettes during raids on Wednesday. During one of the raids,
more than 1,900 packs were seized after they were found hidden under floorboards in a store room.
NORTHAMPTON CHRONICLE & ECHO 11/03/11 Country: UK
Trader fake goods must pay up
A TRADER who sold fake football shirts, designer gear and computer games has been ordered to hand over
£60,000 made from his illegal business. Kane Goodman, of Wainbridge Crescent, Pilning, was jailed for 18
months in July last year after pleading guilty at Bristol Crown Court to 17 charges of selling counterfeit goods
and possessing fake items for sale. The 36-years-old admitted one charge under the Copyright, Designs and
Patents Act 1988. He was brought back to the court for a confiscation hearing in which a judge was told he
had made £60,000 from selling pirate goods. The case stemmed from a raid on Goodman's home in 2008 in
which TS officers uncovered counterfeit clothing, games and DVDs. The 153 items of fake clothing included
football shirts and imitations designer brands such as Paul Smith and Lacoste. There were fake Chanel
handbags and Tiffany jewellery, 411 pirated films on DVD and 757 copied games for the Nintendo Wii and
Sony PlayStation consoles. BRISTOL EVENING POST (SERIES) 15/03/11 UK
Woman cleared of counterfeit goods charges
A WOMAN has been cleared of having counterfeit designer clothes and perfume for sale. Michelle Silver,
aged 23, faced 11 separate charges of possessing goods with false trade marks for sale last year. Silver, of
Federation Road in Laira, Plymouth had indicated 'no plea' on the charges. Plymouth Magistrates Court
discharged the allegations. It comes after 32-year-old John Stirling, of the same address, admitted a string of
similar charges. He was given a suspended prison sentence. PLYMOUTH HERALD 16/03/11 UK
Fake jewellery seized
Fake jewellery worth £100,000 has been seized by trading standards. On March 9 officers raided a jewellery
shop in Globe Town after tip-offs from the brand owners. Imitations were found to include popular luxury
brands including Tiffany & Co, Bulgari, Chanel, Links of London, Gucci and Cartier.
EAST LONDON ADVERTISER 17/03/11 UK
Fake goods on market
SELLING phoney designer brands of jewellery and clothing led to a market trader having to pay more than
£32,500. Gary Mark Holmes, 42, pleaded guilty to dealing in counterfeit goods on Skirlington market near
Skipsea when he appeared at Beverley Magistrates Court last Wednesday. The prosecution by East Riding
of Yorkshire Council followed an extensive operation mounted by its trading standards services to eradicate
the sale of illegal goods on the market.
BRIDLINGTON FREE PRESS 17/03/11 UK; HOLDERNESS & HORNSEA GAZETTE 17/03/11 UK
Hefty fine for market counterfeit dealer
A man has been ordered to pay more than £2,500 after pleading guilty to dealing in counterfeit goods at
Skirlington Market. The prosecution followed an intensive operation mounted by the trading standards
service of East Riding of Yorkshire Council to eradicate the sale of illegal goods on the market. Colin Briggs,
www.ipcb.co.uk
trading standards services manager said "This prosecution sends out a clear message that the trading
standards service will not tolerate the sale of counterfeit goods on local markets. Legitimate businesses who
trade legally find it extremely difficult to compete with those that insist on breaking the law. We will do all we
can to ensure those traders that trade properly can prosper."
HOLDERNESS & HORNSEA GAZETTE 17/03/2011 UK
Police unearth £1m haul of fake drugs
AN "Aladdin's cave" of fake medicines worth more than £1million was discovered in a raid on four properties
last Wednesday. More than 300,000 counterfeit pills, including fake Viagra, were discovered by officers at
three homes and a secured storage unit in North and East London. Three men have been arrested as part of
the operation which targeted a gang with eastern European connections, which is thought to have supplied a
vast amount of counterfeit drugs to people across Europe and beyond. The medication is alleged to have
originally come from eastern Asia, and is linked to illegal online pharmacies which sell prescription-only
medication. The raid was carried out by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, assisted
by officers from Bush Hill Park Safer Neighbourhood team. ENFIELD GAZETTE 17/03/11 UK
Counterfeit boss to repay a record 5.5m
Birmingham City Council has secured its biggest ever POCA award after a crooked company boss was
ordered to repay almost £5.5 million. Banti Sohal, aged 41, formerly of Bernard Road, Edgbaston, was jailed
for 3.5 years in April last year after admitting 17 charges under the Trades Mark Act. He was charged after
TS officers made their biggest ever haul of counterfeit clothing in the West Midlands. They raided a
warehouse in Smethwick in November 2008 where they discovered around 100,000 items of fake Nike,
Timberland, Fred Perry, Rhino and Henri Lloyd clothing. Had the clothing been genuine it would have been
worth up to £9 million but the estimated street value was £6 million. BIRMINGHAM POST 24/03/2011 UK
Knock-off goods go to new home
THOUSANDS of pounds worth of seized counterfeit goods has been donated to a homeless shelter in
Northampton. The boxes of fake designer clothes were branded and delivered to the Hope Centre in Ash
Street yesterday by Northamptonshire Standards County Council's Trading Standards and national Aid
charity His Church. The two teamed up around two years ago to ensure illegal clothes were not simply
destroyed and sent to landfill, instead they are recycled and distributed to homeless and underprivileged
people across the country by the charity. NORTHAMPTON CHRONICLE & ECHO 24/03/2011 UK;
NORTHANTS EVENING TELEGRAPH 23/03/2011 UK
Trader ordered to pay £350,000
A COUNTERFEIT trader who lived a lavish lifestyle and built up a property empire despite declaring no
income has been ordered to pay back £350,000. Bipan Kumar Rajani gained £1.2 m from the sale of
counterfeit toys and mortgage fraud, a hearing at Swansea Crown court heard. In 2008, Neath Port Talbot
trading standards officers discovered counterfeit toys for sale. In December 2009, he was found guilty of ten
offences. WESTERN MAIL SERIES 24/03/2011 UK
Trader sold fake Nike trainers
A BOVINGDON market trader has been sentenced to 150 hours of community service for selling fake Nike
trainers. Mostapha Safi, 39, of St Andrew Street, Acton appeared before Watford Magistrates Court on
February 23. He was found guilty of six offences under the Trade Marks Act 1994, related to possessing for
sale counterfeit Nike trainers at Bovingdon Market. On Monday, at Hemel Hempstead Magistrates Court, he
was handed 159 hours of community service, ordered to pay £150 costs, a fine of £100 and a victim
surcharge of £15. WATFORD OBSERVER 25/03/11 UK
FAKE CLOTHES BOSS MUST REPAY £5.3 million
A CROOK serving time over a huge fake clothes scam has been ordered to repay £5.3 million of his illgotten gains. Banti Sohal, aged 41, formerly of Bernard Road, Edgbaston was jailed for three and a half
years last April after trading standards officers found a £6 million haul of counterfeit designer clothes at a
Smethwick warehouse. Now Birmingham City Council has secured it's biggest ever Proceeds of Crime Act
award against Sohal, who also had a shop in city Road, Edgbaston. BIRMINGHAM MAIL 25/03/2011 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Man held in swoop on footy shirt fakes
POLICE probing internet sales of fake football shirts swooped on a home in a leafy Leeds surburb.
Detectives raided a detached house in King Lane, Chapel Allerton, yesterday as part of an investigation into
counterfeit replicas sparked by sports wear manufacturer Umbro. Officers searched the house and took
away shirts for detailed examination. A 22-year old man was arrested. The investigation began in December
after Umbro became suspicious about goods for sale on e-Bay. YORKSHIRE EVENING POST 25/03/2011
Hundreds of bottles of Jacobs up the creek
Fake bottles of Jacob's Creek wine have been found on sale in London off licences. They contain inferior
quality wine - although nothing hazardous - and are being offered to retailers for £2 each. They have been
found on shelves for the same retail price as the genuine product and about 600 bottles have been found so
far. Havering Council seized 340 bottles from 19 retailers. William Adams, its Chief TSO, said the illegal wine
came from China and looked similar to the real product but has spelling mistakes in the small print. One
example had the country of origin spelt Austria instead of Australia.
DAILY TELEGRAPH 25/03/11 UK; MAIL ON SUNDAY, THE 27/03/2011 UK
SPAM BAD FOR YOUR HEALTH
GOVERNMENT watchdogs have launched a campaign against the £50 billion illegal internet drugs trade.
Around 25 per cent that's 156billion spam messages advertise illicit medicines and 7 per cent of people have
admitted they buy drugs from the internet without a prescription. In a major investigation, the MHRA bought a
variety of medicines from the internet and tested their content. This showed high amounts of active
ingredients in drugs which could lead to overdose, while in other cases herbal medicines contained not
natural herbs at all. None of the drugs purchased came with the legally required patient information leaflet
which contains details of side effects and dosage. Some medicines came wrapped in tin foil, flouting the
requirement for strictly controlled packaging. DAILY RECORD (SCOTLAND) 29/03/2011 UK
Fake bearings ‘a serious risk’
Counterfeit bearings seized earlier this month could have had devastating consequences had they been
used, Luton engineering firm – SKF - says. On March 16, TS officers, accompanied by SKF officials, seized
around a tonne of counterfeit bearings from a non-authorised SKF distributor in the UK. The Sundon Park
company said the distributor, who has not been named, co-operated fully and said that a further 1.5 tonnes
of various bearing types, purchased on the open market, were also being shipped to them. SKF bearings are
used in everything from heavy machinery through to roller skates and washing machines.
DUNSTABLE GAZETTE 30/03/2011 UK; LUTON NEWS 30/03/2011 UK
Market trader who sold fake clothes could lose assets
A BUSINESSMAN who took part in a large-scale counterfeiting operation worth more than £20,000 faces
being stripped of his assets. Faisal Mahmood, director of Zee Apparel Ltd, was caught in a police raid selling
thousands of pounds worth of fake goods at Skirlington Market in Skipsea. Under the Proceeds of Crime Act
he has had all the goods in has van seized. He could see more of his property seized when the court
decides to what extent he benefited from his crime activity.
HULL DAILY MAIL (SERIES) 30/03/2011 UK; HOLDERNESS & HORNSEA GAZETTE 31/03/2011 UK
Bowl booter counts cost of selling fakes
A CAR booter who sold counterfeit goods has been sentenced to 140 hours unpaid work and to attend
supervision for a year. All counterfeit goods were forfeited and the court ordered costs of £1,947.70 to be
paid to Milton Keynes Council. In August 2009, undercover trading standards officers managed to buy
counterfeit Nintendo DS games from a stall run by Cox, of Harvey Road, Bedford. A search of his stall after
his arrest found more Nintendo DS games along with quantity of branded jewellery in the names of Pandora,
Links of London and Tiffany & Co which were also fake. MK (MILTON KEYNES) NEWS 30/03/2011 UK
Glad rag time as gift lets homeless put on the style
FAKE designer clothes worth more than £150,000 seized in raids will now kit out homeless people.
Cambridgeshire TSOs confiscated the clothes in a series of raids. The groups receiving the fashion items are
from homeless charities Jimmy’s Night Shelter and Winter Comfort in Cambridge as well as Paines Mill in St
Neots. More than £10,000 worth of the clothes was delivered to the charities yesterday. A further £140,000
www.ipcb.co.uk
worth has also gone to His Church based in Bedfordshire, where worshippers will pick off the fake designer
labels so that the clothes can then be given out legally to the charities. Henry Brown, chief executive of
Jimmy’s said: "This is brilliant. We will be able to give these clothes to our residents and visitors to really give
them back the dignity they deserve. The fact that they are brand new and not second hand will help gives
them extra self-esteem." CAMBRIDGE NEWS 30/03/2011 UK
Fake goods trader must pay £270,000
A FUGITIVE trader, who bit off more than he could chew by selling fake goods, was stripped of his assets
while on the run. Swee Teong Chew has been ordered to give back £269,815 in the next six months after he
was convicted of selling counterfeit items at his shop in Oriental City, Edgware Road, Colindale. During his
trial, the court heard he made a small fortune by flogging thousands of pounds worth of fake clothing and
accessories bearing the names of designer brands including Gucci, Armani, Versace, Chanel and Louis
Vuitton. The 43-year-old, from Palmers Green, North London, jumped bail and was sentenced to three years
jail in his absence. KILBURN TIMES 31/03/2011 UK
Arrest after raids reveal Sky TV cards
THOUSANDS of satellite decoder cards, which enable people to watch Sky TV for free, have been seized in
a police raid. Officers from Sudbury Safer Neighbourhoods Team teamed up with Brent Trading Standards,
the FA Premier League and Sky TV when they stormed a property in Barham Closed, Sudbury, on Tuesday.
Two people were arrested after the team uncovered thousands of illegal satellite decodes, counterfeit
clothing and cash in the property. The pair were questioned on suspicious of fraud offences and have been
bailed pudding further enquiries. KILBURN TIMES 31/03/2011 UK
Car boot trader in fined over counterfeit goods
A CAR boot trader has been ordered to pay costs of almost £2,000 after he was caught selling counterfeit
computer games and jewellery. Jason Cox, 38, of Harvey Road in Bedford, appeared at Milton Keynes
Magistrates Court on Friday after already pleading guilty to 11 offences under the Trade marks Act 1994 at
an earlier hearing. He was sentenced to eight weeks imprisonment suspended for twelve months with an
order to carry out 140 hours of unpaid work. All the goods were forfeited and Mr Cox was ordered to pay
£1,947.70 in costs. MILTON KEYNES CITIZEN 31/03/2011 UK
Market swoop on fake clothes
More than 70 counterfeit goods worth – if genuine - around £4,500 were seized from a Walsall market after a
swoop by police and council chiefs. Fake footwear and clothes were recovered during the raid on Bescot
Market following a tip off. The operation was led by trading standards officers, police and brand protection
representatives. Council chiefs said they work alongside market operators LSD Promotions to rid Bescot
Market of all counterfeit products. John Beavon, trading standards manager a Walsall Council, said: "By
purchasing counterfeit items members of the public should be aware that their money may be funding
seriously criminal behaviour. EXPRESS & STAR SERIES (WEST MIDLANDS) 31/03/2011 UK
Market trader sold counterfeit clothes
A MAN from Chroley, in Lancashire, has pleaded guilty at Hull Crown Court to 11 offences of dealing in
counterfeit goods at Skirlington Market. Faisal Mahmood, 31, was caught in a raid last May selling clothing
falsely market with designer brand names. He also asked for a further 22 offences relating to 491 items to be
taken into consideration. East Riding Council was granted a forfeiture and destruction order on all items
seized. YORKSHIRE POST (SERIES) 31/03/2011 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Man sold counterfeit designer label clothing
A MAN has admitted selling about 2,000 counterfeit. John Stirling, aged 32, faced Plymouth magistrates
accused of selling fake designer clothing including Adidas and Nike trainers and Fred Perry polo shirts.
Stirling, admitted 13 charges of selling goods bearing a false trade mark on July 8, July 13 and August 26.
The court heard that the items sold on the auction website eBay. PLYMOUTH HERALD 01/02/2011 UK
Retailers Warned About Fake Booze
Independent Off-licences should always buy their wines & spirits from reliable sources says the Federation
of Wholesale Distribution (FWD), after reports that up to a quarter of retail outlets in some parts of the UK are
stocking counterfeit alcohol products. NEIGHBOURHOOD RETAILER 01/02/2011 UK
Counterfeit threats
More than 60% of the 1000 pharma anti-counterfeiting specialists surveyed believed that the threat of
counterfeit medicines would increase in the next year and 53.8% have said that they intend to invest more in
anti-counterfeiting. PHARMACEUTICAL TECHNOLOGY EUROPE 01/02/2011 UK
£300,000 fakes seized as two men arrested
MORE than £300,000 worth of fake mobile phone accessories have been seized and two men arrested
following raids in W Yorks. Police swooped on two addresses in Batley, uncovering counterfeit and
potentially unsafe phone batteries, chargers and covers. The discovery was made after officers from West
Yorkshire TS test purchased mobile phone batteries bought from an online auction site where they have
been advertised as genuine but turned out to be fake. A raid on one industrial unit revealed boxes of
unlabelled batteries and sheets of adhesive labels carrying brand names that could be applied once an item
has sold. Phone pouches with black tape used to cover Apple and Blackberry trade marks were also
found a common practice used to conceal counterfeit goods and avoid detention at UK ports of entry.
Shady secrets behind trade in fake goods
The seizure of hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of fake goods by W Yorks TS officers reveals the
booming trade in counterfeits across our region. It also proves the age-old adage that if something seems
too good to be true it usually is. Although in truth many of us know full well when we're buying something that
isn't the real deal. With the increased sophistication of forgeries-whether it be Rolex watches or designer
fashion brands it has become almost acceptable in many people's eyes to buy something that looks like the
real thing but costs a fraction of the price. However, these products are potentially dangerous and buying
them deprives proper traders of our custom at a time when they can least afford it.
Roll Your Own Tobacco
The increasing popularity of RYO hasn't escaped the more unscrupulous elements of society. The leading
tobacco companies have been at the forefront of raising awareness about the problems of illegal cigarettes,
and they are now trying to make sure that retailers are aware that the problem also affects the hand rolling
sector. "The biggest threat that we have seen recently is the appearance of counterfeit RYO tobacco," says
JTI's Jeremy Blackburn. RETAIL EXPRESS 01/02/2011 UK
Councillor facing bogus charge
AN Enfield councillor has been charged by police with possessing goods with false trade marks at his shop
in Ealing. Councillor Ali Bakir reported to Ealing Police on Monday and was formally accused of three counts
of possessing the alleged bogus items for sale. The Labour councillor represents Haselbury ward and was
elected to Enfield Council in May last year. He was first arrested by police on November 3 at the Broadway
International Food Centre in West Ealing, which he owns. Police have released Cllr Bakir on bail until a court
hearing before Ealing Magistrates on Monday February 21.
ENFIELD INDEPENDENT 02/02/2011 UK; ENFIELD GAZETTE 10/02/2011 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Bootleg cigarette lined with Chinese asbestos
SMOKERS are being warned of black market Russian import cigarettes which have been found to contain
asbestos. Many of the Jin Ling cigarettes contain industrial chemicals from asbestos-lined Chinese
plasterboard, trading standards officials revealed yesterday. They come in yellow packs with the words Jin
Ling and USA emblazoned across the front. One man, who wished to remain anonymous, said he had been
offered 200 Jin Ling brand while drinking in a club in a club in Hartlepool, Co Durham.
METRO LONDON (INC, BRIGHTON) 02/02/2011 UK
Suspected drugs find was £2m in smuggled tobacco
CUSTOMS officers discovered tonnes of contraband tobacco on which more than £1m duty should have
been paid hiding in pairs of flip flops, a jury heard. Employees at Big Yellow Self Storage in Leeds alerted
HM Revenue and Customs because of the smell from some rented storage units which they suspected might
be cannabis. They were wrong about the source of the smell but right that those involved were acting
illegally. Hundreds of cardboard boxes stored inside three units were checked and tobacco was found sealed
inside the soles of many of the shoes. Inquiries were made about those renting and attending the units over
previous weeks and that led the officers to a house in Waincliffe Mount, Beeston, Leeds, where they found a
tobacco repackaging enterprise in the attic where counterfeit pouches of Golden Virginia and Amber Leaf
were filled for onward sale. YORKSHIRE POST (SHEFFIELD & S. YORKSHIRE EDITION) 03/02/2011 UK
Barber sold fake brand goods at cut-price value
A BARBER who was found in possession of several thousands of pounds worth of counterfeit clothing was
rumbled following a tip off by police officers. At Banbury Magistrates' Court on Friday, Christopher Orwa, of
Martengate, Banbury, pleaded guilty to eight counts of possessing goods with false trade marks for sale/hire.
The 31 year old had been selling counterfeit clothes, including trainers, jumpers, and tracksuits, from his
barber shop, Orwa's in George Street, Banbury. BANBURY GUARDIAN 03/02/2011 UK
Warning on fake web sales
People in Staffordshire are reminded to raise any concerns over counterfeit goods to ensure they are not
victims of a scam. Residents fell victim to fraudsters after receiving fake goods such as iPods and UGG
boots last year. The sale of counterfeit clothes and electrical goods over the internet is becoming more
common. Websites sometimes use a domain name that falsely suggests they are UK based. Scam websites
are often difficult to tell from genuine websites but residents are encouraged to look out for some tell-tale
signs. These include: if the price of an item is markedly lower than the market rate and no information about
the identity of the person operating the business.
Counterfeit goods help those in need
Stoke-on-Trent City Council has confiscated hundreds of illegal sweaters, trousers and other items over the
past year. The authority has teamed up with Bethel City Church, in Abbey Hulton, which will be distributing
the stock. The clothing and household goods will be donated to families in need following a referral process.
Any labels or tags will be removed before items are given away. SENTINEL THE 04/02/2011 UK
Student made thousands selling fake Viagra on internet
A STUDENT earned almost £70,000 from his illegal internet business selling fake Viagra. David Hayler, 26,
was jailed for eight months yesterday after a court heard now he bought vast amounts of counterfeit and
unlicensed drugs from India and China to be re-sold in the UK. Hayler was a 21-year-old Leeds University
business and marketing student when he set up the operation from his home on Shire Oak Road,
Headingley, in 2006. Deanna Heel, prosecuting, said he set up a website called kamagradave.co.uk and
advertised Viagra and Cialis, and another drug used to treat erectile dysfunction. The illegal venture came to
an end after he was discovered by undercover investigators from drug company Pfizer.
YORKSHIRE EVENING POST 05/02/2011 UK; YORKSHIRE POST (SERIES) 05/02/2011 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
£30K to pay council for fake goods.
A JAILED conman has been forced to pay more than £30,000 to Tower Hamlets Council following a
confiscation hearing at Blackfriars Crown Court. Baldeep Singh Arora was found guilty of trading in
counterfeit goods at Isleworth Crown Court on April 22, 2010 and sentenced to nine months in prison. The
council's trading standards financial investigators then launched a confiscation investigation under the
proceeds of crime Act 2002, which revealed that Arora had benefited from his crime to the tune of £312,558.
At a January hearing the judge ruled that Arora must pay £33,845 to the council within six months. If he does
not, he could face 12 months in prison. Arora was caught in 2008 with a hoard of fake Louis Vuitton,
Burberry, Calvin Klein, Sony and Panasonic products. EAST END LIFE 07/02/2011 UK
Illegal cigs are of the streets
THOUSANDS of smuggled cigarettes have been taken off the streets from Sunderland. About 646,000
cigarettes and 327kg of hand-rolling tobacco were seized across the region between September and
December including raids at several Wearside "tab houses". The majority of the tobacco seized was illegal
imports from factories in the Far East, containing no health warnings, sparking concerns that they are being
sold to youngsters for slashed prices. SUNDERLAND ECHO 07/02/2011 UK
2 in 3 are faking it
TWO thirds of Brits have bought fake designer clothes, a poll has found. One in ten items in our wardrobes is
counterfeit, with each of us owning an average of £142 worth of imitation gear. Two thirds buy fakes on
holiday and a quarter online. More than half didn't know they were buying a copy, GetTheLabel.com found.
SUN, THE 08/02/2011 UK
Task force is aiming to stub out trade in illegal tobacco
ALMOST a quarter of smokers in Bristol are smoking illegal cigarettes, according to new figures. The data
has been released today as a new task force was launched in the south to tackle the issue of illegal tobacco
and its health impacts. Illegal tobacco refers to products that have been smuggled into the country by people
exceeding their duty-free limit, or by counterfeiting cigarettes and tobacco products. A packet of illegal
cigarettes makes it easer for children to smoke and gives people less motivation to quit the habit. A packet of
illegal cigarettes will cost no more than £3.50 a pack - at least £2 cheaper than a packet of 20. The findings
suggest that 23% of smokers in Bristol buy illegal tobacco. BRISTOL EVENING POST (SERIES) 09/02/2011
Tobacco crook caught out
A St Helens man was caught red handed trying to sell counterfeit cigarettes and hand-rolling tobacco. Albert
Whalley, 56, of Rudd Avenue, Parr, admitted six offenses before St Helens Magistrates Court after he was
caught out by local TS officers following a tip-off. He was handed an 18 month conditional discharge and
ordered to pay £250 costs. The Court also ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the seized items-which
included more than 3,000 cigarettes and a small quantity of hand-rolling tobacco. The conviction marked the
first successful prosecution of the newly-formed TS NW Regional Illicit Tobacco Enforcement Team.
DON`T BE A M-UGG!
ONLINE shoppers are being warned to watch out for counterfeit Ugg boots. Renfrewshire Council's TS team
has received a pile of complaints about sub-standard versions of the trendy footwear bought on the internet.
However, there are thousands of unlicensed websites offering bargain hunters the chance to pick up their
own pair for a fraction of the price. Councillor Marie McGurk, said: "In the past fortnight we have a series of
complaints about Ugg boots that people have bought in good faith on the internet. Most have lost out of the
tune of around £120. The fake boots are less substantial around the sole and heel”.
Two jailed over 1m scam with flip flop tobacco
A JUDGE has jailed two men for five years each for cheating the Revenue of more than £1m in duty on
contraband tobacco hidden in boxes of flip flops at a Big Yellow Self Storage in Leeds. Inquires about those
renting and attending the units over previews weeks led officers to Zhi Qing Cai's home in Waincliffe Mount,
Beeston, Leeds. When that was searched Craig Hassall prosecuting told Leeds Crown Court a tobacco
repackaging enterprise was discovered in the attic where counterfeit pouches of Golden Virginia and Amber
www.ipcb.co.uk
Leaf were filled for onward sale to the illicit tobacco trade. YORKSHIRE POST (SERIES) 12/02/2011 UK
Shop owner fined for counterfeit goods
COUNTERFEIT clothing and 'dangerous' lighters were sold at a Torbay shop, a Court heard. Grandfather
Francis Lowles, 61, of Mallock Road, was a director of Funky Funks Funwear Ltd, when 74 items of clothing
and 23 lighters were seized by TS officers last month. Lowles was called to Torbay Magistrates Court to
answer 10 allegations of selling goods bearing a false TM and allegations of supplying a dangerous product.
He pleaded guilty to all charges. TORQUAY HERALD EXPRESS SERIES 15/02/11 UK
£800,000 or go to jail
A COUNTERFEIT goods dealer who has failed to pay back a penny of the £2.75 million she made from her
crimes has been ordered to repay an additional £800,000 within 28 days or go back to jail for five years. Lily
Lee, aged 45, was jailed in 2008 for four years nine months after she was found guilty of a sophisticated
scam which saw her smuggling millions of pounds worth of fake goods from China into the UK and selling
them on internet auction sites. Lee, former director of furniture import company Wang Lee Ltd, was caught
after police working with TS and HMRC officers noticed large amounts of fake goods being sold on eBay.
Their investigations led them to the Wang Lee premises in the Upperthorpe, were officers found millions of
pounds of fake branded goods including Nike, Dolce & Gabbana, Louis Vuitton, Levi Strauss, Armani, G-Star
and Evisu. Four shipping containers with hundreds of items bound for Sheffield were also intercepted by
Customs in Felixstowe. SHEFFIELD STAR (SHEFFIELD, ROTHERHAM & BARNSLEY) 15/02/2011 UK;
SHEFFIELD WEEKLY GAZETTE (SERIES) 17/02/2011 UK
Dodgy eBayer has close brush with the law
A ROUGUE trader narrowly escaped jail after he was caught selling counterfeit Oral B toothbrush heads on
eBay. Vikesh Kotecha, of Graham Gardens, had his account closed by the auction website but continued
selling by opening false accounts. Pleading guilty to two TM at Luton Magistrates, the 20-year-old was
ordered to carry out 240 hours of community service and pay £220 towards the council's costs.
LUTON NEWS 16/02/11 UK
Web counterfeiter pays the price for brush with the law
A man who sold poor quality counterfeit Oral B toothbrush heads on eBay has been given a community
order. LUTON & DUNSTABLE EXPRESS 16/02/2011 UK
Cigs are seized from ‘tab house’
AROUND 200 illegal cigarettes have been seized following a raid on a house. The joint operation involved
officers from Hartlepool TS unit, Cleveland Police, HMRC and Scambusters. The operation, codenamed
operation Antelope, resulted in a 48-year-old man being arrested and bailed pending further investigations.
The arrest followed surveillance on a property where it is alleged that the illegal cigarettes were being sold to
members of the local community, including school children. The operation is part of a clampdown on the sale
of illicit tobacco from residential properties know as a ‘tab houses’. Part of the haul seized at the residential
property were packets of cigarettes with non-compliant health warnings. HARTLEPOOL MAIL 17/02/2011
Fake goods dealer told to pay up or back to jail
A COUNTERFEIT goods dealer from Sheffield has failed to pay back a penny of the £2.75m she made from
her crimes. Now Lily Lee, who operated from premises in Upperthorpe, must pay back an additional
£800,000 in 28 days or go to prison for five years. Lee, aged 45, was jailed in 2008 for four years nine
months after she was found guilty of a sophisticated scam which saw her smuggling millions of pounds'
worth of fake goods from China into the UK and selling them on internet auction sites. The former director of
furniture import company Wang Lee Ltd was caught after police working with TS and HMRC officers noticed
large amounts of fake goods sold on eBay. SHEFFIELD TELEGRAPH 17/02/11 UK
Illicit tobacco and drinks are seized
Customs and Wigan Borough trading standards watchdogs teamed up to seize illicit goods, including
cigarettes, tobacco, spirits and wine. LEIGH, TYLDESLEY & ATHERTON JOURNAL 17/02/2011 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
"Fakes" seller gets market ban
A trader who sold counterfeit designer clothes and jewellery has been banned from working at markets and
boot sales. ROMFORD RECORDER 18/02/2011 UK
"I did not know drugs were fake"
The alleged ringleader of Europe’s biggest ever multi-million pound counterfeit-medicines plot has claimed
he did not know the drugs were fakes. Peter Gillespie, 64, of Carey Close, Windsor is accused of being
motivated by "pure greed" when selling three types of fake "lifesaving" medicines.
ROYAL BOROUGH OBSERVER 18/02/2011 UK
Man Sold fake brand clothing
A man put thousands of items of fake designer-label clothing for sale on eBay - but claimed that he did not
know they were counterfeit. PLYMOUTH HERALD 22/02/2011 UK
Councillor to face jury trial
A labour councillor faces a crown court trial over allegations his shop was selling counterfeit vodka.
Market trader banned for selling counterfeit goods
A trader has been banned from working at any market or boot sale in England and Wales for selling
counterfeit goods in Romford after being prosecuted by Havering Council.
EAST LONDON ENQUIRER 24/02/2011 UK; ROMFORD RECORDER 18/02/2011 UK
Fake Olympics T-shirts seized in Oxford Street
Thousands of fake Olympics-branded clothes worth £100,000 have been seized in a crackdown on
counterfeiters. EVENING STANDARD 25/02/2011 UK
Viagra haul of £13m... mostly fake
ATTEMPS to flood the UK with millions of fake Viagra tablets proved a flop when border officials rose to the
challenge, figures showed today. Officers from the UKBA seized 8.5 million fake and unlicensed Viagra
tablets worth £13 million last year. Most of the pills were destined for the black market. Some six million
doses were found in freight deliveries at London's Heathrow Airport, and another 2.1 million were found in
parcels at the Coventry international postal hub. All ordered
online by British customers. HUDDERSFIELD DAILY EXAMINER 25/2/11 UK
LIMPORTED
Some 8.5 million fake Viagra pills worth £13 million were seized on their way into the UK in 2010.
SUN, THE 25/02/2011 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Deadly risk of cut-price fake vodka in shops
A BOTTLE of vodka bought at a bargain basement price could leave you not just blind drunk but possibly
blind. That's the warning from trading standards trying to stem a tide of counterfeit alcoholic drinks flooding
the country. During the holiday period they seized thousands of pounds worth of illegal drinks in a series of
raids across the country. One bottle of counterfeit vodka “foamed like shampoo" when it was poured. The
fake spirits can contain alarmingly high levels of methanol. Methanol is used to make anti-freeze and some
fuels. Drinking high doses of it can cause dizziness, breathing difficulties and even blindness.
SUNDAY EXPRESS 02/01/2011 UK
STORE SOLD FAKE VODKA
A SOUTHAMPTON shop could be banned from selling booze after counterfeit Smirnoff vodka made a
customer sick. The customer complained of vomiting and blurred vision after drinking some of the vodka he
bough from Pound Xtra in St Mary's Road. Tests by TS confirmed bottles of the vodka on sale were
counterfeit. Akilu Alem, A partner in the business, told officers he had got the vodka from an unknown man
with a van, who had dropped it off without taking payment and said he would return for it. But he was unable
to produce a delivery note or invoice for the vodka when asked by TS officers. Officers also seized 72 packs
of counterfeit Marlboro cigarettes that were in a black bin bag behind the counter.
Councillor investigated
AN Enfield councillor arrested on suspicion of possessing counterfeit goods has been released on bail until
the end of the month. Haselbury councillor Ali Bakir owns the Broadway International Food Centre, in West
Ealing, where he was arrested on November 3. He was questioned by police on suspicious of possessing of
goods with false trademarks for sale or hire. Cllr Bakir has been suspended from the Labour group while the
investigation continues. ENFIELD INDEPENDENT 05/01/2011 UK
Cigarette smuggler is caught by customs
Hull: A man tried to smuggle almost a million counterfeit cigarettes through the city's docks using rotten
mushrooms as cover, a court heard. Marek Jacek Rucinski, 47, a Polish national arrived onboard a ferry
from Rotterdam on July 19. He was driving a lorry when he was stopped by customs, who became
suspicious at boxes full of rotten mushrooms unfit for consumption. On further inspection, they discovered
940,000 cigarettes. Rucinski was jailed for 364 days and ordered to pay £1,100 in costs.
Trader fined for fake labels sales
A SHOP owner has been ordered to do 120 hours community service after selling counterfeit clothing. The
store was raided by TS after undercover officers bought a Stone Island jacket and Lacoste jumper for £25 in
December 2009. A total of 170 items of clothing were seized which if genuine would have had a combined
value of around £13,000. Abdessamad El Amri, the owner of the shop, was fined £1,890 at Harrow
Magistrates Court on Wednesday, December 22. HENDON & FINCHLEY TIMES 06/01/2011 UK
Customs crackdown on illicit booze
FAKE cigarettes and illicit booze are being sold around South Cheshire. In a crackdown in black market
crime, HMRC are now urging people to be on their guard in the New Year. With clever packaging, it can
often be difficult to spot dodgy goods. But almost 17 million illegal cigarettes and more than 250,000 litres of
alcohol have recently been seized from homes across the North West.
Fake ‘Ugg’ boots
CHRISTOPHER David Curzon-Pollard, 22, of Lindale Drive, Codnor, was given a community order, four
months' curfew, told to carry out 100 hours' unpaid work and ordered to pay £400 cost for possessing goods
with a false trade mark for sale on December 1, 2009. Magistrates ordered the destruction of 50 pairs of
‘Ugg’ boots. DERBY TELEGRAPH 07/01/2011 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Father sold fake trainers
An unemployed father-of-three has been ordered to pay back nearly £1,000 after selling fake trainers on
eBay. Brian Robbins, aged 36, of Uplands Road, Dudley, was selling the trainers for £25 a pair. He was told
to pay a £120 fine and costs of the investigations totalled £5,045. Trading Standards officers caught him
selling a pair of fake trainers online, and another four pairs at his house. Miss Neelam Bangar, prosecuting,
said Dudley Council TS were first alerted after an eBay customer complained about a fake Henri Lloyd polo
shirt she’d bought from Robbins for 18 in May 2009. TS then began investigating his three eBay accounts,
which led to a discovery of goods at his home. Robbins pleaded guilty to one charge of selling goods with a
false trade mark and two counts of possessing goods with a false trademark.
EXPRESS & STAR SERIES (WEST MIDLANDS) 07/01/2011 UK
Fake cigarettes sold to underage teenager
TRADING Standards officers stumbled across fake cigarettes during an underage test purchase. Officers
were trying to see if Shamik Rao would sell cigarettes to a 16-year-old from his van at Witham's railway
station. He sold the teenager a packet of 20 Marlboro cigarettes, Chelmsford Crown Court heard. But the
cigarettes sold by Rao in January 28 last year were fake. When the van was searched later, another 1,000
fake Marlboro cigarettes were found. COLCHESTER DAILY GAZETTE 07/01/2011 UK
Counterfeit goods a threat to buyers
COUNTY TS Service is receiving numerous complaints from residents who have purchased fake GHD hair
stylers and Ugg boots via the internet in the weeks leading up to Christmas. Consumers end up receiving
poor quality counterfeits, and fake GHD electrical products which could be potentially lethal given their high
heat and lack of proper built-in electrical safety. The web sites themselves are usually based outside the EU,
including the Far East, which makes it extremely difficult for any consumer to contact the seller if they do
have any difficulties. CARMARTHEN JOURNAL 08/01/2011 UK
Tobacco and wine seized
COUNTERFEIT tobacco and smuggled wine worth thousands of pounds have been seized in west Belfast.
More than 185,000 cigarettes and 157 litres of wine were hidden in containers in a warehouse. Cash and
business records were also seized during the raid on Friday. Two men were arrested and later released on
bail. IRISH NEWS (BELFAST) 12/01/2011 UK
PUP IN SMOKE
MOBSTER Johnny "Mad Dog" Adair can today be exposed as the top target for crime-busters probing a
huge cigarette smuggling operation. Police and Customs believe the convicted terror chief, whose
paramilitaries were suspected of 40 murders, is now the Mr Big of a tobacco trafficking gang. Crooks are
doing a roaring trade at street markets across Scotland, selling tons of cigarettes and hand rolling tobacco
supplied by Chinese black marketers. And Customs men and Police believe that Adair's gang control the
trade in Ayrshire, where he settled after his old UDA cronies hounded him out of Belfast. A source said:
Adair’s name frequently crops up. SCOTTISH SUNDAY MAIL 16/01/2011 UK
Lead poison fear over Chinese copies of Royal Crown Derby
ROYAL Crown Derby has said the future of the business is being put under threat from fakes which are
being produced in China. The Osmaston Road firm, which is one of only a handful of companies left in the
UK that still makes porcelain, believes that the trade in counterfeit Royal Crown Derby products is highly
damaging. In an interview with BBC1's Inside Out programme, which will air tonight, the firm chairman, Hugh
Gibson, talks about the impact the fakes are having on the company, which has been producing fine china
for more than 200 years. Royal Crown Derby has already had to cut production due to the recession. Mr
Gibson said the counterfeit operation had made tough situation worse. DERBY TELEGRAPH 17/01/2011
Designer shop owner refutes fake rumours
THE owner of a designer boutique has defended herself against malicious gossip which claims she is selling
counterfeit goods. Pat Copeland who runs Joseph M, in Darlington, said she was devastated when she
discovered that some of the rumours had even found their way into the social networking website, Facebook.
She said that the gossip claimed that she had featured in a Court report in the Northern Echo having been
www.ipcb.co.uk
prosecuted for selling counterfeit goods. However, Mrs Copeland, who has run Joseph M for 14 years, said
none of the gossip is true and all the clothing in her shops is authentic designer wear.
NORTHERN ECHO 20/01/2011 UK
Smugglers jailed for fake cigarettes
A WEARSIDE man is one of a criminal gang sentenced for smuggling millions of fake cigarettes into the UK.
Ian Lumsden, 34, from Southwick, was sentenced to eight months in prison, suspended for two years, after
pleading guilty to tobacco smuggling. Unemployed Lumsden, of Maypole Close, was involved in the
transport of the cigarettes in November 2007, along with 10 men and one woman. The leader of the gang,
Peter Vyse, a market trader from Waltham Cross in Hertfordshire, was jailed along with nine other gang
members for a total of over 30 years at Southwark Crown Court in London on Wednesday. He was the
ringleader of the gang that smuggled more than £64 million of fake cigarettes into the UK.
SUNDERLAND ECHO 24/01/2011 UK
Illegal alcohol and tobacco seized
More than £22,000 of illegal alcohol and tobacco has been seized in raids on shops in Portsmouth. Twenty
stores in the city were visited by Revenue & Customs. Five were found to have goods on which no duty had
been paid. At one unnamed store officers seized about 840 bottles of wine, 1,750 bottles of spirits, 576 litres
of cider and 3,232 litres of beer. A van being used to carry some of the goods was seized. It is believed the
goods are worth about £17,000. In total 6,234 litres of alcohol, 20 kg of tobacco and cigarettes were seized
across the city last Thursday and Friday. PORTSMOUTH NEWS 26/01/2011 UK
Jail for part in smuggling
AN Enfield man has been jailed for his part in a fake cigarettes smuggling operation involving the Italian
Mafia. Terence Boreham, 49, of Meadway, Enfield, was sentenced to four-and-a-half-years for his part in a
gang which trafficked £64 million of cigarettes into the UK, evading £10 million in duty.
HP battling counterfeit printer supplies
HEWLETT Packard, uncovered a record amount of counterfeit printing supplies since its anti-counterfeit
programme began in 2006. Surveys and Research sponsored by HP demonstrated that almost half of the
corporate management with purchasing power for their companies have bought counterfeit HP ink and
toners. Furthermore, counterfeiting policies were absent from the workplace and not prioritised to be a
concern for management among customers. However, respondents From Europe and the Middle East
predominantly agreed that the production and sale of counterfeit goods were detrimental for society (88%),
and the use of such products contributed significantly to unemployment and reduced tax revenues (78%).
EPOCH TIMES, THE 26/01/2011 UK
Curfew order for selling fake clothing
A DOWNEND student has been given a curfew order after he was caught with fake clothing brands on a
market stall at Filton. Amarjit Singh, 18, of Sutherland Avenue, admitted 14 charges of possessing
counterfeit goods for sale, including copies of labels such a Bench, Henleys and adidas. They included
seven different branded tracksuits, T-shirts, Sweatshirts and jackets. Singh was given a 12-week curfew
order by North Devon magistrates, which requires him to stay at home from 7am-7pm on Saturdays and
Sundays during that time. He was also ordered to pay 250 in prosecutions costs.
Gang jailed for hiding fake cigarettes
Dennis Lynch, 44, of Mutton Lane, was part of a gang who trafficked 64 million fake cigarettes into the UK,
evading £10 million in duty. Lynch helped move the goods around the country and acted as a courier for the
dirty money, much of which officials believe was ploughed back into criminal activities. On Thursday, January
20, at Southwark Crown Court, Lynch was jailed for three-and-a-half years for his role along with eight other
people. The gang was smashed after customs seized 9 million cigarettes hidden in consignments of glass,
fruit juice, pickled vegetables and dog food between November 2007 and June 2008. The goods were made
in Moldova and Ukraine. BARNET & POTTERS BAR TIMES 27/01/2011 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
SuperGroup fights to protect brand
FASHION chain SuperGroup has vowed to continue to fight to protect its brand after winning a legal case
alleging an infringement of design rights. The company, which owns the Superdry brand, has nearly 100
legal actions under way alleging copyright or design rights infringements. It received a judgment in the High
Court on Friday in respect of its Superdry Lumberjack range of hooded shirts, which retail at £54.99. The
Cheltenham-based company took action against Rhodi, a Lancashire based fashion group that makes the
VOI range of jeans and other clothing. Simon Bennett, partner at solicitors Fox Williams, who acted for
SuperGroup, said the VOI shirts at the centre of the case had retailed for £22.
SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, THE 30/01/2011 UK
Fake tobacco packs found in town store
THE owner of a convenience store in Northampton has pleaded guilty to possessing and intending to supply
more than 1,500 packets of counterfeit tobacco. Abdel Karim, aged 32, the owner of A and K General
Stores, Wellingborough Road, Northampton was sentenced to a 12 month community order with 100 hours
unpaid work and ordered to pay a fine and court costs totalling £1,249.50.
www.ipcb.co.uk
£500,000 haul of fake goods seized from storage firm
FAKE designer clothing and perfume worth up to £500,000 has been seized from a storage company. The
huge haul was found in seven units at Ready Steady Store, in Bury new Road, Broughton, Salford. Trading
standards officers and police launched an operation after receiving a tip off from one of the brands which had
been ripped off. It is believed the stash had been stored away ready for the Christmas market. An estimated
14,000 items were recovered after searches of the building over two days.
MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS 01/12/2010 UK; DAILY STAR 02/12/2010 UK; SUN, THE 02/12/2010
UK; SALFORD ADVERTISER (INC. SALFORD CITY REPORTER 02/12/10
Legal action threat on plain pack plans
Tobacco companies are preparing for a bruising legal battle with the UK government over plans to bring in
plain cigarette packaging in the UK. Health secretary Andrew Lansley said last month that "glitzy designs on
packets" attracted children to smoking and it made sense to look at "less attractive packaging" but British
American Tobacco, has said that it would be considering legal action to protect its branding and that the
move would lead to sharp rise in counterfeit cigarettes entering the UK.
PACKAGING NEWS 01/12/2010 UK
It's pay back time for fake goods seller
A FILTON man was ordered to pay back more than £19,000 after he pleaded guilty to selling counterfeit
films and footwear online. Russell Painter, 28, of the Mead, was sentenced in July at Bristol Crown Court to
a suspended six-month jail term and 175 hours of unpaid work after pleading guilty to eight charges under
the Trade Marks Act1994. The charges related to copied DVD box-sets and sales of counterfeit Ugg
footwear. Painter appeared before court again on Friday for a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing. It was
disclosed that he had realisable assets of £18,750 from his illegal sales and he was ordered to repay the
amount within 28 days or he would be sentenced to nine months in jail. Painter was also ordered to pay
£2,500 towards prosecution costs.
Avoid buying counterfeit Christmas gifts
COUNTERFEIT Christmas gifts might seem cheap and cheerful; but can cause serious harm to children and
adults because of poor quality, experts in Gloucestershire have warned. Apart from being illegal, fake
electrical equipment, toys, perfume and tools have not been through the same rigorous safety checks as
legitimate gifts. Badly assembled radio controlled cars cause electric shocks, while cuddly animals have in
the past been found to contain high levels of lead and chromium. And sellers who push," knock off" designer
clothes and watches more often than not have links to the organised crime world. Anyone who buys their
wares at Christmas could unwittingly be supporting their lifestyles.
STROUD NEWS & JOURNAL 01/12/2010 UK
Some Mothers do ave ‘em!
In a rare first, two Kensington and Chelsea officers couldn't believe their luck when they were approached by
a seller of counterfeit goods while outside their SNT base! Immediately, the 20 year old man turned and run,
unfortunately for him his ability to see a big blue sign with the words Metropolitan Police written on it and he
was soon apprehended by officers and arrested.
POLICE LIFE (UK) 01/12/2010 UK
Counterfeit crack down
Northern Constabulary has backed a Scotland Crimestoppers campaign to tackle counterfeits and raise
awareness of the more serious links it has to organised crime. With Christmas approaching and the effects of
the last recession still hitting hard, there is often a grater temptation to buy fake goods. In a recent survey
conducted by Scotland Yard Crimestoppers, 30% of people questioned said they didn't know that buying
fake goods might fund serious organised crime. 90% said they wouldn't buy fake goods if they knew it would
fund criminal activity.
www.ipcb.co.uk
Festive fakes help appeal
CONSUMERS are being urged to join a crackdown on counterfeit goods that help fund criminal activities in
Lancashire this Christmas. Crimestoppers has launched a new campaign that highlights the links between
fake goods and serious organized crime. Not only does buying these goods financially support criminals, but
it can also fund other crimes such as drugs dealing, people trafficking, prostitution and money laundering.
GARSTANG COURIER 01/12/2010 UK; LANCASTER & MORECAMBE REPORTER 02/12/2010 UK
Decorators fake jewellery scam
A MAN that sold fake Tiffany, Chanel and Gucci jewellery on the internet has narrowly escaped a jail
sentence. Painter and decorator Gary Newton admitted 25 counts of selling goods bearing unauthorised
trademarks. The 40 year-old, of Carvel Way, Littlehampton initially denied selling necklaces, cufflinks,
earrings and bracelets. However, when he appeared at Lewes Crown Court he pleaded guilty and was given
a 12-month prison sentence suspended for six months and ordered to pay back £5,500. He was also placed
under a curfew between 9pm and 6am with an electronic tag.
STOCKING FILLERS
FAKE designer clothing and perfume worth up to £500,000 has been seized by police. It is believed the
stash, which was found in seven Ready Steady Store units in Salford, was intended to be sold at Christmas
markets. An estimated 14,000 items were recovered. Three people have been arrested and bailed.
DAILY STAR 02/12/2010 UK
M COUNTERFEIT
Fakes designer boots, clothes and perfumes worth millions for sale at Christmas were seized in Manchester.
SUN, THE 02/12/2010 UK
A COUNTYWIDE campaign to tackle counterfeiting and highlight its links with organised crime has been
launched by Gloucestershire Crimestoppers. Last month alone, Trading Standards seized 600 DVD's,
49,800 cigarettes and more than 50 bottles of suspected counterfeit spirits.
GLOUCESTER CITIZEN 02/12/2010 UK; GLOUCESTERSHIRE GAZETTE 02/12/2010 UK
Counterfeit vodka
A 55-YEAR OLD Weston man has been charged with being involved in producing counterfeit vodka. Michael
Mathews, of Stanley Grove, is one of seven accused of revenue offences following an investigation by
HMRC. Matthews, along with six men from Nottingham, has been charged with conspiracy to cheat HMRC of
the duty payable on alcoholic products.
WESTON, WORLE & SOMERSET MERCURY 02/12/2010 UK
'Counterfeit' warning over Xmas goods
RESIDENTS are being warned to be wary of buying counterfeit toys in the run up to the Christmas season.
Havering Council are urging residents to take extra care after their officers recently seized a number of fake
toys in the borough including counterfeit versions of Scooby Doo and Ben 10 toys. Councillor Lesley Kelly,
said: "If you shop at well-known, reputable stores then you should have nothing to worry about but if you are
not sure where a toy has come from then it is better to be safe than sorry.
BAD SANTA
DESIGNER purses, watches, make-up, UGG boots and hair straighteners are just some of the products
being smuggled into the country to feed the lucrative counterfeit market this Christmas. Almost 20,000
handbags, DVD's, phone accessories, make-up and jewellery items disguised as the "real deal" were
intercepted by Customs officers at airports, ferry ports and mail centres in the first 10 months of this year.
The fake products are so professionally counterfeited that some are even making it into the genuine
business - meaning unsuspecting punters could be coughing up for phoney merchandise this Christmas.
IRISH DAILY STAR ON SUNDAY 05/12/2010 Ireland
www.ipcb.co.uk
Beware of cut-price counterfeit footwear
THEY ARE one of the most sought-after Christmas gifts among the fashion conscious. But Scots are being
warned to beware of cut-price counterfeit UGG. The caution comes from Alistair Campbell, a Scot who is the
Brand Protection Manager for Deckers Outdoor Corporation, which owns the UGG brand. Alistair, with 25
years of experience in the field, enjoyed a similar role with Rangers and saved the Ibrox club millions of
pounds over a ten year period.
SCOTTISH SUNDAY POST (SERIES) 05/12/2010 UK
Children targets in web con
INTERNET scammers have set up thousands of fake sites deliberately targeting children with fake designer
clothes, toys and electrical goods. Last night parents were warned to take care before buying presents for
their kids online. Trading Standards Officer Handley Brustad said: "A lot of these products are not only dodgy
but dangerous." Half a million fake websites have already been closed down this year – 40% more than last
year. Fraudsters bought web names similar to genuine sites over the summer to build sites targeting
Christmas shoppers.
SUN, THE 06/12/2010 UK
Fraudsters ordered to pay back £36,000
Three fraudsters who sold thousands of pounds worth of fake shoes and clothing over the internet from
home have been ordered to pay back more than £36,000. Conmen Jason Messenger, Kevin Gibbons and
Simon Jones, all from Sandwell, used auction website eBay to sell counterfeit Nike trainers and Timberland
boots. Yesterday they were back at Wolverhampton Crown Court for a proceeds of crime hearing when
Judge Michael Challinor formally confiscated the remaining funds. The pay back amount is less than 12% of
£317,629 that the conmen racked in from the scam. Messenger aged 48, of Britannia Road, Rowley Regis,
appeared at the dock following completion of half an 18-month prison sentence for possessing goods with a
false trademark and fraud relating to false bids on eBay.
EXPRESS & STAR CITY FINAL (WOLVERHAMPTON WEST MIDLANDS) 07/12/2010 UK; SANDWELL &
GREAT BARR CHRONICLE 09/12/2010 UK
Cigs shop loses its licence
A SHOP has been stripped of its licence for allegedly selling counterfeit cigarettes. Eastern European food,
Market Street in Dewsbury, had its licence revoked. It followed repeated warnings from police and HMRC.
Buying fakes cost lives, says museum
VISITORS to the Merseyside Maritime Museum will be warned that buying fake goods this Christmas could
lead to tragedy. The Albert Dock institution opened an exhibition yesterday displaying the dangers of buying
presents from unlicensed manufacturers, who cost the government £550m every year. Parents need to take
particular caution when buying video games equipment for their children. A child was killed in 2007 when he
was electrocuted by a fake charger; in 2008 police intercepted thousands of fake Nintendo DS consoles from
China.
LIVERPOOL DAILY POST 08/12/2010 UK; LIVERPOOL ECHO 08/12/2010 UK
Fake goods warning
Complaints of suspected counterfeit goods being sold in workplaces in Louth have been received by
Lincolnshire Trading Standards. It has sent letters and posters out to 100 businesses across the county to
make them aware that staff may be using their workplace to sell fake goods to colleagues. All complaints
have related to CDs and DVD's. However, Trading Standards believe other counterfeit products, such as
clothing, handbags and cigarettes, are also being sold in the workplace.
www.ipcb.co.uk
Seisure averts oil 'disaster'
PETERBOROUGH City Council was yesterday given permission to destroy £600,000 worth of counterfeit oil
drilling equipment confiscated from a firm. The drilling parts were seized from Gripp Belgique, based in
Peterborough, and will be melted down, sold as scrap metal and the proceeds used to repay a loan taken
out for the equipment. The action comes after city businessman Adrian Belson, who ran Gripp Belgique, was
caught by trading standards in January last year trying to sell defective drilling parts to a Dubai-based firm.
Belson was jailed for two-and-a-half years and the firm was fined £20,000.
ROGUE TRADE
A RAG trade rogue lived a millionaire lifestyle thanks to a fake designer labels scam. Amit Sharma, 34, made
more than £1million selling counterfeit clothes on eBay. He used the cash to buy a string of plush houses
and a fleet of luxury cars including a £120,000 Lamborghini. But trading standards officials finally caught him
taking delivery of a shipment of fake Diesel jeans from China. Sharma sobbed yesterday as he was jailed for
21 months.
DAILY STAR 09/12/2010 UK; MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS 08/12/2010 UK
Village man denies involvement in the biggest counterfeit ...
OXFORDSHIRE: A villager is one of the five men accused of profiteering in a multi-million-pound scam
involving counterfeit cancer and heart drugs. Ian Gillespie, 58, of the Green, Marsh Baldon, pleaded not
guilty at Croydon Crown Court to a plot involving Chinese manufactured drugs that has been called Europe's
biggest ever scam of its kind. All five have pleaded not guilty to conspiring to defraud pharmaceutical
wholesalers, pharmacists, the public and holders of intellectual property rights in pharmaceuticals by
dishonestly distributing counterfeit medicines. They also deny two counts each of selling or supplying drugs
without authorisation and selling or supplying counterfeit goods.
OXFORD TIMES 09/12/2010 UK
Keeping Standards up this Christmas
A STALL full of fake goods has been set up by Trading Standards to warn people of the dangers of buying
dodgy gifts this Christmas. Tower Hamlets officers joined forces with Crimestoppers and set up a shop on
Whitechapel High Street last week to lure in unsuspecting customers. The team was there to advice
shoppers how to identify the fakes and warn them that many merchants who sell counterfeit goods have
links to serious organised crime, including human trafficking and drug smuggling. In a recent You Gov
survey, a quarter of adults have knowingly bought a fake DVD. But when asked if they will still buy the
products knowing it could have funded serious organised crime more than half said they definitely would not.
Beware of fake goods sold online
TRADING standards officers are warning internet shoppers of too-good-to-be true deals. Over the past five
months they had received a number of complaints from unhappy shoppers who had ordered what they
thought were internet bargains only to receive poor quality counterfeit copies of the genuine article. In some
cases no goods were received at all despite payment having been made. In Wigan, there have been reports
of copy UGG Boots, GHD hair straighteners, iPods and iPhones. Many of these items were sent from
companies based in the Far East even though the web site addresses gave the impression that they were
official UK based sites.
WIGAN EVENING POST 09/12/2010 UK
eBay must take down fake goods
All counterfeit goods must be removed from the eBay site as soon as it finds out they are fakes, a European
court ruled yesterday. L'Oreal brought the case against the website after noticing fake perfumes and
cosmetics were for sale under its trademark. The site was told it would have to remove counterfeit items
brought to its attention but eBay cannot be held accountable for fake items posted by users in general.
DAILY TELEGRAPH, THE 10/12/2010 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Fake designer shop boss must pay £3m
A MARKET trader has been told by top judges he must pay every penny of a £3.3 million confiscation order
for selling fake designer goods or spend 10 years behind bars. Guarcharan Singh, 42, owner of Chockers
shoe shop in Ashford town centre and a market stall in Folkestone, was handed a "merciful" two year
suspended prison sentence at Canterbury Crown Court in February 2008 after he admitted 43 sample
counts of using unauthorised trademarks. But, after a proceeds of Crime Act confiscation hearing in
December last year, a judge found he had led a "criminal life style" and ordered him to pay £3,293796 or go
to jail for ten years.
KENTISH EXPRESS (ASHFORD & DISTRICT EDITION) 09/12/2010 UK
Arrest made over fake goods trade
CRIMINALS have been arrested over the last four days as part of a countywide crackdown on those who live
off the proceeds of fake goods and fraud. West Yorkshire police ran the operation jointly with Trading
Standards to target those who trade in counterfeit goods.
More than 800,000 illegal cigarettes seized at port
More than 800,000 illegal cigarettes have been seized at the Port of Felixstowe. The haul - with an estimated
retail value of £250,000 was discovered by UKBA officials hidden in divans and mattresses in a container
shipped from China. When the container was opened on Monday, staff were confronted with several rows of
mattresses and divan bases. About three quarters of the way into the container smugglers had hidden 21
large cardboard boxes containing cartons of cigarettes marked Benson & Hedges Gold.
EAST ANGLIAN DAILY TIMES (SERIES) 11/12/2010 UK
Customs seized 12m cigarettes
CUSTOMS have seized more than 12 million counterfeit cigarettes with an estimated retail value of £3.6m at
Dublin Port.
IRISH NEWS (BELFAST) 11/12/2010 UK
10,000 fake cigarettes seized
AN organised raid on businesses uncovered 10,000 illegal cigarettes. With the help of sniffer dogs, a number
of premises were visited during the raid run by the council's trading standards team with police and HMRC.
The operation was part of a continuing crackdown on smuggled cigarettes in Tower Hamlets. Shops and
self-storage units were targeted using intelligence gathered from a range of sources. More than ten
kilograms of illegal shisha and hand rolling tobacco were also seized.
EAST END LIFE 13/12/2010 UK; EAST LONDON ADVERTISER 16/12/2010 UK
Fake Faberge egg scam cracked
FRENCH CUSTOMS agents have uncovered a nest of 354 bejewelled eggs and declared them counterfeit
copies of the famed Faberge collection which were brought to France for sale at Christmas markets in Paris.
INDEPENDENT, THE 15/12/2010 UK
Two arrests after fake goods find at city shop
A HAUL of suspected designer goods has been seized after further Christmas Crackdowns by police. Scores
of dodgy designer products including sunglasses, jewellery, mobile phones and clothing were found after a
raid at 3NK Cosmetics on Shields Road, Byker, Newcastle. The items, which could have netted the seller
thousands of pounds if sold on, were retrieved after Northumbria Police and Trading Standards received
information the shop was involved in selling the counterfeit goods. A 40 year old man and a 41 year old
woman were arrested.
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE EVENING CHRONICLE (SERIES) 15/12/2010 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Don’t be an Ugg mug this Christmas
TRADING Standards officers in Sefton are warning residents no to be a Christmas Ugg mug. Officers have
already been contacted by a number of consumers across the borough who have bought UGG boots on the
internet only to find out they are fakes. One consumer who bought a fake pair was even told they had to
send a further £40 just to get a refund. Sefton Council Trading Standards is warned residents not to be
fooled by cheap prices on the internet when buying Ugg boots, especially in the run up to Christmas. Not
only does this apply to Ugg boots but other items like GHD straighteners and other popular electrical items
bought as gifts.
CHAMPION (SOUTHPORT) 15/12/2010 UK
County joins fight against fake goods
CRIMESTOPPERS in Gloucestershire has joined a country-wide campaign to tackle counterfeiting and raise
awareness of the more serious links it has to organised crime. The campaign is also a bid to raise
awareness of some of the other problems associated with counterfeit items including defective goods and
the effect the sale has on the economy through unpaid revenue and diverting trade from legitimate traders.
During October alone Gloucestershire Trading Standards seized 600 DVD's including explicit unclassified
pornographic material. In addition, 19,800 cigarettes, 15.5kg of illicit hand rolling tobacco, while other goods
discovered including more than fifty bottles of suspected counterfeit spirits and nearly 1,000 cans of lager.
Martin Bruton, consumer advised and community development manager. "With Christmas approaching
and the recession hitting hard, there is often a greater temptation to buy fake goods, However few
understand the consequences and serious implications behind counterfeiting.
GLOUCESTER INDEPENDENT 16/12/2010 UK
Trader jailed for selling fake designer clothing
A MOTHER was spared prison last week but had to watch her son jailed after they were both convicted of
trading in fake designer clothes. Sharen Watson and her son Guy, both of Northfield Drive in West Moor,
pleaded guilty at Newcastle Crown Court to selling counterfeit clothing. Mrs Watson, 55, was sentenced to
51 week's imprisonment suspended for a year, plus a community order requiring her to do 100 hours unpaid
work but her 30 years-old-son was jailed for 12 months. More than 300 items of counterfeit clothing mainly
bogus Abercrombie & Fitch and Ralph Lauren-labelled goods bought from China to sell on the auction
website eBay were found at the family home by police officers.
NEWS GUARDIAN WHITLEY BAY EDITION 16/12/2010 UK
Counterfeit vodka firm fine
A CASTLEFORD wholesaler has been found guilty of supplying counterfeit vodka following an investigation
By West Yorkshire Trading Standards Service. Davison & Robinson Ltd of Aire Street, Castleford, trading as
The Ale Seller, pleaded guilty at Pontefract Magistrate's Court to two offences under the food Safety Act. The
product, labelled as Granton Vodka which the company had supplied to a retailer in Fitzwilliam, was
analysed following a complaint to Trading Standards. A member of the public who bought the vodka
complained it 'didn't taste right' and when analysed, the liquid was found to contain double the permitted
level of methanol, meaning it did not meet required standards and could not legally be sold as vodka.
Davison & Robinson was unable to tell Trading Standards officers the identity of its supplier, claiming the
vodka had been left by a customer who needed to make room on his vehicle to transport some fireworks.
PONTEFRACT & CASTLEFORD EXPRESS 16/12/2010 UK
Fake paintings used to show crime does pay
FAKE oil paintings are now brightening up an old people's home after being seized from crooks trying to sell
them as originals. The centre also has a selection of new knives, which were donated by a trademark holder
after the fake versions were seized by Trading Standards. The department has also donated some fake
England football shirts confiscated in the run-up to the World Cup in the summer to the police dog training
centre in Kent. The council has made the donations in an attempt to make criminals pay, but also to enable
illegal activity to end up to having a positive effect on the community.
BRACKNELL & FOREST STANDARD 18/12/2010 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Father and his daughter on fake goods charges
A MAN and his teenage daughter have appeared in court after police seized more than 1,000 allegedly
counterfeit items with a street value of £102,000. Andrew, aged 45, and 19-year old Josie Pollard face
Plymouth magistrates to answer 25 joint charges of possessing fake goods for sale at a shop in Stonehouse.
A third person, who cannot be name for legal reasons, also faces similar allegations. The trio are all charged
with having clothes, jewellery and perfume with false trade marks on October 26 last year.
SCAMMERS HAVE NOWHERE TO HIDE
A HAUL of counterfeit clothes and jewellery was seized in Liverpool in the run-up to Christmas. Trading
Standards officers executed a series of raids in December targeting salesman flogging bogus goods.
Thousands of pounds worth of fake items were nabbed during the blitz which has run for over three weeks.
Clothing, particularly Henley, Juicy Couture, Hugo Boss and Ugg, were among the booty discovered by
trading standards. Also popular in the city is jewellery. Tiffany and Pandora are always in demand while
boxes of GHD hair straighteners have also been regularly uncovered by investigators.
Counterfeit traders £300k payback bills
A DESIGNER "Del Boy" has been ordered to pay the courts almost £300,000 after selling fake goods.
Frederick Lawrence, 70 of Warrior Square, Southend sold copies of expensive Burberry, Umbro, Ted Baker
and Reebok gear. He was trading from Morbec Farm, off the A127 at Wickford, when it was raided by trading
standards. They found the counterfeit clothing and took Lawrence to court. At Basildon Crown Court in
February 2008, he admitted to seven counts of selling counterfeit merchandise and was ordered to complete
150 hours of unpaid work. This sparked an investigation by the Asset Recovered Agency and the serious
Organised Crime Agency to recover the ill-gotten gains.
SOUTHEND, BASILDON & CASTLEPOINT EVENING ECHO (SERIES) 23/12/2010 UK
Airport raids uncover fake designer goods
THOUSANDS of fake designer items have been stopped from hitting the Christmas market after they were
intercepted at Luton airport. Around eight tonnes of suspected counterfeit items were held by UK Border
Agency officers in three separate raids. Among items were 1,500 fake HGD hair straighteners and hair
dryers, and approximately 1,400 pairs of counterfeit Ugg boots. Other designer brands discovered included
Ralph Lauren, Christian Dior, Gucci, Fred Perry, True Religion, Stone Island, Moncler, and La Martina. They
had arrived on freight flights from Turkey and were destined for the East End of London and the East
Midlands.
YORKSHIRE POST (SERIES) 24/12/2010 UK; FINANCIAL TIMES (UK & IRELAND EDITION) 24/12/2010
DON’T BUY FAKE MESSAGE
Crimestoppers has launched a new campaign that highlights the links between fake goods and serious
organised crime. Not only does buying these goods financially support criminals, but it can also fund other
crimes such as drug dealing, people trafficking and prostitution.
LANCASHIRE TELEGRAPH 27/12/2010 UK
Warning over fake goods link with crime
BARGAIN-HUNTERS are helping fund gun crime, people trafficking and drugs, police warned today. The
Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency (SCDEA) said Aberdeen and other Scottish cities were being
flooded with fake goods and police said the cash often ends up in the pockets of those behind serious
organised crime.
ABERDEEN EVENING EXPRESS (SERIES) 29/12/2010 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Counterfeit kills
Trading Standard Officers are constantly on the look out for fake products, but a sector which is rarely
considered is electrical items - whether it’s chargers, extension cords, cables, lighting circuit breakers, fuses,
accessories or switches. None of these items are immune from being counterfeited.
ELECTRICAL WHOLESALER 01/11/2010 UK
Trader was selling fake Nike trainers
A MARKET trader in Bristol was caught with 153 pairs of fake trainers. Trading standards officers who visited
Surinder Singh's Stall at Filton Recreation Centre found the trainers, which could have made him up to
£3,600 in profit. Singh, 40, of Wednesfield, Wolverhampton, pleaded guilty to ten counts of possessing
goods with fake trade marks for sale. He was handed a community order involving 120 hours of unpaid work.
BRISTOL EVENING POST (SERIES) 03/11/2010 UK; EXPRESS & STAR CITY FINAL
(WOLVERHAMPTON WEST MIDLANDS) 03/11/2010 UK
Drive to take on smokes danger
A crackdown on fake cigarettes and tobacco has been launched. Figures show about a fifth of Walsall
people smoke compared to a national average of about 21% but some parts of the borough have even
higher rates. Statistics led Walsall Council to launch a new campaign highlighting illegal cigarettes and
tobacco sales as well as the health benefits of quitting. They are warning people selling counterfeit cigarettes
as environmental health officer’s work from HMRC and the Black Country Tobacco Control Alliance over
coming months to raise awareness of health risks posed by cheap counterfeit tobacco.
Trader’s £100,000 bill for selling fake clothing
A MAN caught selling counterfeit designer clothes from a stall in Penrith open air market has been landed
with a bill for £100,000. Mohammed Javed Akhtar, 40, Braeview, Stenhouse-muir, was arrested after trading
standards officers raided the stall where he sold sweatshirts, jumpers and sportswear at the popular
Saturday market. He later pleaded guilty at Carlisle Crown Court to possessing and selling clothes with
bogus trademarks and was ordered to do 80 hours of unpaid community work. Back in court on Wednesday
Akhtar faced proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act. He admitted benefiting from his crimes to the
tune of £79,000.
LAKE DISTRICT HERALD 06/11/2010 UK
City student made £100k out of fake sat-nav maps
A business studies student made £100,000 by selling memory cards with counterfeit software maps for car
sat navs through Amazon. University of Derby student Mohammed Asghar ran the "sophisticated" scam from
his bedroom at his parent's home in Pear Tree. The 21 year-olds products were programmed with out-ofdate versions of TomTom's digital maps for other countries that could be inserted into sat-navs. He claimed
they were TomTom products and told police he was using the money to pay University fees. Derby Crown
Court heard that Asghar’s fraudulent business was discovered by TomTom in May 2009 when the company
had a complaint from a customer who had bought a product from Asghar, via Amazon.
DERBY TELEGRAPH 08/11/2010 UK; DERBY EXPRESS 11/11/2010 UK
Fake vodka factory found
A HUGE fake vodka factory has been uncovered after a fire at a warehouse. Twenty-five thousand litres of
counterfeit 'Smirnoff' vodka were unearthed after fire crews were called to a suspicious blaze in Honey
Street, Cheetham Hill. They contacted officers from HMRC who seized the moonshine. Officials believe the
plant at the derelict, two-storey factory could have been the region's capital of counterfeit booze. It included
bottling and labelling machinery alongside vats of the counterfeit vodka, and could have been used to
distribute the contraband across the region.
www.ipcb.co.uk
Contraband tobacco ring is smashed
Police smashed a £250,000 contraband operation when they raided a farm deep in rural Staffordshire.
Rhona Campbell, prosecuting, said three men were inside the building at Bank Farm, from Blithbury and all
of them were arrested. One of the men, Mark Stansbie, was actually feeding tobacco leaves into the
shredder when officers entered on November 19, 2008. In the building were ten boxes each containing 200
kilos of raw tobacco - a total weight of more than two tonnes. The loss of excise duty to HMRC was put a
£241,458. Stansbie, aged 42, of Farnborough Road, Castle Vale who admitted a charge of evading duty,
was given a 12 month sentence suspended for 18 months.
UTTOXETER ADVERTISER 10/11/2010 UK
CIGS BAN WILL THREATEN OUR CORNER SHOPS
SHOPKEEPERS across E. Yorkshire fear a Govt ban on the display of tobacco could threaten the future of
traditional corner shops. Mail investigations revealed retailers fear sales of counterfeit and illegally-imported
cigarettes will also increase if the law is passed. Under the new proposals, smokers will have to ask shops
for their brand of tobacco, which will be kept under the counter. If approved, supermarkets could be required
to scrap displays by next October, with small stores following later.
Trader spared jail for fake football items
A trader from Wolverhampton caught selling counterfeit football club merchandise has been spared a jail
sentence but banned from working on market stalls or car boot sales for three years. Trading standards
officers seized hundreds of "cheap knock-offs" being sold by Gurdeyal Rhoad at a car boot sale in Cannok.
They recovered 10 boxes containing 250 counterfeit baseball caps, 59 t-shirts and 9 jackets bearing the
trademarks of Wolves, Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool. Trading standards had become
suspicious due to the poor quality of the clothing. Rhoad, aged 37, denied five charges of trade mark
infringement on July 2 last year, but was found guilty by a jury following a trial a Stafford Crown Court and
ordered to carry out 240 hours of unpaid work.
EXPRESS & STAR CITY FINAL (WOLVERHAMPTON WEST MIDLANDS) 10/11/2010 UK; CANNOCK
CHASE POST 18/11/2010 UK
Dodgy trader fined with thousands of fake trainers
A dodgy trader who was caught with thousands of pounds worth of fake trainers destined for Wembley
Market has been fined and ordered to do community service. Brent Magistrates' Court heard Ahmed Safi,
from east London, had around 360 fake Nike and Prada trainers which would have been worth £27,000 if
genuine in his van when he was nabbed on entering the world-renowned Sunday market. Brent and Harrow
Trading Standards Services teamed up with Tarkington Safer Neighbourhood Team, HMRC and the vehicle
and Operator Services Agency.
Trading Standards officers fake goods actions
Residents in Powys could face legal action for using online auction sites to sell counterfeit goods, council
bosses have warned. Powys County Council's trading standards department said it would be cracking down
on anyone caught selling fake goods online. Councillor Graham Brown, board member responsible for public
protection, said it would be keeping a close eye on those who break the law. He said: "We support legitimate
business and local tax payers by targeting illegal economic activities such as product counterfeiting which
only seeks to further destabilise our local economy".
SHROPSHIRE STAR (SERIES) 11/11/2010 UK
Four arrested as bootleg goods seized at store
Four people have been arrested in raids on shops in King's Lynn, in which bootleg cigarettes and alcohol
worth £20,000, along with suspect stolen goods were seized. At Kubus, a mini-supermarket in Norfolk Street,
more than 75,000 cigarettes, along with 30 kilos of tobacco and a quantity of counterfeit alcohol were
recovered. Police also seized bedding sets, clothing and cosmetics, which officers believed to be stolen. At
the Kubus shop in London Road 14,000 cigarettes and 21 kilos of counterfeit tobacco were seized.
www.ipcb.co.uk
Warning over online fakes
ONLINE shoppers have been warned to be wary after reports of people receiving counterfeit goods.
Staffordshire County Council's Trading Standards team was contacted by people who had been sent fake
iPods and UGG boots, which were being sold as genuine. Officials say the sale of counterfeit clothes and
electrical items online is becoming more prevalent. Scam websites sometimes use a domain name that
falsely suggests they are UK-based and customers who believe they are buying genuine goods are often left
with inferior items. Officials advised shoppers to be aware of deals that seem too good to be true, have no
geographic contact address, and only accept payment through money transfer services.
STOKE ON TRENT SENTINEL 12/11/2010 UK; BURTON MAIL 13/11/2010 UK ; NEWCASTLE UPON
TYNE EVENING CHRONICLE (SERIES) 15/11/2010 UK; CANNOCK CHASE POST 18/11/2010 UK
Crooked dealer is told to hand over profits of £110,000
A DISHONEST dealer who sold dangerous counterfeit laptop chargers from his office has been ordered to
repay the £110,000 he gained illegally. John Evan supplied fake and electrically faulty computer accessories
through his firm PC Laptop Garage, at the Workshop, in warden Avenue, and online at www, laptopchargers.co.uk. He was advertising Chinese copies worth only £4 as genuine brands, such as Sony,
Samsung, Toshiba, Dell and Hewlett Packard, and selling them for £40 each. Undercover purchases were
made by Brent and Harrow Trading Standards officers via the internet and in person.
FULHAM GAZETTE 12/11/2010 UK
Fake fags warning
RESIDENTS in E. Staffordshire have responded to Staffordshire County Council's call to report possible
counterfeit cigarettes which could harm people's health and help to fund organised crime. A fake hotline and
website has been set up so people can report any concerns or suspicions about possible sales of counterfeit
cigarettes. The County Council's trading standards team will follow up the calls and investigate the
information given. Anyone who has information of counterfeit cigarette sales should call the fakes hotline
anonymously on 01785 330356 or go to www.staffordshire.gov.uk/fakes.
UTTOXETER ADVERTISER 13/11/2010 UK
£4 Billion bootleg presents
Thousands of dodgy goods are being sold on market stalls, the internet and in high street shops to tempt
families unable to afford the real thing. But even more sinister than the counterfeit gifts are the trade in bogus
booze and cheap cigarettes. Investigators have seized lethal vodka and cigarettes containing rat poison.
Ruth Orchard, Director General of the Anti-counterfeiting Group (ACG), warned: Millions of low-quality
counterfeit products will be flooding the country in time for Christmas, particularly in markets, car boot sales
and online.
PEOPLE, THE 14/11/2010 UK
Student caught out selling fake football jerseys
A SWANSEA student was caught selling fake American football merchandise at the city's 2009 Christmas
market. Ronald Gwenzi had counterfeit jerseys and hats for brands including New York Giants and Chicago
Bears when trading standards officers began investigating his goods in December last year. Swansea
Magistrate's Court heard Gwenzi's stall was in the market street.
Crackdown on fake goods at a markets
CHESHIRE East Council has joined a campaign to stop fake goods being sold in local markets ahead of the
busy Christmas shopping period. The authority has signed the Real Deal charter, announcing its refusal to
allow counterfeit goods to be bought and sold at Cheshire East markets. The charter is the brainchild of the
Industry Trust for Intellectual Property (IP) Awareness which helps local authorities tackle the sale of
counterfeit goods on markets and car boot sales. The campaign will offer support and advice to local traders
and urge both retailers and shoppers to report any concerns they may have regarding the sale of fake
products.
CREWE CHRONICLE 17/11/2010 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Amnesty on fake goods is part of new campaign
A COUNTERFEIT goods amnesty is due to take place in Derby for the public to hand in fake products which
they may have bought. People will be able to hand in the goods in the foyer of the Council House, in
Corporation Street, from 2pm. The event is part of a campaign by Derbyshire Crimestoppers, which have
linked up with Trading Standards to tackle counterfeiting and raise awareness of its links with organised
crime. Derbyshire Crimestoppers said that with Christmas approaching and the effects of the recession still
hitting hard, there is a greater temptation to buy fake goods. In the recent You Gov survey 30% of people
questioned in the East Midlands region said they had bought a fake item of branded clothing.
'Fakes' trader is tagged by court
A man caught by trading standards officers selling thousands of pounds worth of counterfeit Premiership
football clothing at Saredon car boot sale, has been ordered to carry out 240 hours of unpaid work. Gurdeyal
Rhoad was caught red handed by Staffordshire County Council's trading standards team following an
investigation at the car boot sale on Mill Lane on July 2 last year. Rhoad, 37, from Wolverhamton, appeared
at Stafford Crown Court last Tuesday for sentencing, after being convicted following a four day trial last
month.
CANNOCK CHASE POST 18/11/2010 UK
Online shoppers told: 'beware of fake goods'
Cannock folk shopping online are being warned to be vigilant, following reports from residents who have
received counterfeit goods. Staffordshire County Council trading standards team was contacted by people
who have received fake iPods and UGG boots which were being sold as genuine. The sale of counterfeit
clothes and electrical items online is becoming more prevalent. Websites sometimes used a domain name
that falsely suggests they are UK-based. Counterfeiting is illegal, can fund international organised crime and
is harmful to business and the economy.
CANNOCK CHASE POST 18/11/2010 UK
Markets campaign against fake goods
TWO of the Bridlington area's largest markets have joined a campaign to combat the sale of counterfeit
goods and other illegal products. East Riding of Yorkshire Council's Trading Standards departments and
organisations that administer markets at Skirlington and Strawberry Fields, Bridlington, will sign up to the
National Real Deal Initiative on Monday. At the heart of the Real Deal campaign is a national markets charter
which sets out key principles for market operators, local authorities trading standards services, and industry
and trademark representative to sign up to and abide by.
BRIDLINGTON FREE PRESS 18/11/2010 UK
Beware of risky toys and stylers
FAKE and unsafe toys remain a problem on the streets of Warrington according to trading standards chiefs.
In the lead up to Christmas, officers received a large number of complaints about unsafe goods.
WARRINGTON GUARDIAN 18/11/2010 UK
SHOP THE DODGY DEALERS NOW!
Police and trading standards experts have teamed up to encourage anyone offered dodgy designer goods to
shop them in a bid to keep counterfeits off the streets. Renfrewshire Council's trading standards team has
been involved in incinerating hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of fake CDs, DVDs and tobacco over
the past year. And more than £175,000 worth of fake footwear, clothes and accessories have also been
handed over to a homeless charity to rebrand them and hand them out to homeless people.
www.ipcb.co.uk
FAKE FAGS WAR!
COUNTERFEIT cigarettes and the gangs peddling them in Burnley are being targeted in the workplace. The
crackdown in Burnley has been organised with Lancashire County Council and jointly with Lancashire
Primary Care Trust, as part of its Save a Million Years of Life campaign which aims to improve life
expectancy in E Lancashire. The campaign has seen shops leafleted, posters displayed in prominent sites
throughout Lancashire, and several prosecutions of traders selling illegal tobacco. Now, they are taking the
battle to the work places of Burnley and Padiham. The workplace initiative involves emailing information
packs to the larger companies on how to spot fakes and guards against illegal activity within their business.
BURNLEY EXPRESS (FRIDAY) 19/11/2010 UK
£250k fake games haul
FAKE computer games worth £250,000 have been seized by officers in a raid on a factory in Lanarkshire.
The counterfeit goods were found in an early morning swoop on the building in Blantyre, part of a joint
operation between trading standards, police and customs officers. It's thought the haul which also netted a
quantity of drugs - is one of the biggest recovered in Scotland.
10bn FAGS SMUGGLED
More than 10billion cigarettes are smuggled into the UK every year. Gangs can make up to £15million from
one lorry load and the trade costs the UK £33.5 billion a year in lost tax. Some counterfeit fags come from as
far as China and can contain RAT DROPPINGS. Other imitation "cheap white" brands such as Raquel,
Palace and Gold Classic are well known in pubs and clubs. Part of the problem is the huge contrast in tax
levied on cigarettes. UK fags typically cost £6.30 a pack against £3.35 in Italy and just £1.83 in Poland.
SUN, THE 19/11/2010 UK
Dodgy traders are hawking fake Pandora jewellery
FANS of Pandora jewellery are being warned to beware of buying fake goods from dodgy traders after
counterfeit products were seized in NE Lincolnshire. Fakes of other branded products have also been
obtained in recent months, including Shure microphones and Ped Eggs. People who produce and sell fake
goods focus on brands which are popular with consumers. Fakes are made to appear to be the real thing but
they are invariably of inferior quality and made even more dangerous. In the most recent cases uncovered
by the council, imitation goods were being sold via the internet. Trading Standards officers are investigating
the cases further and have a range of options open to them, including prosecution, issuing a formal caution,
or warning those involved.
Fury at iPhoney bungle
AN iPhone customer who accidentally broke his mobile was sent a replacement with "fake" parts by his
insurance company. Aircraft engineer Brett Boyce received the dodgy substitute after he dropped his £500
gadget. He had claimed for a new phone on the free insurance that comes with his premium Lloyds TSB
bank account. Brett, 35, said: "The touch screen didn't work properly and I was having to charge the phone
twice a day." Experts at an Apple store near his Bristol home told him some of the iPhone parts were
counterfeit. Dad-of-three Brett complained to LSG, the company that handles repairs for Lloyds TSB - and it
sent him ANOTHER handset with non-original components. LSG has now offered a refund. A bank
spokesman said the iPhone warranty was backed by a reputable repair chain. Apple did not comment.
SUN, THE 22/11/2010 UK
Smoking out counterfeit cigarettes
TRADING Standards officers in the Capital have been issued with two new machines which can detect
counterfeit cigarette packets. The machines read the magnetic strips placed on packets by the
manufacturers, helping identify fakes being sold in shops. The devices which cost £200 each and have not
been used in Scotland before display a red light when the strips are found to be counterfeit. Trading
Standards officers will carry out spot checks with the devices at Edinburgh shops, as well as responding to
tip-offs from members of the public who report where illegal products may be for sale.
www.ipcb.co.uk
Home raids for drug and fakes
PEOPLE suspected of using their home as a hiding place for dodgy goods and drugs were today given a
harsh wake-up call by police and HMRC. Battering rams in hand, officers this morning simultaneously when
into six properties believed to have links to the supply of counterfeit and illegally imported goods, drugs and
stolen property. Police arrested several people.
DONT BE TEMPTED BY FAKES
A FESTIVE campaign to tackle counterfeiting has been launched in Teesside. Volunteers from Cleveland
Crimestoppers and the Charity's youth board held a "fakes" market stall at Teesside University in a bid to
raise awareness of counterfeiting and its consequences. And a dedicated microsite
www.fakesfundcrime.org.uk has also been set up featuring information about serious organised crime links
to counterfeit.
EVENING GAZETTE (MIDDLESBROUGH) 25/11/2010 UK
Keep an eye open for fakes
AS THE festive season approaches, devious scammers are trying to con the unsuspecting victims out of
their money, by selling fake goods and carrying out distraction burglaries. FAKE condoms are being sold in
Croydon newsagents leading trading standards bosses to issue an urgent warning to amorous couples.
Boxes of bogus condoms, fake champagne and vodka were discovered after a sweep of newsagents across
the borough. Croydon Trading Standards boss Alan Philips warned couples it is difficult to tell the fake
condoms from the real thing.
CROYDON ADVERTISER 26/11/2010 UK; CROYDON ADVERTISER SERIES 30/11/2010 UK
Fake goods campaign backed by town pubs
Posters highlighting the potential harmful effects of buying fake goods have been handed out by police
officers to managers of pubs and clubs in Northampton town centre. Northamptonshire police is supporting a
Crimestoppers campaign to warn traders and shoppers about the problems associated with counterfeit
goods. Yesterday, Supt Gideon, Springer led a walkabout in Northampton Town Centre during which posters
were handed out to pub landlords and club managers in the Market Square.
Fake vodka lands shopkeeper a fine
A DAGENHAM shopkeeper is counting the cost of selling fake vodka. A customer alerted Barking and
Dagenham trading standards after becoming ill from drinking some of the vodka, marked 'Glen's'. He bought
it from an off licence in Whalebone Lane South last year. Tests confirmed the vodka was counterfeit and a
later check showed the shop was still selling fake spirits. Shopkeeper Ike Madu told Snaresbrook Crow
Court he bought the batch of vodka from cash and carry. He pleaded guilty to breaching the 1990 Food
Safety Act and the 1994 Trademarks Act. He was fined £325 with £4,000 costs.
NEWS (BARKING & DAGENHAM) 27/11/2010 UK
Fake goods alert
CRIMESTOPPERS has begun a Christmas campaign against buying counterfeit goods. Officials are trying to
get the message across that buying fake goods funds serious crime. Susan Knaggs, chairman of Durham
Crimestoppers, said: "Christmas is a time when many are trying to find ways to reduce costs. I urge the
public not to be tempted to buy cheap fake goods. The consequences are far wider than the simple
transaction. It can fund serious crime such as human trafficking."
CONSETT & STANLEY ADVERTISER 27/11/2010 UK
Couple in 80k eBay scam
SELLING counterfeit goods online may have netted a couple more than £80,000. Christian Cassidy admitted
running a fraudulent business when he appeared at Caernarfon Crown Court. Gary Reynolds, prosecuting,
said: Cassidy sold items on eBay which he claimed were signed by various sports stars.
WALES DAILY POST 27/11/2010 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Council launches blitz on festive bootleggers
SHOPPERS were today warned to watch out for fake 'bargain' presents. It came as trading standards
bosses seized £200,000 of counterfeit goods in a raid in Glasgow. They said rip-off merchants had smuggled
fake Rolex watches, Links of London jewellery and Ugg boots into the city.
Raids seized illegal alcohol
ALMOST 300 litres of illicit alcohol was seized during a crackdown on sales of illegal booze. Wirral council's
licensing department, HMRC and UKBA raided off-licences across the borough in the past couple of months.
Since September, more than 630 bottles of illicit alcohol, worth almost £6,400 have been confiscated. Nine
illegal immigrants were arrested with at least one now facing certain deportation.
Fashionable fakes help charity beat the chill
POOR and homeless Scots are being helped to beat the winter chill by wrapping up in fake designer goods
seized from crooks. Instead of cash from the counterfeits going to fund serious crime, the impounded clothes
are being distributed to needy causes throughout the country. But the young mums and others needing
assistance aren't walking around with the sought-after logos of Lacoste and Fred Perry emblazoned on their
gear. Instead the trendy jackets, jumpers and shoes are part of "His" label. All the items are re-branded in a
massive operation involving a charity and more than 100 trading standards departments. Goods worth a
staggering £15 million have so far been passed on for re-branding to Christian Charity His Church. And with
major campaigns being run by Scottish Crimestoppers it’s likely to lead to more major seizures in the busy
weeks running up to Christmas.
Call to boycott fake goods
POLICE and Trading Standards have warned Christmas shoppers who buy fake goods that they are helping
to fund the activities of dangerous criminals. Detective Inspector Janet Baldwin said: "Many people see
counterfeiting as a victimless crime but nothing could be further from the truth. Leaving aside the losses to
legitimate companies and the economy, it is a huge source of profit for some very nasty criminals."
BLACKPOOL GAZETTE 29/11/2010 UK; LANCASHIRE EVENING POST 26/11/2010 UK
Fake goods seized in crackdown
CHRISTMAS shoppers in Bristol are being warned to watch out for counterfeit goods after two vans with
£50,000 of fake sportswear were seized. Police arrested four men after the two vehicles filled with fake
adidas, Nike, and Ralf Lauren clothing heading for the city were intercepted last week. The raid was led by
members of the South West Regional Scambuster team hosted by Bristol City Council and working with the
Avon and Somerset Crime interception Team and Officers from Bristol
Trading Standards.
BRISTOL EVENING POST (2 STAR) 30/11/2010 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Fake goods scam pair jailed
A MARKET trader was today jailed for four years after he sent £420,000 to China from a fake goods scam.
Stuart Peach, 55, of Church Street, Eastwood, was sentenced at Nottingham Court for running what Trading
Standards have described as a "sophisticated" scam. Peach pleaded guilty on August 20 to 15 trademark
offences and six counts of sending money made from the sale on the fraudulent goods to China, where they
were imported from. A friend, Tony Hall, 40, of Sheepbridge Lane, Mansfield, pleaded guilty to sending
£23,000 from the sale of the goods to China. He was sentenced to 10 months in prison.
NOTTINGHAM EVENING POST 01/10/2010 UK
LET THE BUYER BEWARE
Counterfeit electrical products can cause injury, fire and can kill. BEAMA executive chairman, Dave Dossett,
explains why anyone who purchases electrical equipment must play their part and be vigilant in ensuring that
they are genuine. The responsibility for ensuring the use of only genuine quality electrical products lies with
those specifying, purchasing and installing electrical equipment. Over 10% of the world trade is in counterfeit
products and this is also true for electrical equipment, amounting to 2.4 billion Euros (OECD estimated).
Annually, around £30 million worth of electrical counterfeits enter the UK market. 90% are made in China mostly brand name counterfeits/design copies.
ELECTRICAL PRODUCTS & APPLICATIONS 01/10/2010 UK
Heathrow fakes seized
It has been revealed that counterfeit goods valued at almost £4m have been seized by UK Border Agency
officers based at Heathrow Airport in the last three months alone. Among significant finds were 1,300 fake
iPhones, 50 bogus iPads and 2,500 pieces of counterfeit designer jewellery worth over £500,000. Batches of
labels destined to be stitched on to fake products to make them look real were also discovered. Officers
have also stopped over 180,000 counterfeit and unlicensed Viagra tablets from hitting the UK black market.
These are worth £1.1m and contain unknown, potentially harmful chemicals, which are unlikely to have the
desired effect.
Bans are slapped on bogus stores
AN OFF-LICENCE has been stripped of its licence after being caught selling bogus booze. Shari's, on
Shields Road, Byker, Newcastle, was busted during a probe into the trade in counterfeit alcohol. HM
Revenues & Customs officers found 806 litres of fake spirit, 328 litres of wine and 2,616 litres of beer.
Police airport swoop on counterfeit crooks
POLICE battling organised crime are to swoop on airports and ports this week in the fight against the fakes
that line gangsters' pockets. Officers from the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency will be warning
travellers heading off for the October holiday about counterfeits they may be tempted to buy abroad.
Although people are most likely to buy fake goods at home, getting them abroad is the second most popular
way to get hold of counterfeits.
SCOTTISH SUNDAY POST (SERIES) 03/10/2010 UK; PAISLEY DAILY EXPRESS 08/10/2010 UK
Over 800 items of suspected fake goods from stalls
TRADING standards officials and police officers present at Bridgwater Fair and its market this week seized
over 800 items of suspected fake goods from just two stalls. The opening day of the fair saw officials
impound a total of 842 items from stalls in the field market including suspected fake designer jewellery,
watches and baseball caps.
BRIDGWATER MERCURY 05/10/2010 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Market man gets curfew
A WEMBLEY market trader from Luton pleaded guilty to selling counterfeit goods bearing the names of
famous brands such Gucci and Nike following a crackdown by trading standards. Appearing before Brent
Magistrates Court, Eric Scotland, 50, of Hampton Road, was given a curfew order and told to pay £250 in
court cost after pleading guilty to four counts of possessing counterfeit goods with the intention of distributing
them. The court heard Scotland's van was en route to Wembley market when it was stopped and searched
at a road block on April 25 as part of a multiagency operation to crack down on rogue traders.
LUTON NEWS 06/10/2010 UK
Trader sold counterfeit products, court told
A MARKET trader in Kidderminster town centre was selling apparently expensive goods but they proved to
be counterfeit, a court heard. John Smith had perfume, sunglasses and clothes on his stall in Vicar Street at
knock-down prices. He had a sign stating that they were designer copies but it was hidden from the view of
customers. Smith, 65, of Chiseldon Croft, Highters Heath, Birmingham, pleaded guilty at Worcester Crown
Court to eight offences of possessing and selling goods with false trading marks.
KIDDERMINSTER SHUTTLE 07/10/2010 UK
Market trader's perfume was fake.
A MARKET trader was given a suspended jail sentence for selling counterfeit goods, including perfume,
sunglasses and clothes, in Kidderminster. John Smith was selling from a town centre stall at knock-down
prices. Smith, aged 65, of Chiseldon Croft, Highters Heath, Birmingham admitted eight offences of
possessing and selling goods with false trading marks. He was given a nine month jail sentence suspended
for two years and told to pay £600 costs.
KIDDERMINSTER CHRONICLE 07/10/2010 UK
Passengers targeted in fake goods crackdown
A NEW campaign urging travellers to resist the lure of counterfeit goods is getting underway today. With the
October break beginning, officers from the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency (SCDEA) will be
targeting thousands of passengers. A report in 2006 estimated the criminal gangs raked in £90 million from
the sale of counterfeits. SCDEA staff supported by the UKBA, were at Glasgow Airport yesterday reminding
travellers of the links between fake goods and serious organised crime. It was the first of many awarenessraising events, with officers going to all of Scotland's domestic airports and the Rosyth Ferry Terminal.
HERALD, THE (GLASGOW) 08/10/2010 UK; ABERDEEN CITIZEN 20/10/2010 UK
When crime does pay
DEPRIVED families and youngsters in Blackpool have been given a helping hand- at the expense of fake
goods fraudsters. The His Church charity has worked closely with Blackpool Trading Standards to acquire
seized goods they can pass on to organisations that need them most. Instead of Trading Standards paying
for the items to be disposed of they opt to give the possessions to charity.
BLACKPOOL GAZETTE 08/10/2010 UK; SCUNTHORPE EVENING TELEGRAPH 30/10/2010 UK
Investigation found old food still for sale
BOOTLEGGED tobacco and booze, unlicensed medicines and food that do not comply with labelling
regulations were targeted in a crackdown on counterfeit goods. Cheshire East trading Standards joined
Cheshire Police Revenue and Customs and the Department of Health as part of Operation Zest. Six food
retailers were visited in Crewe.
STOKE ON TRENT SENTINEL 08/10/2010 UK; CREWE & NANTWICH GUARDIAN 14/10/2010 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Trader's boot full of fake branded gear
A MARKET trader has been forced to pay back £100,000 after he was caught with a van-load of counterfeit
clothes. John Betts, 52, was given a six month suspended prison sentence in June last year after admitting
selling goods with false trademarks. Now detectives from Humberside Police's economic crime have
obtained a confiscation order under the Proceeds of Crime Act. Betts was travelling along the A63, close to
St Andrew's Quay, in November 2008 when traffic officers stopped him after noticing a faulty brake light on
his Ford Transit van. Officers found his van packed with almost 60,000 cigarettes and several boxes of fake
adidas clothing. The van was seized and Betts was arrested. When officers raided his terrace home, they
found more than 300 fake adidas, Timberland and Lacoste T-shirts, hooded tops and tracksuits together with
more than £1,400 in cash.
Counterfeit gang made £280,000
TWO city couples made more than a quarter of a million pounds through selling counterfeit trainers, sports
clothing and DVD's. Although the quartet made more than £280,000 from their crimes, less than £19,000
remained to be confiscated under the Proceeds of Crime Act. The leader of the scam was Stefan Kotwica,
39, of Linden Road. He had benefited from his crime to the tune of £175,000, said prosecutor Louis Weston.
But Kotwica has assets of only £17,500 which can be confiscated, he said.
Fake clothes trader handed curfew
A DOWNEND man has admitted selling counterfeit clothes at a market held at Filton recreation ground.
Luckwinder Singh, 22, of Badminton Road, appeared at Northavon Magistrates Court and admitted
possessing fake clothing for sale. He also asked the court to take into consideration a further 24 similar
offences. Singh was sentenced to a four-month community order to pay full costs of £2,924.62 and a
forfeiture order was also made for his vehicle and all of the counterfeit stock. The community order was in
the form of a curfew that restricts Singh from leaving home between the hours of 7pm and 6am seven days a
week.
Fake fags getting our kids hooked
TOBACCO smuggling in Wales in a threat to public health as well as a loss in tax revenue to the
Government, a report says today. Smokers questioned over their attitudes to buying illegal and counterfeit
tobacco found younger smokers more likely to buy from the illicit market in cigarettes - fuelling addiction in
youngsters. More than half (52%) of 16 to 34 years old admitted buying cheap tobacco compared to 41% of
35 to 54 year-olds, and 36% of the over 55's.
Daily Post, Wales 12/10/2010 UK
Warning to e-consumers
PEOPLE who shop online are urged to be vigilant about websites which could be selling counterfeit goods or
sites which turn out to be fake and disappear with hard-earned cash. During National e-Consumer Week,
Trading Standards officers urged residents to take extra care. Research reveals 63% of people fear their
card or bank details will get stolen, 10% worry their item won't arrive and 6% are concerned the item will be a
fake. Fakes which shoppers are particularly warned about include mobile phones, GHD hair straighteners,
Nintendo DS Lite Consoles, video games, clothing, toys, perfumes and cosmetics, alcoholic drinks and
cigarettes. Many of the fake version contain dangerous components or may be harmful.
CREWE CHRONICLE 13/10/2010 UK
Court told of fake football clothing
Fake football merchandise with Wolves' logos was seized at a car boot sale in Staffordshire, jurors heard.
Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool-branded baseball caps were on sale alongside T-shirts and
jackets in Wolves colours. The stall, was being run by market trader Gurdeyal Rhoad.
EXPRESS & STAR SERIES (WEST MIDLANDS) 15/10/2010 UK; EXPRESS & STAR SERIES (WEST
MIDLANDS) 15/10/2010 UK; EXPRESS & STAR CITY FINAL (WOLVERHAMPTON WEST MIDLANDS)
19/10/2010 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Interpol’s fake medicine swoop in Clacton
POLICE and drug agency enforcers raided an address in Clacton as part of a huge international operation to
smash sales of fake medicines on the internet. Investigators in 45 countries across the globe took part in the
operation Pangea. Hailed as the biggest of its kind and masterminded by Interpol. The crackdown targeted
websites suspected of selling counterfeit and illegal drugs, seizing more than one million pills, worth
£1.6million. Almost 700 websites suspected of selling controlled or prescription medicines were monitored. A
dozen websites being run from the UK were raided by the Medicines and Health Care Regulatory Agency
and local police.
COLCHESTER DAILY GAZETTE 15/10/2010 UK; CLACTON GAZETTE 21/10/2010 UK
Market stalls trader sold fake Nikes
A MARKET trader who sold fake Nike trainers in Filton has been prosecuted after his stall was targeted by
trading standards officers. Surinder Singh, 40, of Wednesfield, Wolverhampton, pleaded guilty to selling the
counterfeit footwear when he appeared at North Avon Magistrates Court. He admitted 10 offences brought
under the Trade Mark Act 1994 of possessing the counterfeit shoes for sale. He also asked for similar
offences relating to 143 further pairs of fake Nike trainers to be taken into consideration. He is due to be
sentenced at Bristol Crown Court on November 2.
Cigarette haul seized from three flights
A STASH of thousands of illegal cigarettes being smuggled into the country has been seized. UK Border
Agency officers at Newcastle International Airport have stopped a consignment of more than 170,000
cigarettes being smuggled into the country over the last few days. The cigarettes were seized from
passengers on three separate flights. The first happened on Thursday, October 14, when offices stopped a
man in his 20s as he attempted to pass through customs with 20,000 cigarettes in his suitcase. The second
incident took place in Saturday, when officials stopped four men and two women, who were travelling
together from the Canary Islands and had a total of 110,000 cigarettes in their luggage.
SUNDERLAND ECHO 21/10/2010 UK
Fake goods seized in undercover market op
A JOINT operation between police and Trading Standards saw 250 counterfeit items seized from Coed Mawr
Market, Greenfield. Five trading standards officers, along with police officers, took part in the cover operation
at the popular market on Sunday.
FLINTSHIRE CHRONICLE 21/10/2010 UK
Net shoppers warning over cloned sites
ONLINE shoppers are being caught out by cloned websites. Con-artists have fleeced scores of people
across Essex by making their sites increasingly realistic. A warning has been issued by Southend crime and
Disorder Partnership about the scams. One of the worst hit companies has been Ugg Australia, which sell
sheep-skin boots. It is now almost impossible to find the genuine site via Google, and scores of sites have
stolen the copyrighted images.
SOUTHEND EVENING ECHO 22/10/2010 UK
Fake goods are seized
MORE than a tonne of fake goods were seized from dodgy market sellers during a police and trading
standards sting. The initiative, code-named 'Operation Incentive' was launched in response to complaints
from legitimate businesses that they were losing thousands of pounds to criminal counterfeit gangs. A
Warwickshire CC Trading Standards Service team and Warwickshire Police gathered intelligence on the
activities of suspected fake goods traders and stopped them in their vehicles as they travelled to weekend
market. They seized 2,000 individual items, the majority of which was fake clothing, with an estimated
counterfeit value of £37,580.
NUNEATON NEWS 22/10/2010 UK; STRATFORD UPON AVON MIDWEEK 26/10/2010 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Illegal tobacco health warning
THE ILLEGAL tobacco trade and its links with organised crime was the focus of a summit in Perth yesterday.
Police, health representatives and retailers attended the one day conference at the town's concert hall.
Speakers included D/S Sergeant Allan Orr of the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency. D/S Orr
warned the production of counterfeit cigarettes was not a victimless trade and said those behind it were often
involved in drug dealing and human trafficking. Discussions at the summit will form the basis of the report to
be presented to the Scottish Government. In the UK the illicit market share is estimated to be 12% for
cigarettes and 48% for hand rolling tobacco.
DUNDEE COURIER & ADVERTISER (SERIES) 22/10/2010 UK
Fake washing powder smugglers ordered to repay more than £37k.
FIVE men convicted for their part in smuggling fake washing powder into the country and storing it in a
Cheshire warehouse have been ordered to hand over more than £37,000. Earlier this year, Martin Forrester,
Justin Campbell and Michael Baggeley were sentenced to 12 months in prison after pleading guilty. John
Charlesworth and Nicholas Moult were both given six month prison sentences suspended for two years and
ordered to carry out 200 hours unpaid work. A sixth man, Richard Brayford was jailed for two years for the
same offence.
Fake vodka sold
A SHOPPER has been fined for stocking fake vodka at his Mill Hill store. Ashok Malik, who ran In-n-Out in
the Broadway, pleaded guilty to stocking 24 bottles of imitation Glen’s vodka at Wood Green Crown Court
last Thursday. He was caught after a customer called Barnet Council trading standards officers to complain
about the substance inside the bottle. Officers seized the entire stock, and tests showed it had a make up
very close to vodka, and which would not have been harmful to drink. Mr Malik was fined £1,500 and ordered
to pay £6,000 in court costs.
HENDON TIMES SERIES 23/10/2010 UK
Illegal ciggies seized in home swoops
FAKE fags have been seized in house raids on Tyneside. Police and Council officers stormed two homes on
Gateshead's Springwell Estate, finding hundreds of counterfeit cigarettes and packets intended for foreign
markets. The raids, involving police and Gateshead Council trading standards, were part of a crackdown on
so-called "tab houses" (properties where cut-price smuggled or fake cigarettes and tobacco are sold from).
The haul included 1,200 Jin Ling cigarettes, made specifically for the illegal market, and 141 packets of hand
rolled, which may have been manufactured legally but only for distribution abroad.
Directors fined for dangerous goods
The director of a Blackpool shop who was selling "dangerous" pirate goods has been fined more than
£5,000. When Blackpool trading standards raided the Pound store, on Church Street in Central Blackpool,
they found a large quantity of fake and substandard items they feared could injure members of the public.
Blackpool Council prosecuted Sameer Sodawala, director of commerce Excel Ltd, after discovering he was
conning shoppers into buying fake money boxes, bean bags and foot treatment products. Counterfeit bean
bags with Manchester United and Liverpool football club logos had been made out of curtains.
Fakes burn cig sales
ONE of the worlds biggest cigarette firm is loosing out for counterfeit rivals. BRITTISH AMERICAN
TOBACCO - home of lucky Strike and Palm Mall said sales across Europe were being hit as smokers trade
down. Many are snapping up counterfeit or illicit fags which are cheaper as they escape duty. Volumes
across the group are down three per cent in the past nine months with a nine per cent fall in Western
Europe. BAT chief exec Paul Adams said: "The recession's impact on consumers is still with as and shows
no signs of abating." BAT said the biggest problem with counterfeit fags was in Romania and Turkey. But
admitted the number of illicit cigs coming into the UK is also up.
SUN, THE 28/10/2010 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Good amnesty
CUMBRIA Trading Standards has announced a three-month amnesty on counterfeit goods from Monday.
During the amnesty, which will run until January 31, anyone in possession of quantities of counterfeit goods
of any type can sign them over to any trading standards office or library in Cumbria without fear of being
prosecuted. For details on where and how to surrender goods call 01229 404040 or email
[email protected].
WESTMORLAND GAZETTE 28/10/2010 UK; LAKE DISTRICT HERALD 06/11/2010 UK
FAKE DESIGNER BOOTY SEIZED
THOUSANDS of pounds worth of fake designer goods has been seized by UKBA officers at Stansted. More
than a dozen shipments were sent to the UK holding more than £100,000 of Ugg boots, Nike trainers and
straighteners. They were all sent by the same Chinese exporter this month headed for addresses around the
country. Tony Karet, senior detection manager for the UKBA said: "When the parcels were opened it was
fairly clear that these were cheap and, in the case of the straighteners, potentially dangerous counterfeits.
STANSTED SKYPORT 29/10/2010 UK
CIGARETTE STASH IS SEIZED BY POLICE IN RAID
A HAUL of nearly 9,000 black market cigarettes has been seized by police from a Burton corner shop.
Staffordshire Police discovered the knock-off goods at Queen's Supermarket, in Horninglow Road North
although the store's co-owner has denied selling the items from the premises. Officers found 8,840 illegal
cigarettes and 5.1kg of tobacco, including popular brands illegally imported without tax being paid, as well as
so-called 'cheap whites' brands manufactured by criminal gangs purely for smuggling. The haul was brought
to Burton Police Station and was today due to be collected by HMRC, which will be carrying out an
investigation. (HMRC) spokesman Jennie Kendal said illegal tobacco products drained
around £2 billion a year from the public purse and urged smokers not to buy them.
BURTON MAIL 30/10/2010 UK; BURTON & SOUTH DERBYSHIRE ADVERTISER 03/11/2010 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Fake cigs found in container
A HAUL of 800,000 counterfeit cigarettes has been found hidden in a container heading for Southend.
Officials from the UK Border Agency intercepted the cigarettes stashed in a container at Felixstowe port
Suffolk. It was meant to be carrying furniture, but an X-ray showed a discrepancy with the load and when it
was opened the cigarettes were found. The cigarettes, which came from China, will now be shredded.
Police raided bank holiday market
FAKE designer clothes worth £300,000 were seized during a bank holiday raid on counterfeit goods at
Brighton Racecourses’ open air market. Four people were arrested on suspicion of peddling counterfeit
goods following the raid. Other stallholders, fearing they too were going to be targeted, fled after they saw
the police. One seller, whose stall was next to the one first raided, left without packing up. As well as leaving
all of his goods on his table he also abandoned two vans packet with unsold goods.
Illegal boozed after tip-off
HUNDREDS of bottles of potentially dangerous counterfeit vodka were seized from a warehouse in Barking.
Customs and Trading Standards officers raided the premises on August 10 after a tip-off. Inside the building
was a pallet containing 114 cases of counterfeit Smirnoff vodka. In total there were 684 70cl bottles of spirits
with a retail value of £9,000. The drink was seized by her Majesty's Revenues and Customs (HMRC) and
tests were carried out, which confirmed the vodka was not genuine Smirnoff and that the labels were copies.
HMRC will now decide whether to pursue legal action against the warehouse owner. The vodka will be
destroyed.
BARKING & DAGENHAM POST 01/09/2010 UK; EAST LONDON ENQUIRER 02/09/2010 UK
Counterfeit haul
ALMOST £4million of counterfeit goods have been seized at Heathrow Airport in the last three months, the
UK border Agency said today. The haul included 1,300 fake iPhones and more than 1million unlicensed
Viagra tables.
COLCHESTER DAILY GAZETTE 01/09/2010 UK; ABERDEEN PRESS & JOURNAL (SERIES) 10/09/2010
UK; IRISH NEWS (BELFAST) 10/09/2010 UK; EXPRESS & STAR LATE FINAL (DUDLEY) 10/09/2010
UK; YORKSHIRE POST (SERIES) 10/09/2010 UK; PETERBOROUGH EVENING TELEGRAPH
10/09/2010 UK; TEESSIDE EVENING GAZETTE 10/09/2010 UK
Fake cigs found in container
A HAUL of 800,000 counterfeit cigarettes has been found hidden in a container heading for Southend.
Officials from the UK Border Agency intercepted the cigarettes stashed in a container at Felixstowe port
Suffolk. It was meant to be carrying furniture, but an X-ray showed a discrepancy with the load and when it
was opened the cigarettes were found. The cigarettes, which came from China, will now be shredded.
Penkridge market is raeal deal say boss
PENKBRIDGE market has signed up to a national scheme to fight the fakers as part of its zero tolerance
over counterfeit goods. The market, which is open twice a week, regularly hosts more than 100 stalls and its
current managers have worked closely with Staffordshire Trading Standards since they took the reins in the
early 1990s. But they have reinforced their commitment to ensuring customers are not sold fake goods by
signing up to the Real Deal, a new national scheme supported by organisations including Consumer Direct
and Crimestoppers.
www.ipcb.co.uk
Fake vodka seized at warehouse
HUNDREDS of bottles of potentially dangerous counterfeit vodka have been seized from a warehouse in
Barking. Barking and Dagenham Council's trading standards team carried out a raid on the lock up on 10
August in a joint operation with HMRC after receiving a tip off. Inside they found a pallet containing 114
cases of counterfeit Smirnoff vodka. In total there were 684 70cl bottles of the dodgy booze with a retail
value of around £9,000. The vodka was seized and will be destroyed. Tests carried out confirmed that the
alcohol was not genuine Smirnoff and that the labels were fake.
EAST LONDON ENQUIRER 02/09/2010 UK
Counterfeiter
A COUNTERFEITER behind a scam involving bogus brand name clothes worth millions of pounds has been
jailed for two years. Kanran Ghori, 34, traded the fakes on eBay, an urban clothes website and shop in
Whitechapel. Gary Pons, prosecuting, told Snaresbrook Crown Court, trading standards officers made test
purchases after seeing the clothes for sale on the internet auction site at low prices. When the goods were
found to be false officers raided Ghori's high-tech headquarters in Assam Street, Withechapel, where 6,240
items worth £606,000 were found.
EAST LONDON ADVERTISER 02/09/2010 UK; ILFORD RECORDER SERIES 02/09/2010 UK; ILFORD
RECORDER SERIES 02/09/2010 UK
Market in fake goods crackdown
DODGY dealers are being frozen out at Leeds market as council and trading standards bosses get tough on
rogue traders peddling fakes. Yesterday Leeds City Council signed up to the Real Deal national market
charter. The charter is gained by councils and markets working to be fake-free zones and barring anyone
found to be selling counterfeit and other illegal goods. Markets in Leeds will now be able to display the Real
Deal logo after introducing strict vetting procedures. Cllr. Mark Dobson said: "It is fantastic that we are able
to sing up to the Real Deal partnership with west Yorkshire Trading Standards to protect our market
business and customers.
It's pay back time for cheat market trader
A MARKET trader has been ordered to pay back £254,000 of his illegal earnings of face further three years
behind bars, writes Andrew Cheng. Nazakat Hussain, of Hospital Street, West Midlands, sold counterfeit
items, including Nike trainers, at Wembley Market and was convicted in September 2009 to two years in
prison for the offence. The 36 year-old was released after serving only nine months but was slapped with a
confiscation order to pay back his illegal earnings after Brent and Harrow Trading Standards (BHTS) found
that Mr Hussain amassed three houses, a business premise, a six series BMW convertible and thousands of
pounds in various bank accounts.
Three arrested in off-licence raid
Officers searching a Norbiton off-licence for stolen goods got three for the price of one when they arrested a
customer and delivery driver who happened to be in the shop for separate alleged offences. On Wednesday,
August 26, officers from the newly-formed Kingston town centre team and customs officers arrested the
manager and licence holder of Coombe Food and Wine on suspicion of handling stolen goods. He was
bailed until September 22.
Market warning to fake traders
FAKE goods traders are being warned to stay away from Wakefield markets. Council chiefs have signed up
to the Real Deal national markets charter. The charter is gained by council's and markets that demonstrate a
commitment to keeping their market as a fake-free zone and by barring anyone found to be trading in
counterfeit and other illegal products. Working closely with officers from West Yorkshire Trading Standards
Service, the council has introduced stringent vetting procedures to ensure that counterfeit goods are not
sold.
www.ipcb.co.uk
Net opens door to knock-off Britain
SOME 8million shoppers have knowingly bought fake goods online, an investigation has revealed. Dodgy
dealers are cleaning up in an £11billion industry fuelled by thrifty consumers who want the designer label
more than quality goods. But websites offering counterfeit goods are often run by criminal gangs who might
be out to steal credit card details from shoppers and have links to people smugglers or even terrorism, warn
Moneybookers.com. 'Buying counterfeit goods may seem harmless but it costs legitimate businesses
money', said a spokesman for the payment services company.
Counterfeit cigs man is bailed
THE CASE of a man accused of selling counterfeit cigarettes and tobacco has been adjourned again. Dana
Kadir Ahmed is accused of possessing 1,870 counterfeit cigarettes and 2,650g of knock-off tobacco with
intent to sell it at Williams News in Huddersfield Town Centre. Ahmed, 21, of Springdale Street, Thornton
Lodge, was bailed to appear before Huddersfield Magistrates on September 13.
Teen's scalp burned by counterfeit hair tongs
TRADING standards officers have warned of dangerous fake hair straighteners after a teenager was left with
melted locks and singed scalp. Rebecca Day, 17, from Leicester, brought the tongs, which she believed to
be made by GHD, from a website but was left in agony when she first used them. "These straighteners
singed my hair and ripped it away from the roots", she said: "I was in agony. The experience has put me off
buying from a website". Leicestershire trading standards, which has so far seized 40 sets of counterfeit
straighteners, said some can heat up to 285C - hot enough to seriously burn someone's scalp.
HERALD, THE (GLASGOW) 11/09/2010 UK; IRISH EXAMINER, THE (EIRE) 11/09/2010 Ireland;
DUNDEE COURIER & ADVERTISER (SERIES) 11/09/2010 UK; YORKSHIRE POST (SERIES) 11/09/2010
UK
Designer fakes rise
WEBSITES selling fake designer gear are getting more than 120million hits a year - half the amount of the
genuine sites. Brand protection firm MarkMonitor said scammers buy domains featuring designer names,
then pass them off as genuine discount outlets. It results in thousands of Brits unwittingly buying rip-offs.
Suspect sites rose 23% in a year, including 6,700 counterfeit sellers for five luxury brands. MarkMonitor said:
Fraudsters dismiss rules of professional conduct.
SUN, THE 13/09/2010 UK
Boss jailed for oil parts scam
A CITY businessman wept in the dock as he was jailed for trying to sell more than half a million pounds of
counterfeit oil drilling equipment. Adrian Belson 56, of Oundle Road, Peterborough, was sentenced to two
and a half years in prison and his firm fined £20,000 by Peterborough Crown Court yesterday. The Court
heard how he had agreed a contract worth £592,000 through his company Gripp Belgique to supply oil
drilling parts to Bhartie Brothers, Dubai-based drilling firm.
13/09/2010
10,000 FAKE CLOTHES SEIZED IN RAID
Trading Standards officers have seized a 10,000 haul of counterfeit clothing from a Bradford shop following
an anonymous tip-off. Undercover officers went into the shop on the pretext of buying cigarettes and found
items of clothing pilled up on hangers, as well as parcels of clothes with names on ready for collection or
delivery. Trading Standards chief said the fake sports clothes imitated brands such as adidas, Nike Lyle and
Scott, Henley, Paul and Shark and G-Star. Items included jumpers, T-shirts, jeans and hooded tops. The
haul has an estimated value of £10,000.
BRADFORD TELEGRAPH & ARGUS 13/09/2010 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Dodgy gold gang target M74 drivers
BRAZEN scam artists are targeting Lancashire drivers and duping then into buying worthless fake gold
jewellery. The organised crime gang has already conned two drivers into paying £100 for the 'gold' tat with a
sob story about being stranded without enough petrol money to visit a sick relative. Motorists have been
targeted on the southbound slip road at Canderside Toll, junction 8 of the M74, in Larkhall. Police have
warned people to be on their guard and report any similar occurrences. In the first incident, last week, a man
in a silver Mercedes Benz E-Class, parked on the slip road, flagged down a driver at 2.15pm.
Counterfeit goods
Police and Trading Standards officers have seized thousands of pounds worth of counterfeit goods after
swooping on a car boot sale in Brean. More than twenty boxes of goods such as sunglasses, wallets and
watches were taking away from Brean market last week as part of a joint operation. Inspector Roger Tolley,
of Avon and Somerset Police, said: "this was part of an outgoing operation we are doing with Trading
Standards. "In some cases the selling of counterfeit goods can have some links with organized crime. We
check every car boot sale in the area, and want to make it clear that if you are selling counterfeit goods there
is a good chance we will find you."
WESTON, WORLE & SOMERSET MERCURY 16/09/2010 UK
Counterfeit clothing put to good use by charity
TONS of counterfeit goods have been seized from the hands of criminals and distributed among Lincoln's
homeless. Local charity His Church has sorted, graded and re-branded counterfeit clothing to give to the
needy in Lincoln. Items including tracks suits, sweat-shirts, trainers and socks were re-branded with a His
Church logo and given to various charities, including the Nomad Trust and the Amigos Project, which is part
of the New Life Church. The goods had all been seized by the police and Lincolnshire County Council's
Trading Standards as part of ongoing counterfeit operations.
Safety warning over dangerous hair straighteners
TRADING standards officers have issued a warning about fake hair straighteners which can burn people's
hair and scalps. The warning has come after residents in North West Leicestershire complained of having
their hair melted by counterfeit GHD straighteners. Leicestershire County Council Trading Standards has 40
straighteners, some of which heat up to a scorching 28°C. David Bull, Leicestershire County Council's head
of trading standards, said: "Always buy electrical products from a reputable dealer and check all paperwork
and guarantees. If anyone who believes they have fake hair straighteners should contact trading standards
as soon as possible.
Perma tan man red faced by fag factory
A MALE model faces the shame of community service for his role in an illegal tobacco factory. Anthony
George Scothorne, also known as 'Sunbed Tony' because of his permanent tan, was said to be 'a small cog'
in an operation at an Armthorpe industrial unit which could have cost the Revenue and Customs more than
£200,000 in lost duty. The 61-year old retired former Coal Board manager is too frightened to name the other
man involved in the counterfeit Golden Virginia factory, his barrister told Doncaster Crown Court.
'Dodgy' Disney toys sale case
A man accused of selling pirate toys including Thomas the Thank Engine, Batman and Mickey Mouse at
Blackpool Gazette market has been committed to Crown court. Abdul Mogradia, 45, of St Helens Road,
Bolton pleaded not guilty to 13 offences of having goods with fake trademarks for sale. The offences are
alleged to have taken place at Victoria Market, Waterloo Road, in December.
www.ipcb.co.uk
Going under cover to catch the counterfeiters
OFFICERS have been using surveillance techniques to catch dealing in illicit goods. Suspicious dealings in
shady foreign cigarettes, a garage packed with illegal tobacco, a dodgy Auto Trader car seller and an
underground internet firm selling counterfeit clothes were all filmed by undercover Trading Standards
officers. Officials working for the County Council's trading standards department have been using under
cover surveillance powers to allow them to catch criminals in the act over the past two years. The
controversial powers, which were originally introduced to help police tackle terrorism, are under national
review so Northamptonshire County Council has held its own survey into how the powers have been used
since January last year.
NORTHAMPTONSHIRE EVENING TELEGRAPH (SERIES) 18/09/2010 UK
'Keep your money safe while online'
Consumers across the district are being warned to be on their guard against websites that sell counterfeit
goods or disappear with their cash. Trading Standards officers are spreading the word through a varied
programme of activities and information sessions next week. The campaign, which will focus on schools and
higher education institutions, is being held to coincide with National e-Consumer Week, which beings on
Monday. Research out by the Trading Standards Institute shows that three quarters of people feel unsafe
when shopping online, more than half fear their card or bank details will get stolen and a tenth worry their
items will never arrive.
Beware fakers c-online offers
RECORD numbers of online shoppers are being flogged fake goods on the web, officials warned yesterday.
Trading Standards said that one in NINE products is dodgy. The cons range from bogus hair straighteners to
rip-off Burberry gear and are part of a counterfeiting crisis that is costing the UK economy £3.1BILLION a
year. Trading Standards officers Handley Brustad told Cashflow:" The internet has opened up the world to
anyone to sell anything. "If someone came up to you on the high street offering a bargain for cash you
wouldn't buy it. But people are buying things online without a second thought."
SUN, THE 18/09/2010 UK
Fake cigarette sellers reported
BURTON residents have responded to Staffordshire Country Council's call to report possible counterfeit
cigarettes which could harm people's health and help to fund organised crime. A counterfeit hotline and
website has been set up so people can report any concerns or suspicions about possible sales of counterfeit
cigarettes.
Tobacco gangs targeted
CUSTOMS staff says they are closing in on a Chinese gang believed to be behind a massive smuggling
operation in Glasgow. The gang uses bedsits in the city as the factories to repackage raw tobacco and sell it
as commercial brands. There have been a string of arrests and raids in the city this year after a tonne of raw
tobacco was seized in raids in January.
Snared on web
Online shoppers are warned to be more vigilant when buying over the internet as National e-Consumer
Week gets underway. West Yorkshire Trading Standards is promoting the safe use of the World Wide Web
in a variety of events taking place all week. In particular they will be working to stop consumers from buying
counterfeits and using fake websites that fail to deliver goods. Typical online fakes include mobile phones,
GHD hair straighteners, Nintendo DS Lite consoles, video games, clothing, toys, perfumes and cosmetics,
alcohol drinks and cigarettes.
YORKSHIRE EVENING POST 22/09/2010 UK; BARNSLEY INDEPENDENT 22/09/2010 UK; BRADFORD
TARGET 24/09/2010 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
40,000 cigs seized in smuggling raid
A HUGE haul of smuggled cigarettes and tobacco has been seized in Huddersfield. Police joined West
Yorkshire trading standards officers in a raid on a house in Lockwood. They seized 40,000 cigarettes and 50
kg of hand-rolling tobacco, worth many thousands of pounds. Officers estimated that there was enough
tobacco to make a staggering 90,000 cigarettes. It is thought to have been brought in from Eastern Europe
and was valued at more than £27,000. Two men were arrested in connection with the raid and have been
bailed pending further inquiries. Boxes of suspected counterfeit clothing were also seized.
Counterfeiting site set up to 'chip' consoles
A MAN set up a website from his home that offered counterfeit computer games and a "chipping service".
Steven Matthew Mathias 36, Cwm Cadle, Portmead, was caught out on April 2009, when Trading Standards
officers discovered his site.
Officers seized tobacco in raid
A woman has been arrested on suspicion of fraud and money laundering after 191lbs of counterfeit tobacco
and fake goods were seized. The 23-year-old woman was arrested on Friday and released on conditional
police bail. Two men, aged 22 and 26 were arrested on the same grounds and were also bailed. None of the
three have been charged. The tobacco, £2,000 cash and fake branded products were seized in the raid at a
house in Queens Cross, Dudley, on Wednesday morning. West Midlands Police spokeswoman Deb
Edmonds said officers worked with Dudley Council's trading standards team and the tobacco industry.
They targeted the house after people nearby were concerned it was used to grow cannabis.
EXPRESS & STAR SERIES (WEST MIDLANDS) 22/09/2010 UK
Men sell fake Cobblers gear.
TWO men were spoken to by Trading Standards Officers after they were caught selling unofficial Cobblers
merchandise ahead of last night's Carling Cup clash with premiere League giants Liverpool. Police were
called to Sixfields stadium at about noon yesterday after a complaint was made that two men were selling
unofficial Northampton Town scarves.
Fake washing machine powder cheat denied appeal.
A MAN who was jailed for his part in an international plot to sell fake powder has failed in a Court of Appeal
to challenge his sentence. Richard Frederick Brayford, aged 44, of Whiston, near Cheadle, was given a two
year sentence at Chester Crown Court after he was convicted of breaching the Trademarks Act in April.
Brayford, was one of a group of men prosecuted over the plan to sell the Chinese-made fake powder, which
was available for sale on the internet, in 2008.
Charity to benefit from fake goods
HOMELESSNESS charities are to benefit from seized fake designer clothing. A total of £90,000 of fake
designer clothing is being donated to homeless charities, thanks to Leicestershire Trading Standards. Over
the last 18 months, Leicestershire County Council ha seized hundreds of fake branded items including
knitwear, coats and trainers at car boot sales and markets. Usually fake goods are recycled and on rare
occasions, destroyed by Trading Standards. The County Council has joined forces with His Church Charity,
which removes the fake labels, re-brands them and gives them to charities in the UK and overseas.
www.ipcb.co.uk
BEWARE OF FAKES BEING SOLD ONLINE
SHOPPERS in Dorset are being warned to beware of fakes goods and websites when buying online. Dorset
County Council's trading standards services is launching a campaign to urged more people to find out about
their consumer rights and how to avoid falling prey to online sharks. It started the campaign to tie in with
National Consumer Week. Bill Jaggs, who is the Council's head of regulatory services, said: "The internet is
becoming an increasingly significant option for consumers. "The complaints that we are asked to investigate
illustrate that consumers could do more to protect themselves and get a better deal.
DORSET ECHO 25/09/2010 UK
Squatting rogue trader caught out
A rogue trader selling fake designer bags, shoes and clothes was found guilty by a jury at Croydon Court on
Friday. Wayne Edwards, 45, of Scotia Road, Brixton, was sentenced to 120 hours community service, an 18
month community order and a 12 month court supervision order. The con man set up his unauthorised
business - Croydon Luggage, squatting in a shop at unit 57 North End. He sold fake Nike, Jimmy shoes, Ed
Hardy clothing and Dolce and Gabbana luggage many of which were displayed un-priced. The fraudster was
caught when his assistant Carol Perrin sold a fake Chanel bag to an undercover council officer for £45.
CROYDON GUARDIAN 29/09/2010 UK
Warning over cigarettes
WESTON: Smokers are being warned about counterfeit cigarettes after illicit tobacco with a street value of
more than £5000 was seized a car boot sale. Trading Standards officer said they raided a stall at the sale in
Bleadon earlier this month, arresting two men in suspicion of selling illicit tobacco. Items seized included
more than 1,500 packets of Richmond cigarettes. Both men have been bailed pending further inquiries.
Carer jailed for selling fake smokes
A CARER has been jailed for selling fake cigarettes. John Reilly, 55, was found with counterfeit cigarettes
and rolling tobacco at his home at Denfield Gardens, Ovenden, in June last year. Reilly, who is a full time
carer for his wife after she suffered a heart attack, claimed to have bought the goods for his children at a car
boot sale. Katherine Walsh, for Reilly, said that word had quickly spread through the tight-knit Ovenden
community and people realised he had cheap cigarettes and started going to his house to buy them.
MARKET TRADER SOLD FAKE BRANDED CLOTHING
A MARKET trader who sold fake branded clothes at Penkridge market has been ordered to do 120 hours'
community service and pay £250 cost. Irfan Khan, of Stratford Road, Hall Green, Birmingham, pleaded guilty
at Stafford Magistrates' Court to eight charges of selling counterfeit clothes under the trade Mark's Act. Khan,
37, sold various items of clothing to one of Staffordshire County Council's trading standards officers at
Penkbridge Market on April 14 this year.
www.ipcb.co.uk
Cops seize 50k fakes
COUNTERFEIT clothing worth £50,000 was seized from a Birmingham market stall in a swoop by trading
standards. More than 1,000 items, featuring high street brands adidas, Nike, Henleys, Stone Island and
Georgio Armani were recovered in the raid.
12,100 ILLEGAL CIGS SEIZED IN HOUSE RAID AFTER TIP-OFF
A TIP-OFF from a member of the public led to the seizure of more than 12,100 illegal cigarettes from an
Immingham house. Cash was also uncovered in the raid, carried out after Trading Standards officers joined
forces with Humberside Police to carry out an undercover test purchase.
Illegal cigs trade increases crime
Illicit tobacco is that which is stolen, smuggled or counterfeit, while tobacco is branded as illegal where duty
has been avoided. More than 67,000 illegal cigarettes have been seized in the region in the last 12 months,
alongside 12 kilograms of rolling tobacco.
Forces unite to fight illicit tobacco sales
A CRACKDOWN has been launched on the sale of illicit tobacco in Crewe. The Consumer Protection and
Investigations Team last week joined forces with police, immigration officers and HM Revenue and Customs
in Operation Medallion. The operation is designed to target those who sell counterfeit, bootlegged or
smuggled tobacco products.
Fake fags man jailed
Danny Dougherty, aged 45, of Yews Avenue, Westborough Dale, was jailed for two years at Sheffield Crown
Court after pleading guilty to a charge of being involved with others in an arrangement that facilitated the
acquisition, retention, use or control of counterfeit cigarettes.
SHEFFIELD STAR 03/08/2010 UK; BARNSLEY CHRONICLE (SERIES) 06/08/2010 UK
We must be beware of fake brakes
MOTORISTS and mechanics are being warned that unsafe counterfeit brake pads are circulating in NI.
Trading Standards has made two seizures of dangerous brake pads in Belfast and County Armagh. The
counterfeit brake pads, branded as Volkswagen, SEAT, Skoda and Audi were seized following a tip-off from
the Volkswagen group.
IRISH NEWS (BELFAST) 03/08/2010 UK; BELFAST NEWS LETTER GROUP 05/08/2010 UK
Blitz on fake goods
Wirral Trading Standards has launched a crackdown on fake tobacco and computer software. The
campaign, part of a national fight against piracy and counterfeiting, will target low level cases of illegal
selling.
WIRRAL GLOBE (SERIES) 04/08/2010 UK
Counterfeit tobacco case
A MAN of good character has admitted his part in running a counterfeit tobacco factory in Doncaster.
Anthony George Scothorne, aged 61, of Thorntondale Road, Scawsby, was bailed for sentence until next
month by Doncaster Crown Court for four offences. He appeared yesterday and admitted being in
possession of labels, a wrapping machine, counterfeit hand rolling tobacco and counterfeit tax stamps for
use in connection with fraudulent activity.
DONCASTER STAR 04/08/2010
www.ipcb.co.uk
Fake goods sold in market
A SHOPKEEPER whose wife was expecting twins decided to try to boost his income by selling counterfeit
goods. Faizel Adam from Newton Drive, central Blackpool, admitted 13 offences of breaching the TM Act.
£1m of fake designer gear seized by cops in raids
Sgt Dave Stevens said: "This was a major find and sends out a clear message to those dealing or thinking of
dealing in counterfeit clothes that illegal trading will simply not be tolerated in Salford. "The counterfeit goods
market is not a victimless crime and such offences threaten the livelihood of any law abiding citizen"
We should be doing all we can to stamp out illegal trade
Counterfeit goods have been linked to criminal gangs and arms sales. Then there are the bargains which
have consequences to health. Take today’s haul of illegal cigarettes - the second to be publicised this week.
In Brief
A GIFT shop owner has admitted selling fake goods from his Blackpool store. Trading Standards officers
raided Umar Atchas premises on York Street and found items falsely bearing the trademark of products like
Hannah Montana, Playboy, Louis Vuitton and Power Rangers.
Store owner admits to selling phoney goods
Newcastle City Council’s Trading Standards team raided a store and filled a transit van with Singh’s stock,
which included thousands of bracelet charms, more than 100 pairs of jeans, 250 pairs of socks, around 70
phoney designer handbags and purses and more than 75 pairs of boots and trainers. And just two months
later, Singh was at it again and a second visit saw a further 225 pieces of clothing and jewellery, again all
counterfeit, recovered.
Traders hit by fake fags
SMUGGLED cigarettes are being sold for as little as 4 euros a packet - less than half the recommended
retail price, leaving traders in the Kildare area unable to compete and at a major loss.
IRISH POST 07/08/2010 UK
Raid leads to huge haul of cigarettes
Officers also discovered various bundles of cash hidden around the premises, which was confiscated while
the inquiry continues. Tim Coglan, Head of Trading Standards at Blackpool council, said: "This is the latest
raid due to the council’s campaign to clean up Blackpool... "We’ve got strong evidence to suggest local
residents were being sold counterfeit cigarettes".
Fake toy seller in court
Arch admitted 11 trademark offences and was also ordered to pay £200 in costs by Blackpool Magistrates.
Lee Petrak, prosecuting for Blackpool Council said the shop was visited by trading standards officers. They
found 96 toys which were taken from the premises. They were examined and found to be counterfeit with
fake trademarks. BLACKPOOL GAZETTE 10/08/2010 UK
Huge Scam sees counterfeit alcohol distributed to shops
BOOTLEG booze barons are raking in as much as £1m a week in the North East, the Chronicle can reveal.
Today we expose the region’s booming black market in smuggled and counterfeit alcohol. A series of
underground warehouses across Tyneside have also been busted, inside which gallons of illegal beers,
wines and spirits have been found.
www.ipcb.co.uk
Designer fakes seized in car boot sale raid
POLICE swooped on a Huddersfield car boot sale to seize fake designer gear. Officers were joined by West
Yorkshire Trading Standards officers in the raid at Grange Moore. Now the Trading Standards officers are
checking on the clothing to see if it is fake. They seized shirts, jumpers and swimwear bearing trade marks of
many top designers. During the early morning operation, two men were found with designer clothing from
brands such as Burberry, Bench, Stone Island, Juicy Couture, G-Star, Henleys and Ecko.
HUDDERSFIELD DAILY EXAMINER 10/08/2010
Warning over fake straighteners
GLASGOW bargain-hunters were today warned to watch out for fake hair straighteners flooding the city
market. The Electrical Safety Council, an industry watchdog, said the counterfeit GHD hair straighteners
posed real dangers to anybody using them. Trading Standards officers across the Wets of Scotland have
been seizing increasing numbers of the Straighteners, which are in high-quality packaging but are far from
as safe as the real product. ESC experts believed counterfeiters are targeting Scots with the traditional eye
for a good deal.
GLASGOW EVENING TIMES 11/08/2010
Market trader admits to fakes
A Kidderminster market trader has been ordered to carry out 60 hours of unpaid work after admitted selling
counterfeit goods. Dean Smith, of Chiseldon Croft in Kings Heath, Birmingham, pleaded guilty to four
offences under the Trade Marks Act at the hearing last month. He was sentenced at Kidderminster Court on
August 2. Along with the unpaid work, to be completed in 12 months, he was ordered to pay £600 costs.
Trading Standards officers carried out an operation at Kidderminster market on December 3 to target illegal
trading.
EXPRESS & STAR CITY FINAL (WOLVERHAMPTON WEST MIDLANDS) 12/08/2010
News in brief
A SEAHOUSES man is helping the authorities with their enquiries after suspected counterfeit goods were
found in a mobile shop. The goods, believed to include counterfeit DVDs, cigarettes, tobacco and alcohol on
which duty had not been paid, were found following a random traffic stop by police in Main Street,
Seahouses earlier this month.
BERWICK ADVERTISER 12/08/2010 UK
Arsenic in fake holy water
TRADING Standards officers have issued a warning to Muslims about fake holy water which contains
dangerous ingredients. Tests have shown that Zam Zam bottled water sold in the UK, or brought into the UK
for personal consumption, contains high levels of arsenic or nitrates.
Safe scam
THOUSANDS of pounds of suspected fake clothes were seized from a car boot sale in Grange Moor on
Sunday. Designer gear brands such as Burberry and Ecko which would have fetched around £3,500 at the
right price instead of the low charges sellers were asking.
BATLEY & BIRSTALL NEWS 12/08/2010 UK; DEWSBURY REPORTER 13/08/2010 UK
Ciggies seized in Police raids
THOUSANDS of cigarettes were seized in raids on Middlesbrough’s tobacco houses. The operation was
launched at 9am yesterday and targeted four addresses in the town centre, Whinney Banks, Park End and
Ormesby. Officers seized more than 1kg of hand-rolling tobacco and nearly 2,000 cigarettes of which more
than half are believed to be counterfeit.
www.ipcb.co.uk
Officers take 100 items in sale raid
Trading standards officers seized 100 counterfeit DVD's and 30 items of fake gold jewellery worth thousands
of pounds in total following a raid at a Staffordshire car boot sale. The items were seized from the car boot
sale off the A34 at Brocton, close to Staffordshire, last Sunday. Now the team is going to extend its patrol to
the nearby Cocksparrow Lane, Huntington, car boot sale operated by the same organiser, who has paid for
the patrols.
EXPRESS & STAR CITY FINAL (WOLVERHAMPTON WEST MIDLANDS) 13/08/2010 UK; STOKE ON
TRENT SENTINEL 18/08/2010 UK
Trader sold fake clothing
A market trader who sold fake clothing at the stall in Staffordshire has been ordered to completed 120 hours
of community service and pay £250 costs. Irfan Khan, of Stratford Road, Hall Green, Birmingham, pleaded
guilty to eight charges of selling counterfeit clothes under the Trade Mark Acts at Stafford Magistrates Court
yesterday. Khan, aged 37, sold various items of clothing to one of Staffordshire County Council's trading
standards officers at Penkridge Market Market on April 14 this year.
Bagging a fake
Some women are getting their fashion fixes form counterfeit goods. But can they ever be as good as the real
thing? The Mulberry Alexa, a bag almost as beautiful as the woman it was named after, hit the stores in
January. Fashion journalists purred. Handbag addicts cooed. With its beautiful soft leather and chic satchellike design, it quickly became the first 'it' bag of 2010. It was a fashion item you'd sell your granny for and
everyone wanted one. In the event, it proved so popular that even in this recession riddled times, it pushed
Mulberry's profits up by 22%.
IRISH INDEPENDENT (EIRE) 17/08/2010 Ireland
Health warning on cheap cigarettes
RESIDENTS are being urged to report anyone they see selling cheap cigarettes. It comes as a health
warning is sent out to smokers in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire about the effects of counterfeit cigarettes.
Trading standards officers across the area have joined forces in a crackdown on fake tobacco. The
counterfeits, which are often packaged to resemble well-known brands, are offered for sale at severely
reduced prices but the cigarettes are made from highly toxic materials that can even include the droppings.
Hotline launched to smoke out fake cigs
TAMWORTH residents and businesses are being urged to join the fight against the sale of counterfeit
cigarettes. A 'fakes Hotline' has been set up by the county council for people to call if they know of anyone
illegally selling such cigarettes. Fake cigarettes can contain dangerous chemical levels, usually cost less and
are made to look like popular brands. And like any counterfeit goods, proceeds from their sale can help
found organised crime, a council spokesman said.
TAMWORTH HERALD 19/08/2010 UK; LICHFIELD MERCURY 19/08/2010 UK; STOKE ON TRENT
SENTINEL 19/08/2010 UK; BURTON MAIL 20/08/2010 UK
Fake designer goods net couple £81k
A COUPLE made more than £81,000 bamboozling customers by flogging them fake designer UGG boots at
Wembley Market and on their website. The dishonest stallholders run a 'sophisticated' business importing
and selling the counterfeit goods from a number of outlets including, Wembley Market and Portobello Road
Market, as well as websites eBay and Amazon. The popular boots, imitating the one's made by Australian
company UGG, sold for about £70 a pair.
www.ipcb.co.uk
Bogus booze bust
FOUR off licences were caught stocking bogus booze. HM Revenue & Customs officers raided a series of
shops as part of a probe into fake and smuggled alcohol. Thousands of litres of beers, wines and spirits were
taken from the stores, all which had either been smuggled into the UK or were suspected of being
counterfeit. Following the operation, Northumbria Police has applied to New Castle City Council to have their
booze licences reviewed.
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE EVENING CHRONICLE (SERIES) 19/08/2010 UK; EAST LONDON
ADVERTISER 02/09/2010 UK
Trader’s designer gear was all fake
A MARKET trader from Kidderminster has been prosecuted for dealing in counterfeit goods. The case
follows a raid on the market by Trading Standards Officers last December, targeting traders operating
illegally. Officers seized more than 100 items, all of which were counterfeit. Worcestershire Regulatory
Services subsequently prosecuted Dean Smith of Chiseldon Croft, Birmingham. He was offering for sale
trainers, jumper, boxer briefs and jewellery, all of which were identified as copies of prominent brands.
KIDDERMINSTER CHRONICLE 19/08/2010 UK
TRADERS PLEA TO WEED OUT FAKE CIGS
COUNTERFEIT sellers of cigarettes in Stafford are being stubbed-out by a new trading standards campaign.
Officers will be approaching businesses to ask them to report anyone trying to sell counterfeit cigarettes and
providing posters to raise awareness of the issue. Fake cigarettes can contain dangerous chemical levels as
they are unregulated. They can also encourage younger people and those on lower incomes to smoke as
they cost less and look like popular brands.
Bitter pill for drug counterfeiters
A POWERFUL new marking technology that can help prevent drug counterfeit has been unveiled by
Cambridgeshire innovator, GB Innomech. Thousands of people have died around after taking fake cures.
The World Health Organisation estimates that around 50 per cent of all medicines sold online are worthless
counterfeit and in developing nations, fake tablets or capsules may account for much as 30 per cent of all
drugs on the market.
BUSINESS WEEKLY 19/08/2010 UK
The Uggly face of a 100k con
A HUGE counterfeiting scam which conned shoppers into buying fake Ugg boots has been shut down. A
husband and wife made nearly £100,000 selling replicas imported from China. Habib and Aisha Melloul, both
28, set up an on line shop called Ugg Love selling the boots for 88.50 a pair. They normally cost around
£100. They were caught when investigators swooped on an open-air market in London where Habib was
touting for business.
Alert over fake vodka sales
BOURNEMOUTH residents are being urged to be vigilant when buying alcohol from off-licences following
the seizure of counterfeiting vodka. Following a complaint from a member of the public, Bournemouth's
trading standards officers discovered counterfeit Smirnoff vodka was being sold at a number of premises.
They are now advising consumers of the sting what to look for. These include an unusual taste, spelling
mistakes and altered logos on labels, low quality packaging or a different bottle shape.
BOURNEMOUTH DAILY ECHO 23/08/2010 UK
Man accused of shop crimes
A MAN appeared before Huddersfield Magistrates yesterday charged with attempting to sell counterfeit
cigarettes and tobacco. Dana Kadir Ahmed is accused of possessing 1,870 counterfeit cigarettes and 2,650g
of knock-off tobacco with intent to sell it to John Williams News in Huddersfield town centre. The goods were
allegedly found during a police and trading standards raid on the shop on August 5, 2009.
www.ipcb.co.uk
Counterfeit goods to go to charity
ILLEGAL goods such as counterfeit clothing, DVDs toys and computer equipment that was seized by Central
Bedfordshire Council's Trading Standards Team and destined for an incinerator is going to be put to good
use after officials teamed up with a local charity. His Church Charity, which is based in North Bedfordshire,
recycles counterfeit goods and distributes them to help homeless and underprivileged people as well as
salvaging food and other goods from large supermarkets and wholesalers that would otherwise be sent to
landfill.
BIGGLESWADE ADVERTISER 25/08/2010 UK
Trader sold fake DVDs and UGG boots over the internet
AN INTERNET trader from Patchway who sold fake good has been given a suspended jail term. Russell
Painter offered items on auction site eBay to supplement his income Bristol Crown Court heard. After a
customer in West Yorkshire complained he had bought a counterfeit DVD boxed set of TV show Sopranos,
South Gloucestershire Trading Standards investigated and found Painter in possession of nine fake DVD
boxed sets as well as a copy pair of UGG boots.
Seized pirate booty is a bonus for charities
COUNTERFEIT clothing and other illegal goods such as DVD's toys and computer equipment has been
saved from the incinerator and instead found a worthy new home in Dunstable. Trading Standards officers
contacted His Church Charity, which recycles counterfeit goods and redistributes them to help homeless and
underprivileged people in Bedfordshire. It also salvages food and other goods from large supermarkets and
wholesalers that would otherwise be sent to landfill.
DUNSTABLE GAZETTE 25/08/2010 UK
Firms and public in fake fag fight
Stafford business and members of the public are being urged to join in the County Council's fight against
counterfeit cigarettes. Fake fags contain dangerous chemical levels because they are unregulated. They can
also help encourage younger people, and those on lower incomes to smoke, as they cost less and are made
to look like popular brands. Trading Standards has warned, like any counterfeit goods, proceeds from their
sale can help fund organised crime.
STAFFORD POST 26/08/2010 UK
NO JAIL FOR FAKE CIG MAN
A WIGAN pensioner, who was caught with thousands of counterfeit cigarettes by Trading Standards officers,
has been spared jail. Derek Speak pleated guilty at Wigan Magistrates' Court for posessing almost 7,000
fake Regal cigarettes at his home in Ormskirk Road, Pemberton. The 66 year old defendant was found with
13,000 cigarettes and more than 24 kilos of hand rolling tobacco following a joint investigation by Wigan
Trading Standards and HM Revenues and Customs officers.
WIGAN EVENING POST 27/08/2010 UK; WIGAN OBSERVER 31/08/2010 UK
Alert over fake water as muslims observe Ramadan, the foods Standards Agency and Lancashire Trading
Standards are warning people about fake bottled water described or labelled as Zam Zam water. Tests have
shown that Zam Zam sold in the UK, or brought into the UK for personal consumption, contains high levels of
arsenic or nitrates. Zam Zam water is created for muslims and comes from a specific source in Saudi Arabia.
It cannot be exported under Saudi Law and any water on sale in the UK labelled as Zam Zam is therefore
suspicious.
NELSON LEADER 27/08/2010 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Can pharma keep pace with the counterfeiters?
The problem with counterfeit medicines was first addressed at an international level in 1985, when a
conference of experts recommended that the World Health Organisation (WHO), together with the
international and non-governmental organisations, should study the feasibility of setting up a clearing house
to collect data and to inform governments about the nature and extent of counterfeiting.
Counterfeit goods are seized in store raids
FAKE handbags, condoms, cosmetics, DVD's and alcohol were seized from shops across South Harrow last
week following a Trading Standards operation. During the blitz, officers found 19 bottles of fake Whisky and
Vodka, counterfeit Gucci handbags, shoes and purses and tobacco products which failed to carry mandatory
health warnings in three different stores. The visits were made as part of a Harrow Council-led week of
action a programme to target low-level crime in the borough.
Bailiffs destroyed Chinese aquariums
A Chinese manufacture was caught showing counterfeit copies of Reef One's BiOrb LIFE range at Interzoo,
but the units were seized and destroyed by German bailiffs. The seizure was made on the second day of the
international pet trade show in Nuremberg. Reef One's managing director Paul Stevenson, said:" we are
convinced the Chinese would put the tanks on stand, so had our German lawyers at the ready. However, we
could not take action until the products were actually on display, but Thursday was a public holiday there.
First thing Friday morning we presented all our evidence to the judge and he granted the injunction
immediately, saying it was a classic case of counterfeit."
PBW NEWS 01/07/2010 UK
Tackling the Counterfeit Cable Problem
The International Authentication Association (IAA) has welcomes new initiative from the British Cables
Association aimed at tackling problems of counterfeit cables. The recently launched Approved Cables
Initiative (ACI) aims to address the issue of unsafe, non-approved and counterfeit cables from the UK
market.
DPA (DESIGN PRODUCTS & APPLICATIONS) 01/07/2010 UK
Charity conman to repay money
A CONMAN who ripped off a breast scanning charity by selling fake hair Straighteners has been warned that
he could face a lengthy prison sentence if he does not pay back his ill-gotten gains. Donald Silvester, aged
74, cheated Breakthrough Breast Cancer out of £5,500 when he sold counterfeit straighteners bearing the
charity's logo. Now Silvester, of Green Stone Avenue, Horwich, must pay back the money he made from the
fraud which, Bolton Crown Court heard yesterday, could amount to hundreds of thousands of pounds.
BOLTON NEWS 02/07/2010 UK
Fake World Cup cost UK shops £92m
FAKE World Cup merchandise is set to cost UK retailers £92 m in lost sales according to new report. While
retailers expected a £250m shopping splurge by England fans on World Cup sportswear and memorabilia,
counterfeit suppliers are also set to capitalise on the tournament. According to the report from Kelkoo the
shopping comparison website, as many as one in every five items sold of World Cup merchandise are
expected to be fake.
www.ipcb.co.uk
Illegal cigarettes seized from market stalls
Revenue and Customs officials seized thousands of Illegal cigarettes from stalls on Norwich market in a
series of raids. Officers seized 3,800 cigarettes, 86.3kgs of hand-rolling tobacco and 150 cigarillos as they
searched stalls in the operation. Illegal goods were found at four of them. They also discovered other illegal
tobacco products at a shop in Norwich. In total the tax duty evaded is estimated to be £11,800. No arrests
have been made but investigations are continuing.
Counterfeit booze swoop
SUSPECTED counterfeit booze was seized from a Leigh off licence over fears for drinkers’ safety. Revenue
and Customs officers swooped on Jay’s supermarket, in London Road, and carried away 92 bottles of vodka
and brandy. It is believed the 78 litres of booze has been smuggled in from abroad and could be a health
risk. A batch of dodgy vodka was seized in Cardiff last year and it was feared people could be left with liver
damage.
Fake alcohol
SURREY: Drinkers are being warned to be aware of fake, dangerous and watered-down alcohol. An
investigation into dozens of licensed premises by Surrey County Council Trading Standards found beer,
vodka and champagne being passed off as well-known brands. All the premises have either received written
warnings or face caution of further prosecutions. Investigations of suppliers are also underway. Steve Rudy,
from Trading Standards said: "It's vital that people can trust the labelling and advertising of the food they
spend their hard earned money on."
SURREY MIRROR SERIES 08/07/2010 UK
PRESTON
A trader accused of having pirated goods for sale including money boxes, bedding and bean-bags with fake
Manchester United and Liverpool FC logos has had his case committed to a higher court. Sameer Sodawala,
age 30, of Highgate Avenue, Preston, is accused of nine offences of having goods with counterfeit TM’s for
sale at The Pound Store, Church Street, Blackpool, in October last year. Sodawala was bailed to appear at
Preston Crown Court on August 26.
LANCASHIRE EVENING POST 09/07/2010 UK; BLACKPOOL GAZETTE 09/07/2010 UK; LANCASHIRE
EVENING POST 09/07/2010 UK
Dad also sentenced over bogus goods
THE father of a gun man jailed for two months for selling fake goods has been sentenced for 120 hours
unpaid work for committing the same crime. Philip Rose, 56, admitted at Derby Crown Court five charges
under the Trade Marks Act 1994 of selling counterfeit goods and unauthorised use of trade marks. He was
also ordered to pay cost of £500 and forfeit all the items. Last month, son Steven Rose admitted nine
charges.
Airport closes in on counterfeiters
MULTI-MILLION pounds worth of counterfeit goods have been seized by officials at East Midlands Airport
over the past year, it has been revealed. Illegal items worth more than £4 million were confiscated by UK
Border Agency officers at the Castle Donington airport. Significant seizures including GHD branded hair
straighteners worth £117,884 and Nintendo goods worth £155,135. The haul also included DVD boxed sets,
sunglasses, fake football shirts, electric toothbrushes and razor blades, as imitation Ralph Lauren clothing,
Louis Vuitton bags and Umbro England World Cup clothing and collection if Beatles CD'S.
Trade tackles issue of fakes
FAKE sanitary ware imports and stolen labelling were among issues discussed at a meeting of ceramic
leaders. The Stoke-based Bathroom Manufactures Association (BMA) held its annual general meeting at
Manchester's Lowry Hotel.
www.ipcb.co.uk
Trader on fake toy charge
A TRADER accused of possessing pirated Mickey Mouse, Batman, Thomas the Thank Engine and
Spiderman toys for sale at Blackpool has appeared at court. Abdul Mogradia, 45, of St Helens Road, Bolton,
faces six offences of having goods with counterfeit trade marks. Morgradia had his case adjourned to July 28
by Deputy District Judge Pamela Baldwin sitting at Blackpool Magistrates' Court.
Smuggling cig and booze raids in city
A BLITZ on illicit cigarettes and alcohol in Peterborough has been thousands of pounds worth of dodgy
goods seized. HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) swooped on 45 retail and commercial premises and 10
homes in around Peterborough city centre. The commercial premises raids were carried out on July 3 and 4.
The visits to the homes took place during the past week. In total the raid netted 14,420 illegal cigarettes,
more than nine kgs of hand rolling tobacco and 56 kgs of chewing and other tobacco products. In addition,
61 litres of spirits and 80 litres of wine were removed.
37million SHOTS OF RIP-OFF SMIRNOFF
A BOOTLEG booze gang which distilled enough illegal vodka for 37 MILLION shots was jailed yesterday for
more than 50 years. The scam with the booze labelled as leading brands including Smirnoff, allowed the
crooks to dodge VAT and alcohol duty estimated at £15,000 million. The Vodka was produced at a
sophisticated distillery in London East End which was capable of producing 24 bottles of vodka in a minute.
Experts calculated that the plant could turn out 24,000 bottles a day -selling at almost £10 a time.
SUN, THE 13/07/2010 UK; ENFIELD ADVERTISER 14/07/2010 UK; HACKNEY GAZETTE 15/07/2010 UK
Crooks leave stalls at sale
TRADING Standards officers believed they are scaring off criminals who sell counterfeit goods. They joined
police for a patrol at a car boot sale on Sunday and found abandoned tables at the site. The officers believed
the stands would have been used to sell fake goods if they had not turned up. The event, off Cannock Road,
in Brocton, near Stafford, has been targeted by crooks selling fake DVD's, CD's and other goods before, But
Sunday's event was free of criminal activity. Trading Standards Officers said that was because of the patrols,
which were paid for by the event organiser.
Kaake vodka gang jailed
TWO Gwent man were jailed yesterday for their part in a £10million vodka and tobacco tax fraud. Michael
Oliver, 62, of Cae Brynton Road, Newport and Christopher Hill, 60, of Glenroy Court, Magor, were both part
of a gang that produced fake vodka and tobacco without paying excise duty or VAT, defrauding the state of
millions of pounds. Oliver was convicted of three counts of conspiracy to cheat HMRC and was jailed for ten
years. Hill was convicted of two counts of conspiracy to cheat HMRC by evading duty and VAT on alcoholic
products and jailed for six years.
SOUTH WALES ARGUS 13/07/2010 UK; SOUTH WALES ARGUS 13/07/2010 UK
Fake trainer couple in the dock
TRADERS in illegal goods have been warned they will be caught and punished after a couple from South
Woodham Ferrers were prosecuted for selling counterfeit goods. Patrick Lench, 51, and Debra Woods, 46,
of South View Close, received suspended prison sentenced and were ordered to pay £28,000 - and £7,000
in cost - under the Proceeds of Crime Act after being prosecuted by Essex County Council trading standards
department.
MALDON & BURNHAM STANDARD 13/07/2010 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Shopkeeper kept poisonous vodka
A SHOPKEEPER has been given a community sentence for possessing vodka laced with methanol which
can turn people blind. Halil Bolat, 50, of The Link Enfield, who owned Kizilirmak Food Centre in Hertford
Road pleaded guilty to having 77 bottles of counterfeit Spar Brand Imperial Vodka in his possession. He was
sentenced to 120 hours of community work. Drinking methanol can cause vomiting, abdominal pain,
drowsiness, breathing difficulties and blindness.
Fake goods are targeted at boot sale
A fed-up organiser of popular Stafford car boot sale has been forced to take action against criminals
continually selling counterfeit goods at the venue. The sale off the A34 Cannock Road in Brocton frequently
attracts people selling fake DVD's CD's and other goods. And now the sale organiser has arranged and paid
for trading standards and police to patrol the site, which will take place over the new few weeks. The patrol
team will be on site as soon as it opens on Sunday morning, checking vehicles on entry and stalls once they
have been set up.
STAFFORD POST 15/07/2010 UK
Pair admit sale of fake goods
TWO Hatfield men have admitted selling fake designer clothes and other goods over the internet. Baodong
Zanng and Ying Zheng, both 27 are living in Parkhouse Court, pleaded guilty to offences under the Trade
Marks Act to proceeds of Crime Act at St Albans Crown Court on Monday. Both were arrested in a raid in
September 2008, when Police seized more than 85 pairs of shoes, clothes, designer belts, jewellery, golf
clubs and electrical goods. While they wait to be sentenced in October, officers are investigated what they
have done with they illegal profits and will confiscate appropriate assets.
WELWYN GARDEN CITY & HATFIELD REVIEW 15/07/2010 UK; WELWYN & HATFIELD TIMES
14/07/2010 UK
Town among UKs piracy hotspots
HUDDERSFIELD has been named as one of the country's hotspots for pirate computer software. The town
has been listed alongside London, Manchester, Bristol and Warrington for its rate of illegal software
transactions, in an article on the website Computer weekly.com. And it is thought that a combination of tough
economic times, people not understanding their licences, small business and student population is driving
the growth in pirated software. The research was conducted by investigators from Microsoft looking into
software piracy.
Three held in police swoop on illegal tobacco
THREE people were arrested and thousands of cigarettes were seized in a crackdown on the sale of illegal
tobacco. Cheshire Police, the North West Immigration services and HM Revenue and Customs yesterday
teamed up to visit homes and business in the Crewe area as part of operation Medallion. It targets those
who sell counterfeit, bootlegged or smuggled tobacco products. Four search warrants were executed as
7'500 cigarettes were seized, along with suspected tobacco, counterfeit vodka and cannabis.
STOKE ON TRENT SENTINEL 16/07/2010 UK; CREWE CHRONICLE 21/07/2010 UK
FAKE LENSES SEIZED IN £1/2M RAID
FAKE Pentax and Canon branded lenses have been seized, along with £1/2m of counterfeit camera bags,
during a raid in Manchester. A man has been arrested after 20,000 fake 'camera cases' were discovered in
the sting operation that followed an investigation by Canon Euro. AP understands that the counterfeit camera
bags were being sold through eBay. The cases were branded as Canon, Kodak, Nikon, Panasonic, and
Pentax. The counterfeits were discovered at a house in Bowdon, Greater Manchester, on 22 June.
AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHER 17/07/2010 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
BRANDS MOST COPIED
So it's not surprise that the trade in counterfeit bags and shoes - not to mention perfume, jewellery and make
– up is in rude health. Between January and March of this year, customs officers seized 156 fake handbags,
from Gucci to Balenciaga to Versace, to Juicy Couture. Counterfeit shoes, in particular has exploded in
popularity, with a proliferation of websites offering high-end brands like Louboutin’s and Manolo’s for a
fraction of their real price.
FAKE PED EGG SCAM IS SCRAMBLED BY INVESTIGATION
TRADING standards have smashed a dodgy egg scam in a crackdown on black market goods. Shoppers in
North West Leicestershire have been prevented from shelling out for counterfeit Ped Eggs, after the
investigation by Leicestershire Trading Standards. The Ped Egg, made by JML, is designed to remove hard
skin from feet. Whereas the original product retails at £10, imitations, which had the same packaging, were
being sold for only £5 and were less effective.
BURTON MAIL 19/07/2010 UK; NUNEATON NEWS 19/07/2010 UK; NUNEATON NEWS 19/07/2010 UK
Counterfeit cigarette gang is sentenced
FOUR people who sold counterfeit cigarettes on the streets of South Yorkshire have been sentenced. Police
began to investigate the activities of Darren Remmington, Jennifer Sounders, Noreen Turner and Julie
Dougherty in summer 2008 as part of a probe dubbed Operation Liquidate. Around 2.1 million cigarettes
were seized. Officers said the products, which were being passed off as well-known brands, were being sold
on the streets of Barnsley, netting the gangs profits of tens of thousands of pounds. The four were arrested,
alongside Dougherty and pleaded guilty to a number of offences, including possession of cash believed to
have been obtained through crime.
YORKSHIRE EVENING POST SHEFFIELD STAR 19/07/2010 UK; 20/07/2010 UK;
Jailed man must pay £10,000
Their suspicions were confirmed when they found his wardrobes packed with a huge quantity of designer
clothes. At Carlisle Crown Court in January Jones, of Church Road, Wigan, was jailed for a year after finally
admitting he had been funding his lavish lifestyle by importing counterfeit designer clothes and watches from
Thailand. He has now been back at Carlisle Crown Court where he agreed he had made £39,928 from his
crimes
CUMBRIA EVENING NEWS & STAR 20/07/2010 UK
Shopkeeper must pay 3.3m fine
AN ASHFORD shopkeeper who sold fake shoes faces a decade in jail unless he pays a £3.3 million fine
within six months. Guarcharan Singh had been charged with 43 counts of possessing and selling fake
goods in his shop, Chockers in Middle Row, and a market stall in Folkstone. Police and trading standards
discovered he made about £3.3 million from peddling his shoddy shoes and bogus bags.
KENTISH EXPRESS SERIES 22/07/2010 UK
Illegal fags and tobacco seized in store swoop
Phoney fags and bogus tobacco were seized in a raid on a Tyneside store. Trading Standards officers
received a tip-off about a shop in Newcastle’s West End selling the illicit products. And when they visited the
outlet, on Westgate Road, they found a bin bag full of illegal tobacco under the counter. It includes fags
believed to have been smuggled in from as far afield as Russia and China. Also in the haul were several
pouches of counterfeit hand-rolling tobacco.
www.ipcb.co.uk
FAKE TRADERS GETS CAR BOOT SALE BAN
A TRADER was banned from all markets and car boots sales in England and Wales after being caught
selling counterfeit designer clothes. Mustak Mohammed Adam, 49, was prosecuted by trading standards
officers who found him selling racks of fake designer label T-shirts and jeans at car boot sale in Burscough
last year. Nick McNamara prosecuting, said: "Officers seized 168 T-shirts and 41 pairs of jeans carrying
labels including Lacoste, Henleys and Fred Perry. "The owner of the Diesel trade mark confirmed to us a
genuine T-shirt carrying its brand name would retail for around £35. "About £5,800 could potentially have
been taken away from away from reputable retailers"
FAKE SEX PILL HAUL
POLICE discovered thousands of 'fake' Viagra drugs with a street value of £20,000 in a dawn raid on a
Tameside home. The drugs were found in a high-rise flat in Haughton Green as part of a police 'Day of
Action'. More than 6,000 pills called Kamagra were unearthed and approximately 3,100 Zolpidem pills were
discovered boxed up in the property. The reporter was present when the shock discovery was made after
being invited to join the police on one of several dawn raids. 17 warrants were executed and 33 people
arrested.
TAMESIDE REPORTER 24/07/2010 UK
Jail for online trader who sold fake designer gear and DVDs
A TRADER who sold fake designer clothes, pirated movies and games on auction website eBay has been
jailed for 18 months. Kane Goodman bought and sold counterfeit goods around the globe, including 800 fake
football club shirts which netted him more than £23,000. The 36-year-old ripped of versions of products by
designer labels including Chanel and Tiffany in an operation that went on for years until he was caught by
trading standards officers.
Smuggled cigs seized on BBCs The One Show
All such goods seized are either destroyed or recycled. Investigations into these incidents are still ongoing.
The black market trade of smuggled and counterfeit cigarettes and tobacco costs the Government £2.5
billion a year in lost tax revenue.
BOSTON STANDARD 28/07/2010 UK
Stall fakes
He is accused of contravening the trademarks of DC Comics, Disney, Thomas the Tank Engine and Marvel
comics and was bailed to September 8 for committal.
Cops seize £1m haul of rip-off designer gear
About 13,000 items were recovered from a warehouse on Cambridge Industrial Estate in Lower Broughton,
Salford. An Investigation was launched by police working with a number of famous label clothing companies.
T-Shirts and casual wear seized included counterfeit Ed Hardy, Armani, Hugo Boss, Nike, Adidas, Gucci,
Lacoste, Calvin Klein, and Dolce Gabbana clothing.
City’s fake factory
GANGS of criminals have flooded Glasgow with fake footwear. Trading Standards officers have seized
hundreds of pairs of counterfeit Ugg fashion boots.
www.ipcb.co.uk
Online fake tickets alert
TRADING standards officers in Caerphilly are warning festivals-goers and sports fans about on-line fake
ticketing scams. Caerphilly council has joined a national campaign, run by the Office of Fair Trading, to alert
residents to the danger of buying tickets online.
FAKE GOODS MASTERMIND ON THE RUN
A COUNTERFEIT clothing fraudster linked to one of the biggest ever raids on fake goods in Camden Town
is believed to have fled to the Far East to avoid a jail sentence. Investigators fear Sweet-Teong Chew has
already left the country after skipping bail following his conviction for conspiracy and a range of trademark
infringements.
CAMDEN NEW JOURNAL 03/06/2010 UK
Market trader had illegal goods
A TRADER at Wellesbourne market had a stash of counterfeit clothes hidden behind a wall of jeans in his
van when he was stopped by police and trading standards officers. And when thy forced open the locked
door of a room at Irfan Khans home they found more fake Timberland, Adidas, Nike, McKenzie and Lyle &
Scott clothes.
STRATFORD OBSERVER 03/06/2010 UK, STRATFORD-UPON-AVON HERALD 03/06/2010 UK
Dodgy-gear guy dodges prison
A COUNTERFEITER who flogged fake designer goods with names of high-end fashion houses will be sent
to jail-once the authorities catch him. Sweet Teong Chew, 51,jumped bail while waiting trial for selling the
dodgy goods at his shop in Oriental City in Edgware Road Colindale. Blackfriars Crown Court heard how
officers from Brent and Harrow Trading Standards carried out a number of test purchases at Chews shop to
establish the authenticity of his merchandise before raiding his stall last July.
Fantastic figure man
BRENT and Harrow Trading Standards Service and one of its officers were recognised for their tireless work.
The team and Lee Wenzel, accredited financial investigator, were highly commended at the annual event
held by the Anti counterfeiting Group (ACG). The award recognises enforcement organisations such as
trading standards officers and their departments, police and customs for outstanding work against
counterfeiting.
Haul of fake clothes will go to charity
FAKE clothing recovered by police and trading standards officers is to be donated to charity. Some 116
items of counterfeit clothing, including Ugg boots and Nike, Adidas and Timberland gear were confiscated
last year in Manchester. The Haul has an estimated street value of 5,500 and will be passed on to
international aid charity.
Watch out for fakes in sales officers warn
BARGAIN hunters are being warned to be vigilant if they want to avoid being ripped off at car boots sales.
Officers at Warwickshire County Council Trading Standards are being advised to be careful of counterfeit old
and damaged goods at boot sales.
COVENTRY TELEGRAPH 04/06/2010 UK
115,000 ILLEGAL CIGS ARE SEIZED
In an intensive operation to tackle the illegal trading of tobacco in the city, trading standards officers have
spent the last 12 months carrying out raids on shops and car boot sales.
COVENTRY TELEGRAPH 07/06/2010 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Designer fakes rise
NEW movie Sex and The City 2 has led to a glut of fake Louis Vuitton handbags, Chanel jackets and
Christian Labouton shoes. Black-Market dealers are taking advantage of women desperate to look like
Carrie and pals warn Shred Easy who dispose of seized fakes.
SUN, THE 08/06/2010 UK
The fake Louis Vuitton purse that seemed a bargain but cost €1,000
A tourist in Italy who thought she was on to a bargain when she bought a fake Louis Vuitton purse from a
beach vendor for €7 (£5.70) has been slapped with a €1,000 fine as part of a draconian summer crackdown
on counterfeit goods.
£4m fake products seized in air checks
Imitation GHD hair straighteners and Nintendo games were among £4million worth of counterfeit goods
seized at a UK airport, the UK Border Agency revealed today. The goods were seized at East Midlands
Airport over the past year, including GHD branded hair straighteners worth £117,884 and Nintendo goods
worth £155,135.
SHROPSHIRE STAR (SERIES) 08/06/2010 UK, YORKSHIRE EVENING POST 09/06/2010 UK;
BIRMINGHAM MAIL 09/06/2010 UK
Fifth of World Cup products expected to be fake
Up to a fifth of Work Cup merchandise its expected to be fake, as almost a quarter of consumers admitted
they would buy counterfeit items, according to a study. Counterfeit products are set to cost UK retailers
£92.4m by the cup final, the study for shopping comparison website Kelkoo found.
YORKSHIRE POST (SERIES) 09/06/2010 UK, SUN, THE 09/06/2010 UK, SCARBOROUGH EVENING
NEWS 09/06/2010 UK, YORK PRESS 09/06/2010 UK, SCARBOROUGH EVENING NEWS 09/06/2010 UK
YORK PRESS 09/06/2010 UK, EXPRESS & STAR CITY FINAL (WOLVERHAMPTON WEST MIDLANDS)
09/06/2010 UK, LIVERPOOL DAILY POST 09/06/2010 UK
Crack down on bogus alcohol
A CRACKDOWN on deadly fake alcohol is being stepped up in the city. Trading standards officers pledge to
take action against any store found selling counterfeit alcohol amid a warning that more and cheaper alcohol
laced with poisonous chemicals is being sold in Brighton and Hove.
Country flooded by fakes
THOUSANDS of fake football shirts flooding England in the final days before the World Cup have been
seized by officials. Counterfeit experts have been targeting parcels arriving at the international postal hub in
Coventry. They have been joined representatives from major replica kit manufacturers to target rip-off gear
from China, Thailand and Malaysia.
HARTLEPOOL MAIL 09/06/2010 UK, OLDHAM EVENING CHRONICLE 09/06/2010 UK
Trading standards seize goods haul in crackdown on World Cup fake
A BATCH of goods was seized in Edmonton yesterday as part of a crackdown on suspected counterfeit
World Cup souvenirs. At about 11am, trading standards officers posing as members of the public, inspected
goods on offer in Edmonton Green Shopping Centre. As part of the undercover operation they confiscated
20 England mugs on a discount store, while on the lookout for fake football shirts, flags, scarves and other
items with the Three Lions emblem on them.
ENFIELD ADVERTISER 09/06/2010 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Buying deadly bargains
UK: Consumers were warned that buying cheap imitation power tools could put their lives at risk. Counterfeit
products are not safety tested, approved by appropriated trade bodies or covered by a warranty and buying
them may fund organised crime. Paul Evans of SOCA said: "You might think you are buying a bargain, but it
is unlikely to perform to the standard you were expecting and may be so dangerous it could cost you your
life".
Fans warned over imitation football strips
FAKE merchandise bearing World Cup markings is believed to be circulating in Gloucestershire. The County
Council's trading standards team is looking into several complaints about counterfeits football kits and has
already seized some fake shirts. It is now starting an investigation into the people behind making and
distributing them. Officers are warning people to be on their guard when buying World Cup kit and
accessories, as counterfeit products are often inferior to the genuine product.
GLOUCESTERSHIRE ECHO (SERIES) 14/06/2010 UK, GLOUCESTER CITIZEN 15/06/2010 UK
Jailed for smuggling 21 million cigarettes
THESE are the astonishing scenes that greeted Southampton customs officers when they opened two 40ft
long containers that had arrived from the Far East. Filled to the brim was more than £25million of fake
cigarettes, making it the largest seizure of its kind in a container port and one of the biggest recorded in
Britain.
Ex-football club boss jailed over smuggling
THE former boss of at football club who took part in one of the county's biggest cigarette smuggling crimes
was jailed for five and half years yesterday. Guy Simpson, who used to be chief executive of Southern
League Premier Division side Halesowen Town, helped organise the shipment from China loaded in two 40ft
(12m) containers which held more than 21 million counterfeit cigarettes.
Hundreds of fake leaflets in van raid
COUNTERFEIT charity leaflets were seized after Trading Standards raided a van. The vehicle contained
hundreds of leaflets - ready to be distributed throughout Hertfordshire - claiming to be from the Royal
National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI). The leaflet provided a list of items suitable for collection and asked for
them to be placed outside, in supplied bin liners before 9am.
HEMEL HEMPSTEAD GAZETTE 16/06/2010 UK
440,000 fakes are set to be recycled
HUNDERDS of thousands of pounds of dodgy goods seized from car boot sales and markets in
Staffordshire are set to be recycled or disposed of. Trading Standards officers have already confiscated
more than £440,000 worth of fake goods so far this year, with some also being found following consumer
complaints. The items include DVD's, CD's electrical goods, clothing, laptop computers and games consoles.
Trading Standards officers are responsible for protecting consumers by targeting counterfeit sellers'
confiscating their goods and disposing of them.
STAFFORDSHIRE NEWSLETTER (SERIES) YOUR LEEK PAPER 16/06/2010 UK ; 17/06/2010 UK
YOU PLONKERS
TESCO has admitted unwittingly selling counterfeit wine-after an expert customer raised the alarm. Danny
McGowan bought two bottles of French Louis Jadot Pouilly-Fuisse wine, reduced from £14.49 to a bargain
£5. But when he opened them at home, he discovered the fine white wine was actually cheap plonk.
SUN, THE 21/06/2010 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
The real cost of FAKE DESIGNER HANDBAGS
A recent poll by the UK Anti-Counterfeit Group revealed that the third of women sow no harm in purchasing
counterfeit items if the price and quality were right.
STELLAR (IR) 01/05/2010 Ireland
Appeal consolation for Tiffany as eBay largely triumph
Merchandise is sold on eBay’s website even if it is counterfeit. Tiffany products are sold there too. While the
Appeal Court agreed with this, it decided that it was unable to rule on whether the advertisements were not
likely to mislead or confuse consumers.
ANTIQUES TRADE GAZETTE 01/05/2010 UK
Trader sold fake items on website
He said once it was pointed out that it was illegal, he stopped selling the fake goods. Young admitted seven
counts of offering fake items for sale without permission of the registered trademark owners.
TRADER FACING JAIL OVER BOGUS DESIGNER ITEMS
A COUNTERFEITER who made millions of pounds selling fake designer goods is facing jail. The father-ofthree denied 32 charges relating to the haul on November 6 2007 but was convicted at Blackfriars Crown
Court last Thursday.
CAMDEN GAZETTE 05/05/2010 UK, TOTTENHAM & WOOD GREEN JOURNAL 06/05/2010 UK,
ISLINGTON GAZETTE 06/05/2010 UK
Counterfeit goods warning after man is sent to prison
A Middlewich man has been sentenced to five months behind bars following a crackdown on counterfeit
goods in Cheshire East. The case was passed to trading standards officers who investigated further and
confirmed that the items displaying the trademarks were counterfeit. The clothing was confiscated.
CONGLETON CHRONICLE 06/05/2010 UK
Conning customers with counterfeit
Selling fake goods is a bad business. Not only does it affect legitimate local business, but it also leaves the
customer short-changed as they end up paying for an interior product.
Jailed for fake designer gear
A TRADESMAN has been jailed after hundreds of fake designers goods were found at his shop.
World Cup fever will bring counterfeiters out in force
Counterfeiting may not sound like a big deal but (and without wanting to sound over-dramatic) purchasing a
fake football shirt at a car boot sale may well lead to the funding of organised crime.
Shop banned from selling alcohol after complaint by police
A SHOP which was caught selling alcohol to youngsters and where counterfeit tobacco was found has had
its licence revoked. Councillors voted yesterday to ban Boost & News from selling alcohol at its premises in
London Road.
Warning over eBay’s shill bidders and fake and scammers
eBay to invest more than £6 million every year in technology to detect shill bidding and other illegal activities.
Paul Barret,39, from County Durham, is facing a possible £50,000 fine after he admitted using two separate
eBay accounts to bid on and increase the prices of his own items.
SCOTTISH SUNDAY HERALD 16/05/2010 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Man behind power scam due in court
SIX men were today due to be sentenced for their part in an international plot to sell fake soap powder. They
were involved in a scam which saw counterfeit powder shipped from China to a warehouse in Winsford.
Rugby league star in internet ink scam jailed
A FORMER Great Britain rugby league star has been jailed for 15 months after admitting 36,000 internet
scams selling counterfeit ink cartridges and computers games.
YORKSHIRE POST (SERIES) 18/05/2010 UK, SUN, THE 18/05/2010 UK, HULL DAILY MAIL (SERIES)
18/05/2010 UK, HULL DAILY MAIL (SERIES) 18/05/2010 UK, LEADER (WREXHAM) 19/05/2010 UK,
Crusaders sack their wing
FOLLOWING yesterday’s news that Crusaders winger Gareth Raynor was jailed for 15 months after
pleading guilty to 14 counts of fraud and counterfeiting, the club have reluctantly terminated his contract with
immediate effect.
WESTERN MAIL SERIES 19/05/2010 UK
£4.5m fake cigs fraud
A former football club boss from Chorley has pleaded guilty to avoiding duty on £4.5 million worth of
counterfeit cigarettes. The 52- Years old of Flag Lane Heath Charnock, was charged following the discovery
of Regal brand cigarettes by Customs officials in two cargo containers.
CHORLEY CITIZEN 19/05/2010 UK
Ringleader in fake soap powder plot is jailed for two years
THE ringleader behind an international plot to sell 25 tonnes of counterfeit soap powder has been jailed for
two years. Richard Brayford, of Stone Haven, Whiston, was sent to jail after being convicted last month for
his part an scam involving low-grade detergent being shipped from China to warehouse in Winsford
Cheshire, to flood the black market with fake Persil.
CHEADLE POST & TIMES 19/05/2010 UK, STOKE ON TRENT SENTINEL 18/05/2010 UK, LEEK POST &
TIMES 19/05/2010 UK
Skirlington Market raid
A LARGE number of trading standards officers took part in a raid on Skirlington Market last Sunday in a
search for counterfeit goods.
HOLDERNESS & HORNSEA GAZETTE 20/05/2010 UK
STAT OF THE MONTH
The cigarettes-smuggling trade is blooming. So much so factories in China make an estimated 400 billion
counterfeit cigarettes annually-enough to supply every US smoker with an emphysema-inducing 460 packs a
year.
MANAGEMENT TODAY 20/05/2010 UK
Fake goods dealers appeal falls short
A DODGY dealer jailed for his part in a fake designer clothes racket on eBay failed to convince top judges to
cut his sentence so can visit his ailing grandparents in Scotland.
Award for work in tackling fake goods sales
Council bosses in Powys have been praised for their work in cutting down on the amount of counterfeit
goods being sold in the country. The service won the Department of the Year Award for 2009 from the AntiCounterfeiting Group.
www.ipcb.co.uk
Charities benefit from counterfeit goods crackdown
GOOD has come out of bad for charities in Neath, Port Talbot and the Swansea Valley. They have been
given clothes worth more than £15,000 from the ill-gotten gains of the counterfeiters along with other
goodies.
Fake goods worth £3m seized in police swoop
ABOUT £3 million worth of counterfeit goods and contraband cigarettes and alcohol have been seized
following a raid on Glasgow business.
Counterfeit goods racket is broken up
TWO major counterfeit goods rackets have been dismantled, one with links to an Italian mafia scam. An
address in Edinburgh was raided yesterday as Europol closed in on the operation run by gangsters in
Naples, believed to have financed the sale of millions of pounds worth of counterfeit power tools and clothing
imported from China and sold door-to-door in the UK.
HERALD, THE (GLASGOW) 22/05/2010 UK
Glasgow swoop nets £3m in fake goods
MILLIONS of pounds worth of fake designer goods, illegal cigarettes and alcohol was seized in a raid, police
said yesterday. Officers uncovered the £3million haul in a search of business premises in Glasgow’s
Commerce Street on Thursday.
DUNDEE COURIER & ADVERTISER (SERIES) 22/05/2010 UK
Show World Cup fakes the red card, fans told
Trading standing officers expect dodgy leaders to try to cash in on the tournament in South Africa next
month by selling cheap, poor quality replica shirts to fans on the back of the multi-million-pound trade in
genuine merchandise.
LEICESTER MERCURY (SERIES) 24/05/2010 UK
Fake hip-pop fashion seized
AN East End businessman has pleaded guilty to his involvement in the sale of thousands of pounds worth of
fake goods on line. Snaresbrook Crown Court was told how Kamran Ghorip operated out of a warehouse
basement in Assam Street, Algate.
Market charter an end to fake-goods sellers
A DERBYSHIRE council has become the first in the East Midlands to sign a national charter after banning
fake goods from its markets. The charter is awarded to councils and markets who bar anyone trading in
counterfeit and other illegal products.
Countering Counterfeiters
Responding to increasingly sophisticated attacks of seemingly secure systems, a group of companies have
launched the hardware Intrinsic Security Initiative (HIS). Its solution is a hardware based approach which
takes advantages of the qualities of individuals’ chips.
NEW ELECTRONICS 25/05/2010 UK
BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU!
We have worked with police on a number of operations to crackdown on antisocial behaviour, illegal money
lending and selling fake goods. Careful considerations are given to all requests for the use of the powers to
stop behaviour which ruins the lives of the majority.
www.ipcb.co.uk
Aquarium firm wins battle on tank copyright
A successful Norfolk range of aquariums has won a legal copyright battle against Chinese counterfeiters.
Shop boss sold condom fakes
A SHOPKEEPER caught selling counterfeit condoms was fined nearly £10,000 last week. Aziz Nazlikol was
peddling five dummy Durex varieties when Hackney trading standards officers swooped on the Stokey
Supermarket in Stoke Newington Road.
HACKNEY GAZETTE 27/05/2010 UK
GWENT MEN ADMIT VODKA CONSPIRACY
TWO men admitted conspiring to cheat HM Revenue and Customs in a £15million smuggling case. Michael
Oliver, 61 of Cae Brynton Road, Newport, admitted taking part in two alcohol conspiracies and a tobacco
conspiracy.
Warning to bargain hunters
A Season for the car boot sales and markets gets into full swing, Surrey County Council Trading Standards
has issued a warning to bargain hunters to be on the lookout for counterfeit goods. The fake gear warning
comes after county trading standards officers successfully prosecuted a dodgy market trader caught selling
27,000 worth of fake clothing at Surrey market last month. Items included counterfeit Nike, Fred Perry and
Ralph Laurent gear.
FARNHAM HERALD 28/05/2010 UK
Vanity drives meds boom
MALE VANITY is fuelling a booming trade in counterfeit medicines, warns a leading Scottish pharmacist.
James Semple, Viece Chairman of Community Pharmacy Scotland, says criminal gangs are capitalising
from the sinister global trade which is worth billions.
www.ipcb.co.uk
Counterfeit Killers campaign targets international sellers
BEAMA has been taking its Counterfeit Killers campaign across the globe with some superb successes.
NORTHERN IRELAND ELECTRICAL 01/04/2010 UK
Police warn: Beware of black- market cig traders
They also warned that those involved are not concerned if they sell underage people, and that expertlycrafted packing makes it almost impossible to spot counterfeit cigarettes
SELBY POST 01/04/2010 UK; PAISLEY DAILY EXPRESS 01/04/2010 UK
Police give bail to trio arrested over fake tobacco haul
Officials described the haul smuggled from abroad as one of the biggest found in Derbyshire, destined to
flood the market with counterfeit hand rolling tobacco.
DERBY EVENING TELEGRAPH (CITY EDITION) 02/04/2010 UK
Roadshow highlights counterfeit whisky Law
THE Scotch Whisky Associations overseas roadshow gathers pace this week to promote Scotland’s best
known export on the back of new regulations aimed at crushing counterfeit products.
SCOTLAND ON SUNDAY 04/04/2010 UK
Refugees fag scam reprieve
But Fraid Mohammed 38, has been warned by a a judge he faces being locked up if he’s caught again
selling counterfeit brands.
Police seize counterfeit cigarettes
Alonso Ercilla, from East Sussex Country Council trading standards said: Dealing in counterfeit cigarettes
harms legitimate businesses because the cigarettes are often sold cheaply.
PERSIL PLOT
Cops were tipped off when 25 tons of powder was shipped in from china. Richard Brayford, 43,of Whiston,
Staffs, denies planning to sell fake goods.
SUN, THE 14/04/2010 UK
Jury told of phone link in Persil case
A mobile phone registered to a man accused of being involved in a fake soap scam was used to call China
just weeks before a shipment of the counterfeit goods arrived in the UK, a court heard.
Businessman’s phoney boots sale on eBay ends in prison
AN aspiring businessman was jailed for 16 weeks after he sold more than £17,000 worth of fake Ugg boots
from his bedroom on eBay.
Fake busters kicking up a real stink
Ant-counterfeit Group director Ruth Orchard said: Sales of fake fragrance in the UK are known to fund
serious organised crime to the tune of £315m a year .
DAILY RECORD (SCOTLAND) 15/04/2010 UK
Gun sold fake branded goods worth thousands
TWO couples have been sentenced at Gloucestershire Crown Court for their parts in a conspiracy to sell
counterfeit trainers, sports clothing and DVDs.
www.ipcb.co.uk
Accused not part of scam
THE trial of a man accused of being involved in a fake soap powder scam was due to continue today.
Richard Brayford aged 43,of Stonehaven, near Cheadle, is charged with possession of an infringing article
with view to sale under section 92 of the Trade Marks Act.
Trading Standards smash fakes goods ring
A COUNTERFEIT goods ring which sold fake clothes, sunglasses and DVDs in Gloucestershire has been
smashed .
GLOUCESTERSHIRE ECHO (SERIES) 16/04/2010 UK
Fake goods seller fined
Kuemjit Dhillon,of Birdhurts Avenue, was found selling fake Lacoste hats and scarves and Lyle and Scott Tshirts in Epsom on June 28,las year.
CROYDON ADVERTISER 16/04/2010 UK
Fake jeans cost 120 days work.
Hanna’s solicitor told the court he had indented to set up a legitimate business selling Diesel clothes, but
found the start-up cost too high. Instead, he bought counterfeit stock from wholesaler in China.
KINGSTON INFORMER 16/04/2010 UK
Pay us back, or face more time in prison
Yucan Meng sold illegal devices that allowed people to play counterfeit games in Nintendo DS consoles from
his west Hull home.
Buyers tackle fakes after eBay fail to act on complaints
EBAY buyers have taken matters into their own hands after the online giant failed to act against sales of
fakes, despite being alerted to the problem on numerous occasions.
ANTIQUES TRADE GAZETTE 17/04/2010 UK
Police raid market over fake clothes
HUNDREDS of counterfeit goods worth tens of thousands of pounds have been seized from an East Riding
market in an undercover operation. Six arrests were made, with 30 officers from Humberside Police and
Trading Standards raiding Skirlington Market in Skipsea, north of Hornsea.
Look out fake tobacco dealers
Local people are being warned by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) to be on the look out for traders selling
counterfeit and smuggled cigarettes as her car boot season gets under way.
ALTON POST GAZETTE 20/04/2010 UK, SURREY & HANTS NEWS 20/04/2010 UK
Manager faces jail over phoney Persil
A MAN has been found guilty of being involved in a international plot to sell 25 tonnes of counterfeit soap
powder .
Fake Vodka sales are put in television spotlight
Tameside trading standards officers are to feature in a new TV series of food safety. Food fighters ,which is
being broadcast on BBC1 at 9.15am every day this week, is presented by Chef Simon Rimmer and aims to
highlight the work of people at the frontline of food safety.
TAMESIDE ADVERTISER 21/04/2010 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Fraudster must pay back £11million
A CONMAN at the centre of an international fraud ring has been ordered to pay back more than £11 million
or face ten years prison.
Businessman told to expect jail after guilty verdict in Persil.
A MAN has been found guilty of being involved in an international plot to sell 25 tonnes of counterfeit soap
powder. Richard Brayford was convicted on Monday of being part of a scam involving low grade detergent
being shipped from China to Suffolk to flood the black Market with fake Persil.
LEEK POST & TIMES 21/04/2010 UK
Bogus clothes boss is jailed
A businessman from Birmingham has been jailed after £6 million haul of counterfeit clothes was found in
Smethwick.
Rugby star faces jail over eBay printing ink scam
A GREAT BRITAIN rugby league star was yesterday warned he may face jail after admitting a £36,000 eBay
scam selling counterfeit ink cartridges and computer games. All opinions were open when he is sentenced
next month on 13 counts of counterfeiting and one of fraud.
YORKSHIRE POST (SERIES) 22/04/2010 UK, YORKSHIRE EVENING POST 22/04/2010 UK, HULL
DAILY MAIL (SERIES) 22/04/2010 UK
You may not be protected
UNSAFE: Trading standards officers are using retailers to check that their stock of condoms to make sure it
is not counterfeit.
HARROW OBSERVER 22/04/2010 UK
Fine for fake cigarettes
A SOUTH Yorkshire man who sold thousands of fake cigarettes from his home has been fined £2,250.
Ronald Ellis aged 64, told a court he was glad he’d been caught because it would put a stop to his illegal
dealing.
SHEFFIELD WEEKLY GAZETTE (SERIES) 22/04/2010 UK
Counterfeit trader ordered to pay £11m
A MAN convicted of selling fake Burberry shoes has been ordered to pay back £11million of face ten years
behind bars.
ENFIELD GAZETTE 22/04/2010 UK
SMOKED OUT
MORE than £200,000 worth of contraband tobacco and booze have been seized in a raid.
WIGAN EVENING POST 22/04/2010 UK
Cheat trader fined after trading standards raid
A DODGY trader who flogged fake designer clothes on his market stall has been ordered to pay pack £1,000
and do 150 hours unpaid community work.
Fake designer goods brought in £300,000
A MARKET trader pocketed nearly £300,000 selling fake designer clothes on his stall in the Ancient Market
Place, Kingston.
KINGSTON INFORMER 23/04/2010 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Man who sold fake designer goods is jailed
Paul Marquand Paget was sentenced at Swansea Crown Court after pleading guilty at an earlier hearing to
selling and possessing counterfeit goods, including sports wear and designer clothes.
Rapid rise in counterfeit drugs is hard to take
Counterfeit is a big business. A fake Rolex will tell the time, at least for a few weeks, but a counterfeit
medicine can leave you seriously ill or worse.
HALIFAX EVENING COURIER 27/04/2010 UK
CONTRABANDS IS OFF THE STREETS
Operation Acaciaprize saw raids on 14 homes and retail and commercial premises across the town involving
more than 50 police and HM Revenue and Customs officers.
BOSTON TARGET 28/04/2010 UK
Four to be sentenced after world’s biggest seizure
SWITCHED:A chipped console can play counterfeit games. Four men are to be sentenced by a Crown Court
judge after police in Yorkshire discovered what they believe is the world’s largest haul of chipped games
consoles.
YORKSHIRE POST (SERIES) 29/04/2010 UK, YORKSHIRE POST (SERIES) 01/05/2010 UK
Fraud charge
Sameer Sodawala of 30 Highgate Avenue, Preston of Excell Limited, faces nine offences of possessing
counterfeit goods at The Pound Store on Church Street.
SHOPKEEPER JAILED FOR DESIGNER GEAR SCAM
A SHOPKEEPER has been sentenced to nine months in jail for selling fake designer goods after a jury found
him guilty last week. Baldeep Singh Arora, who runs Balli Gift House in Goulston Street, Whitechapel was
found guilty of trading in counterfeit goods after a two day trial at Isleworth Crown Court Wednesday.
FAKE GOODS SEIZED AT POPULAR MARKET
MORE than 2,200 pieces of counterfeit clothing and jewellery were seized from two stalls in North Weald
Market during a raid. Around 200 pieces of fake jewellery, with a total market value of £1, 600, were also
seized last Saturday.
EPPING FOREST GUARDIAN 29/04/2010 UK
City to stub out tobacco smuggling
One of these is the supply of so called cheap and illicit tobacco products which are smuggled into the
country and are mainly a counterfeit version of well known brands.
www.ipcb.co.uk
Fake watches sold on net
A man has admitted selling fake designer watches on the internet.
HARTLEPOOL MAIL 03/03/2010 UK
Combating fake goods
A competition has been launched to make young people aware of counterfeit goods.
F is for fake accessories
Most people will have bought goods that were suspiciously cheap. Many will also have bought goods known
to be fakes.
ELECTRICAL TIMES 04/03/2010 UK
Power packs
Six million smuggled cigs seized at Felixstowe Suffolk, will be burned to make electricity.
SUN, THE 05/03/2010 UK
Golf fraudster free
A fraudster at the centre of internet auction site eBay’s biggest ever swindle has walked free from court.
Fatal fakes
Dom Littlewood returns to daytime TV this week to present five-part series Fake Britain which looks at some
of the counterfeit goods that are available to buy on the high street.
WHAT`S ON TV 06/03/2010 UK
Fake Armani factory busted in Lockwood
A Huddersfield businessman has been jailed for eight months for his role in a professional counterfeit
clothing operation which could have cost companies tens of thousands of pounds.
Fake Britain
Safety chiefs are losing the battle to stem the tide of deadly fake goods flooding black market Britain.
PEOPLE, THE 07/03/2010 UK
Man jailed over fake goods sale
A man was jailed for eight months for possessing counterfeit clothing and items used in their manufacture
and labelling.
Gang leader jailed
The ringleader of a gang behind a multimillion-pound operation to sell fake golf clubs on eBay has been
jailed for four years.
Scam gang jailed
The ringleader of a criminal network based in Rainham has been sentenced to four years and three months
in jail.
ROMFORD, HORNCHURCH & UPMINSTER YELLOW ADVERTISER 10/03/2010 UK
Counterfeit booze up by Customs
A large amount of illegal booze has been seized following a check on pubs and bars in Doncaster town
centre
www.ipcb.co.uk
Warning over Ugg boot con
Online shoppers in Wolverhampton are being warned about the dangers of buying counterfeit fashion boots.
EXPRESS & STAR WOLVERHAMPTON (CITY) (WEST MIDLANDS) 11/03/2010 UK
Jail for multi million pound golf swindle leader
The ringleader of criminal network based in Rainham, convicted of masterminding a global fake golf club
scam after an unprecedented investigation by Havering Council, has been sentenced to four years and three
months in jail. Gary Bellchambers, 46, of Dunedin Road, Rainham, was sentenced on Friday at Snaresbrook
Crown Court along with others. He had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to sell or distribute fake golf clubs.
EAST LONDON ENQUIRER 11/03/2010 UK; REDBRIDGE YELLOW ADVERTISER 11/03/2010 UK;
WALTHAMSTOW, LEYTON & CHINGFORD YELLOW ADVERTISER 11/03/2010 UK; ESSEX ENQUIRER
11/03/2010 UK
Probe team bring fraud to justice
Investigations by Thurrock Trading Standards led to the conviction of a man for selling fake NIKE trainers online and possession of other counterfeit items.
ESSEX ENQUIRER 11/03/2010 UK
Counterfeit goods seized on market stalls
Counterfeit clothes, shoes and CDs have been seized from Bovingdon Market following a joint operation by
Hertfordshire Trading Standards and Hertfordshire Constabulary.
WATFORD OBSERVER 12/03/2010 UK
eBay fraudsters are locked up
Three eBay fraudsters who pulled off the auction site’s biggest ever swindle by selling fake golf clubs are
behind bars.
Fake shoe seller avoids jail stay
A man has been dealt a suspended prison sentence after being convicted of selling fake Nike trainers online.
THURROCK GAZETTE 12/03/2010 UK
Buyers in net alert
Online bargain hunters could be fuelling a black market in stolen and counterfeit goods, a survey claimed
yesterday.
SUN, THE 15/03/2010 UK
Docs put the boot in
Experts have claimed disastrous, rip-off Ugg boots are damaging the feet of a generation of young women.
SCOTTISH DAILY RECORD 15/03/2010 UK
E-shoppers could be ‘fuelling black market’
Online bargain hunters could be fuelling a black market in stolen and counterfeit goods, according to
research.
ABERDEEN PRESS & JOURNAL (SERIES) 15/03/2010 UK
Brothers had fake vodka for sale
Two brothers were found with bottles of counterfeit vodka for sale at their Blackpool shop.
Bolly fizz fake alert
Fake bottles of posh bubbly Bollinger have been found on sale in London.
SUN, THE 16/03/2010 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Cyber crusaders
Piracy has plagued musicians for more than a decade - and now the games industry is under attack.
INDEPENDENT, THE 17/03/2010 UK
Yorkshire’s DNA suit set to foil fabric forgers
Huddersfield cloth is being woven with a unique DNA ‘fingerprint’ so buyers can tell it is genuine.
Bid for fake-free markets
Market traders in Elland and Brighouse are vowing to clampdown on fake goods.
£200k haul after search for fakes
Two reported to fiscal as raid uncovers clothing and electrical goods.
eBay site fraudster faces jail
An internet fraudster who sold thousands of pounds of fake shoes and clothing over the internet from his
Black Country home has been jailed for 18 months.
EXPRESS & STAR DUDLEY (WEST MIDLANDS) 17/03/2010 UK
Fake cigarettes go up in smoke as a warning
Thirty thousand phoney cigarettes confiscated by West Sussex County Council’s trading standards officers
have been torched by fire fighters.
CRAWLEY NEWS 17/03/2010 UK
Online piracy ‘costs 39,000 jobs per year’
Illegal downloading costs Britain 39,000 jobs a year - enough people to fill a Premier League football
stadium, it was claimed yesterday.
Woman sentenced for eBay golf scam
A Hertford childminder who helped sell fake golf clubs in the biggest swindle using the eBay online auction
has avoided jail.
HERTFORDSHIRE MERCURY 18/03/2010 UK; HARINGEY INDEPENDENT 19/03/2010 UK
Bogus rock band T-shirt seller jailed
A man who sold rock fans fake T-shirts has been jailed for 16 months.
TOTTENHAM & WOOD GREEN JOURNAL 18/03/2010 UK;
Fashion world’s enforcer takes on the virtual counterfeit vendor
‘We have invested so much money to enhance and protect our brands and our brand experience that it is
impossible to accept a scenario where someone else who has no understanding of this or interest in it would
sell our brands and destroy that value’
FINANCIAL TIMES (UK & IRELAND EDITION) 19/03/2010 UK
Beware eye of newt and droppings of bat
"Dangerous reactions and possibly death will result from an influx of internet-order medicines containing
everything from arsenic to bird droppings," health authorities warn.
Delight as fake labels man jailed
The prosecution of three fraudsters who conned people out of thousands of pounds on the internet was
today welcomed by the trading standards officers in the Black Country who cracked the case.
www.ipcb.co.uk
Police seize record haul of fake Gucci goods
Detectives seized a record haul of more than 50,000 counterfeit designer goods after smashing an
international crime syndicate.
YORKSHIRE POST (SERIES) 20/03/2010 UK; WESTERN MAIL SERIES 20/03/2010 UK; SOUTHERN
DAILY ECHO 20/03/2010 UK; SUN, THE 23/03/2010 UK
University scientists reveal truth about fake golf clubs
Scientists at Sheffield Hallam University have carried out a study to discover apparently invisible differences
between real and fake golf clubs
Trading warning over fake goods
People in Dorset are being warned to be on the look out for traders selling counterfeit and smuggled
cigarettes as the car boot season gets underway this Easter.
DORSET ECHO 23/03/2010 UK
Fake cigarettes warning
Car booters looking to pick up a bargain are being warned by HM Revenue & Customs to be on the lookout
for counterfeit and smuggled cigarettes.
Counterfeit cigarettes warning
Customs officials are warning Cambrian’s to report car boot traders selling counterfeit cigarettes.
CARLISLE NEWS & STAR (SERIES) 23/03/2010 UK
Car boot fake cigs warning
People across Yorkshire are being warned by Revenue and Customs to be on the lookout for traders selling
counterfeit and smuggle cigarettes as the car boot season gets under way in Yorkshire this Easter.
People are being warned to be on the look-out traders selling counterfeit cigarettes as the car boot sale
season gets under way.
Google triumph in Louis Vuitton trademark case
Google has won a crucial victory in a five-year-long legal battle with Louis Vuitton.
Watch out for fake fags
West Dorset residents are being warned to look out for traders selling counterfeit and smuggle cigarettes.
BRIDPORT NEWS 24/03/2010 UK; DORSET ECHO 24/03/2010 UK
Customs in warning over counterfeit cigs
Keith Morgan, specialist investigation detection manager for HMRC, said: "With an estimated £2 billion in
revenue being drained from the public purse each year by tobacco smugglers alone, the problem of excise
fraud is a real one, which we are determined to crack.
Officers crack down on dodgy cigarettes
Rogue traders selling counterfeit and smuggle cigarettes were given a stark warning today after a spate of
incidents on Wearside
SUNDERLAND ECHO 24/03/2010 UK; YOUR LEEK PAPER 24/03/2010 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Driver avoids jail over part in smuggling ring
A smuggler who was part of a gang which used pasta to hide millions of counterfeit cigarettes has avoided
jail.
Watch out for counterfeit tobacco at car boot sales
Car boot goers are being warned by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to be on the look out fro traders
settling counterfeit and smuggled cigarettes this Easter.
BIGGLESWADE CHRONICLE 26/03/2010 UK; BOREHAMWOOD & ELSTREE TIMES 26/03/2010 UK;
BOURNEMOUTH DAILY ECHO 27/03/2010 UK
Dodgy dealers is spared jail term
A dodgy dealer who made £200,000 selling counterfeit goods over the internet is beginning a suspended jail
sentence today.
Raid on city house finds huge stash of ‘tobacco’
More than a tonne of fake tobaccos - enough to make two million cigarettes was found stashed at a city
home.
DERBY EVENING TELEGRAPH (FIRST EDITION) 27/03/2010 UK
Football sticker scam breaks fans hearts
In a country where almost everything from Prada handbags to mozzarella has been counterfeited, fraudsters
have sunk to a new low with a fake football sticker scam.
Fake cigs and booze seized in police haul
Police have seized more than £25,000 worth of fake alcohol and cigarettes in a crackdown on black market
goods.
Counterfeit goods seized from boot sale
Almost £50,000 of fake goods was seized at a car boot in what is thought to be the biggest haul in
counterfeit items in North Warwickshire.
500,000 FAGS HAUL
Half a million cigarettes and 23lbs of loose tobacco have been seized in a raid in Blackburn.
LANCASHIRE TELEGRAPH 30/03/2010 UK
Cousins 51k fine for fake clothing
Adil Haq,33,and Mohammed Haq,44, from Wolverhampton had received a 20 month suspended sentence in
October for handling 7000 worth of counterfeit good s including popular brands such as Henleys and Henri
Lloyd,after a joint operation by Niorth Wales Police and Wrexhan Trading Standards.
Daily Post, Wales 31/03/2010 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Counterfeit tobacco is seized
Police in Leeds seized thousands of pounds worth of counterfeit tobacco.
Warning as rat poo found in cigarettes
Counterfeit cigarettes full of rat droppings and sawdust are being sold to children.
MORECAMBE VISITOR 03/02/2010 UK
Imperial hits out at plain package
Embassy maker Imperial Tobacco yesterday slammed UK plans to force firms to sell cigarettes in plain
packaging and claimed the move would fuel illicit trade.
How to tell if they’re faking it
This month is the Office of Fair Trading annual Scams Awareness Month, a campaign to raise awareness of
mass-marketed scams which cost the public around £3.5bn a year.
Markets target fake goods
Markets in Walsall have signed up to a national charter aimed at driving out fake and counterfeit goods from
market stalls.
89K of illegal tobacco found hidden in unit
A man avoided a prison sentence after pleading guilty to storing 570,000 smuggled cigarettes
Rip-off boss in thug threat
A market trader selling thousands of pounds of fake designer clothes threatened an official sent to
investigate him.
SOUTH MANCHESTER REPORTER 04/02/2010 UK
Unsafe fake saws alert
Trading standards officers are warning of potentially dangerous counterfeit chainsaws.
BRIDPORT NEWS 04/02/2010 UK
Perils of the fake hair tongs
Trading watchdogs are urging people - especially teenagers - to be wary of buying fake hair straighteners.
CRAVEN HERALD & PIONEER 04/02/2010 UK
New scheme means seized goods can be given to charity
Homeless people in Goole have been fed and clothed thanks to a partnership involved with the seizure of
counterfeit goods.
GOOLE, HOWDEN, THORNE COURIER 04/02/2010 UK
Fake goods and drugs seized in crackdown
A day-long crime crackdown carried out by police, council and enforcement officers resulted in 16 arrests
and the seizure of hundreds of counterfeit goods.
Drugs and fakes found during raid
Drugs and counterfeit clothes were founf in a raid on Tyneside flat
www.ipcb.co.uk
Danger warning over fake hair straighteners bought on web
West Yorkshire Trading Standards are advising consumers and in particular parents of young teenagers to
check that the ghd hair straighteners they purchased recently are genuine
HEBDEN BRIDGE TIMES 11/02/2010 UK; TODMORDEN NEWS 11/02/2010 UK
Trader caught with counterfeit clothes
A market trader was caught trying to sell nearly £4,000 worth of fake goods a court heard.
NEWS GUARDIAN WHITLEY BAY EDITION 11/02/2010 UK
Trader set for trial over bogus condom charges
A Turkish shopkeeper will stand trial this summer accused of selling counterfeit condoms.
TOTTENHAM & WOOD GREEN JOURNAL 11/02/2010 UK
Fake clothes and tobacco destroyed
Two Burnley shopkeepers have been prosecuted by Lancashire Trading Standards officers following the
discovery of counterfeit clothing and tobacco.
BURNLEY EXPRESS (FRIDAY) 12/02/2010 UK
Officers stub out sales of fake fags
Customs officers seized more than £250,000 of counterfeit cigarettes laced with poisons, rat droppings and
insects in North Lincolnshire last year.
SCUNTHORPE EVENING TELEGRAPH 12/02/2010 UK
Customs seize 4.2 million cigarettes
Customs officers seized 4.2 million cigarettes last night in the largest counterfeit haul ever landed in the Port
of Cork.
IRISH EXAMINER, THE (EIRE) 13/02/2010 Ireland
Raids net £40k fakes
More than £40,000 worth of fake designer clothing has been seized in two raids on the Flyde coast
Fakes seized and arrest made during night raids
More than 8,000 fake DVDs and a cannabis farm were found during a night of police raids.
STOCKPORT EXPRESS 17/02/2010 UK
Rip-off trader escapes jail
A businessman has escaped a jail sentence after masterminding a 350,000 fake clothing empire stretching
across the North West
Fakes seller escapes jail
A businessman has escaped a hail sentence after masterminding a 350,000 fake clothing empire stretching
across the northwest.
NORTH EAST MANCHESTER ADVERTISER 18/02/2010 UK; STOCKPORT EXPRESS 17/02/2010 UK
Fake goods at outdoors show
Fake designer goods will be on display at a show which celebrates the great outdoors next month.
Counterfeit clothes to go to needy
Counterfeit clothing and footwear seized in Bradford and neighbouring districts will be used to help needy
people in former Eastern Bloc countries.
BRADFORD TELEGRAPH & ARGUS 20/02/2010 UK; YORKSHIRE EVENING POST 23/02/2010 UK;
www.ipcb.co.uk
Fake clothes man told to pay £51k
A man who sold counterfeit clothing at Chick’s car boot sale has been ordered to hand over £51,000 under
The Proceeds of Crime Act.
LEADER (WREXHAM) 23/02/2010 UK; LEADER (CHESTER) 23/02/2010 UK; OSWESTRY & BORDER
COUNTIES ADVERTIZER 26/02/2010 UK
Fake football shirt charge
A woman has admitted selling counterfeit football shirts on eBay that she has bought from Bangkok.
Goods sold online were counterfeit, court told
A woman who sold thousands of counterfeit goods through internet auction site eBay appeared before
Thetford magistrates yesterday.
Cop denies selling fake goods on site
A policeman who advertised counterfeit hair straighteners on an internal police website did not know they
were fake, a court heard.
Police seize fake alcohol
Police arrested 27 people in Bury and seized counterfeit alcohol in a crackdown on drink.
BURY TIMES 25/02/2010 UK
Officer cleared of selling fake goods
A Bradford police officer who lost his job when accused of selling counterfeit goods may appeal against the
decision after being cleared.
Court date for fake cigarettes accused
A man accused of distributing counterfeit Regal cigarettes has made his first appearance at court.
Confiscated fake designer clothes will be genuinely received ...
Nike, Lacoste, Adidas and Stone Island were just some of the fake designer clothes labels in a haul
confiscated by West Yorkshire Trading Standards officers.
Fake cigarettes worth £6,000 seized from Nelson retailer
Lancashire County Council Trading Standards Service is warning that the sale of cheap tobacco is on the
increase following a seizure of 1,100 packs of counterfeit Regal cigarettes from a trader in Nelson.
Pudding plea to islanders
Islanders on Lewis are being asked to trace the history of Stornoway Black Pudding to protect it from
counterfeiters
www.ipcb.co.uk
No headline
Packaging will play an important part in a crackdown on counterfeit drugs when the EU agrees measures to
closely trace a drug’s journey from manufacture to purchase.
Allergan releases position statement over illegal online Botox.
The makers of Botox, Allergan, have issued a statement to Cosmetic News regarding their position on online
sales of botulinum toxin.
COSMETIC NEWS 01/01/2010 UK
Seizures of fake cigarettes soar
Trading standards officers in Derby have seized more than 1,200 packs of counterfeit cigarettes during the
past 12 months.
DERBY EVENING TELEGRAPH 02/01/2010 UK
Trader is fined for selling fake goods in store..
A Luton trader was handed a hefty fine after being found guilty of selling fake vodka, batteries and condoms
at his store.
LUTON NEWS & DUNSTABLE GAZETTE 06/01/2010 UK
Fake spirits fear
Surrey County Council is cracking down on counterfeit spirits after reports that fake bottles are widespread in
the county.
REDHILL & REIGATE & HORLEY LIFE 06/01/2010 UK, SURREY ADVERTISER SERIES 06/01/2010 UK
Designer dupes
A £100,000 fake goods stash was uncovered in a raid on a Tyneside shop. The goods recovered included
bogus jewellery bearing the trademarks of luxury brands including Tiffany, as well as thousands of charms
for Pandora bracelets, which were being sold for up to £5 each.
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE EVENING CHRONICLE (SERIES) 06/01/2010 UK; NEWCASTLE
CHRONICLE EXTRA 13/01/2010 UK
Warning over fake UGG boots
Newport council’s trading standards department received three complaints in the run up to Christmas from
residents who tried to buy UGG Australia boots online.
Huge £3.2m fine for jeweler who sold fake goods
An Ashford shop owner has been ordered to pay one of the largest ever fines for trading in fake goods.
Guarcharan Singh, 41, will have to pay back £3.2 million. He also received a two year suspended sentence
for selling fake bags, shoes and jewellery from his shop and market stall in Folkestone.
YOUR ASHFORD 06/01/2010 UK
Officers warn on counterfeit goods
Trading standards officers in Carmarthenshire have seized counterfeit goods worth more than 2 million over
the last three years.
CARMARTHEN JOURNAL 06/01/2010 UK
Buchan nurse facing action
A North East nurse faces disciplinary action next week after being convicted of having fake designer stock
worth thousands of pounds. Her case was brought before the Nursing and Midwifery Council.
ABERDEEN EVENING EXPRESS (SERIES) 16/01/2010 UK; ABERDEEN PRESS & JOURNAL (SERIES)
07/01/2010 UK; ABERDEEN PRESS & JOURNAL (SERIES) 25/01/2010 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Market trader sold fake designer clothes
A market trader has been found guilty of selling thousands of pounds worth of fake designer clothing.
HACKNEY GAZETTE 07/01/2010 UK
Police and council officers raid store
More than 70 items of counterfeit clothing were discovered in a Walthamstow High Street shop following a
crackdown by police and council officers.
WALTHAM FOREST GUARDIAN (SERIES) 07/01/2010 UK
Custom officers to spread knowledge
Visitors to a major show being held in the region will be able to find out more about counterfeit products.
Spotting fake booze
Environmental health officers have started a new year offensive against counterfeit alcohol with a ‘find’ at a
shop in Wealdstone.
HARROW OBSERVER 07/01/2010 UK; WEMBLEY OBSERVER 07/01/2010 UK
Man fined 65 but ordered to pay £100k for selling fake Nikes
An internet trader who amassed a turnover of almost £100,000 by unwittingly selling fake Nike trainers has
been fined just £65 - but will have to pay back all his criminal earnings.
Trading standards clamping down on counterfeit alcohol
Surrey Country Council’s Trading Standards team is cracking down on pubs and restaurants selling watereddown or counterfeit spirits, and warning residents to look out for counterfeit bottles of vodka.
FARNHAM HERALD 08/01/2010 UK
Police seize a huge haul of fake fags
A total of 40,000 counterfeit cigarettes and 10kgs of rolling tobacco were seized from the streets of North
East Lincolnshire last month.
Firm is stubbing out illegal tobacco
A Preston marketing firm has been appointed to work on a new campaign to crack down on the purchase
and supply of illegal tobacco across the North.
£550,000 bill for couple in eBay scam
A couple convicted of selling fake goods on the internet have been told to pay back more than half a million
pounds.
Fake glasses trader fined
A Woolwich market trader was fined for selling fake designer sunglasses during a court case last month.
GREENWICH TIME 19/01/2010 UK
Alert to smokers and parents over counterfeit tobacco risks
Smokers were today warned not to buy counterfeit tobacco on the streets
Man jailed for sale of counterfeit goods
A businessman who turned to selling counterfeit clothes when the recession hit sales, has been jailed for
four months.
FLINTSHIRE CHRONICLE 21/01/2010 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Illegal tobacco could include rat droppings!
Illegal tobacco on sale in Pendle could include everything from sawdust to rat droppings.
Illegal tab traders ‘exploiting chidlren’
Children as young as eight are being sold cigarettes from more than 200 illegal ‘tab houses’ in South
Tyneside, say consumer watchdogs
SHIELDS GAZETTE 22/01/2010 UK; SHIELDS GAZETTE 23/01/2010 UK
Fraudster faces eight months in jail
A fraudster who sold thousands of pounds' worth of fake goods over the Internet has been jailed for 2 years.
Desmond Green sold goods including fashion shirts, wallets, DVDs and football shirts over a two-year period
on the Internet as genuine. The sentence is intended to punish Green and deter others from making easy
money by defrauding the public.
Illegal tab traders ‘exploiting chidlren’
Youngsters are being exploited by criminals running so-called tab houses, health officials have warned.
SHIELDS GAZETTE 23/01/2010 UK
Rogue booze blitz
To the untrained eye it looks like just another unit on a Tyneside industrial estate
Behind the roller doors... a bootleg haul of cigs
An illegal haul of cigarettes and tobacco worth thousands of pounds was seized from a flat in Halifax
Benefits man had luxury life from fakes
A Wigan man who lived a life of luxury on the proceeds of importing fake designer clothing from the Far East
has been jailed.
WIGAN OBSERVER 26/01/2010 UK
Contraband cigarettes will go to incinerator
Around 40,000 smuggled cigarettes will be incinerated after they were found hidden in furniture.
Crime-hit market is to close
Leeds City Council have decided to close the Sunday market at Cross Green because of the high levels of
illegal and counterfeit goods on sale.
£1,000 bill for selling fakes
A Hendy man has been fined for selling counterfeit clothing on internet auction site eBay
LLANELLI STAR 27/01/2010 UK
Market trader caught selling fake goods
A Hatfield market stallholder caught selling counterfeit brands has to complete 60 hours of community
service, after being convicted by magistrates
WELWYN & HATFIELD TIMES 27/01/2010 UK
Scam nurse rapped
A nurse caught flogging fake designer clothes on eBay has been severely reprimanded for damaging her
profession’s reputation
www.ipcb.co.uk
No ban for ‘fake clothes’ nurse
A north-east woman convicted of having fake design stock worth thousands of pounds has been told she can
continue nursing
ABERDEEN PRESS & JOURNAL (SERIES) 28/01/2010 UK
Online fake
Fake goods seized in 2009 were worth more than £600,000, trading standards officials have revealed
LEICESTER MAIL SERIES 28/01/2010 UK
Fake bubbly and vodka seized in raid
Bottles of fake champagne and vodka and packs of fake condoms have been seized in the East End by
trading standards and customs officers.
www.ipcb.co.uk
Illegal tobacco racket smashed
Thousands of illegal cigarettes have been seized in Wigan. More than 1,500 packets and nearly 44
kilos of hand rolling tobacco were snatched during raids across the town by HM Revenue and
Customs (HMRC) following tip offs from members of the public.
WIGAN OBSERVER 01/12/2009 UK
Europe continues to battle counterfeiters
The European pharmaceutical market is valued at close to $250 billion, which represents a lucrative
prize for criminal gangs. According to the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industry
Associations (EFPIA), counterfeit products have been found in wholesalers, retail pharmacies and
over the internet in nearly all EU member states
PHARMATECH.COM 01/12/09
Man, 65, ‘unaware clothing was fake’
A pensioner caught selling fake designer clothes at Bridgnorth market told magistrates he had never
heard of the fashionable and sought after labels before.
Scotch whisky firms...
... are hoping new regulations on distilling, bottling and labelling will help protect their products from
counterfeiters.
Fake pink hair goods warning
Wiganers are being warned not to fall foul of a Christmas shopping scam. Fake versions of pink ghd
hair straighteners - one of the top Christmas gifts for girls this year - are appearing in Wigan.
WIGAN OBSERVER 01/12/2009 UK; WIGAN REPORTER 03/12/2009 UK; WIGAN REPORTER
03/12/2009 UK
Customs nabs 3,000 litres of fake booze
Customs officers seized almost 3,000 litres of illicit booze after searching four shops in Colchester.
The raids were part of an HM Revenue and Customs clampdown on illegal alcohol sales in Essex
DAILY GAZETTE (COLCHESTER) 02/12/2009 UK; SOUTHEND EVENING ECHO 02/12/2009 UK
£130m stolen ‘gifts’ online
Festive shoppers will spend a record £132 million on stolen or counterfeit goods online this year
SUN, THE 03/12/2009 UK
Fake luxury co.uk sites are cut off
More than 1,000 websites selling fake designer gear were shut down yesterday in the world’s biggest
virtual raid.
DAILY MIRROR 03/12/2009 UK
More big earners buy fake goods
High earners are more likely to buy counterfeit goods than low earners, says a report out today, with
half of people earning more than £50,000 a year admitting to buying counterfeits.
SHROPSHIRE STAR (SERIES) 03/12/2009 UK; SCOTTISH DAILY RECORD 03/12/2009 UK
Confiscated: fake clobber worth £600k
Fake designer clothes worth £600,000 have been seized. The haul of 3,000 items, including
counterfeit Prada, Armani, Dolce & Gabanna, Versace and football kits, were a consignment of 60
boxes which were due to be delivered to an address in Westwood Road, Chingford
WALTHAM FOREST GUARDIAN (SERIES) 03/12/2009 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Police shut 1,2000 websites running counterfeit good scams
Scotland Yard has shut down more than 1,200 websites falsely claiming to sell designer clothes and
jewellery in what was thought to be the biggest swoop of its kind
GUARDIAN, THE 04/12/2009 UK; EXPRESS & STAR WOLVERHAMPTON (CITY) (WEST
MIDLANDS) 03/12/2009 UK
Customs officers seize fake booze during raid on shops
Customs officers have seized thousands of litres of counterfeit booze during a series of raids across
Essex. Officials found home-brewed whisky and vodka being sold as premium brands in two shops in
Southend.
Echo-news.co.uk 03/12/09 United Kingdom
Websites targeting Christmas shoppers shut down
More than 1,200 scam websites targeting Christmas shoppers were shut down yesterday in an
unprecedented online raid.
Hundreds of shopping websites closed as police raid online ...
More than 1,200 scam websites targeting Christmas shoppers have been shut down in an
unprecedented online raid. Experts at Scotland Yard’s e-crime unit yesterday targeted hundreds of
websites run by fraudsters in Asia Hiding behind UK domain names
YORKSHIRE POST (SERIES) 04/12/2009 UK; PETERBOROUGH EVENING TELEGRAPH
04/12/2009 UK; SOUTHERN DAILY ECHO 04/12/2009 UK; SHROPSHIRE STAR (SERIES)
04/12/2009 UK; LEADER (WREXHAM) 04/12/2009 UK
Alert is sounded on fake festive gifts
Shoppers are being warned to steer clear of buying fake Christmas gifts after council officers seized
bogus GHD hair straighteners and hair dryers.
ROMFORD RECORDER 04/12/2009 UK; MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS 12/12/2009 UK
Fake goods raid on shop
A massive haul of brand-name clothing and shoes have been seized from a shop in a blitz on
counterfeit goods.
GREENOCK TELEGRAPH 05/12/2009 UK
Combating counterfeit consumables
The world is full of counterfeit products. Walk through any street market and your will find stalls full
‘designer’ clothes, watches and handbags at unbelievable prices.
MICROSCOPE 07/12/2009 UK
Don’t buy dodgy goods
Trading standards officers are warning about the dangers of buying counterfeit goods as Christmas
gifts.
Trader fined
A Nuneaton trader who sold counterfeit goods on eBay has been fined and sentenced to community
service.
Warning to shoppers as police seize £1m of counterfeit goods
Fake Rolex watches and Dolce & Gabanna dresses were among 1m worth of counterfeit goods seized
during raid on a Lothian house
www.ipcb.co.uk
£50,000 snatch hits the computer pirates
More than £50,000 worth of counterfeit equipment was seized during a raid at a popular computer fair
in Wolverhampton.
Fake gear seized in operation
Three men were arrested at a market in Flinton in an operation targeting sellers of fake clothing and
shoes.
City trader fine for selling counterfeit goods
A Newport trader has was fined more than £1000 after selling counterfeit goods in the city centre.
Warning over fake goods on internet
Trading standards officers in Wales have warned against buying fake goods online.
WESTERN MAIL SERIES 11/12/2009 UK
Fake goods help fund gangsters
Police have warned bargain hunters about buying fake goods in the run up to Christmas. The Scottish
Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency (SCDEA), Strathclyde Police and the Scottish Government
joined forces at the Barras Market to remind the public about the link between counterfeit goods and
serious organised crime.
Festive fraudsters
As the festive season approaches so does their work load thanks to money-hungry con artists and the
desperate rush by residents to buy Christmas presents.
Spiderman trader awaits verdict on counterfeit toys
Verdicts were expected today in the trial of a market trader accused of knowingly selling counterfeit
Spiderman toys at Neath Fair.
Magnum of Bolly for £25? That’s too good to be true
Fake bottles of Bollinger, imitation iPods and rip-off designer purses are just some of the goods seized
by police after they were sold to shoppers in Sittingbourne town centre last month.
KENT MESSENGER (SITTINGBOURNE EDITION) 11/12/2009 UK
Fake puppies warning
Animal lovers thinking of getting a pet this Christmas should be aware of the risks involved in buying a
‘counterfeit’ puppy, says RSPCA
HUDDERSFIELD DAILY EXAMINER 12/12/2009 UK; EXPRESS & STAR WOLVERHAMPTON
(CITY) (WEST MIDLANDS) 11/12/2009 UK
Roaring trade in fake goods
Recession-hit parents tempted to buy counterfeit presents this Christmas could be putting their loved
ones’ lives at risk, according to trading standards
Don’t be fooled
Oxfordshire’s online shoppers have been warned to beware of buying fake and unsafe goods over the
internet this Christmas
OXFORD MAIL 12/12/2009 UK; BICESTER ADVERTISER 17/12/2009 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
£1 Million in fake designer gear for homeless
Homeless people will be wearing designer gear this winter after haul of more than £1 million worth of
counterfeit clothes and shoes seized in Renfrewshire was dished out to charities yesterday.
Fags to riches gangs busted
Scotland’s £400 million illegal tobacco trade is today uncovered by the Record. The massive
smuggling and counterfeiting racket is seeing organised criminals amass vast fortunes while dodging
UK tax and leaving thousands of smokers puffing on sub-standard cigarettes.
Fake goods help fund gangsters
Police have warned bargain hunters about buying fake goods in the run up to Christmas. The Scottish
Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency (SCDEA), Strathclyde Police and the Scottish Government
joined forces at the Barras Market to remind the public about the link between counterfeit goods and
serious organised crime.
Net swindler faces jail term
A Blackpool fraudster caught at the centre of internet site eBay’s biggest ever swindle could face jail.
Bogus goods warning
Bogus designer goods could leave consumers out of pocket, it has been warned.
Home raid finds ‘designer’ fakes
A haul of fake designer clothes has been seized by police from South Tyneside home. Officers carried
out a search of the property in Low Simonside, Jarrow, after a tip-off from the public.
SOUTH SHIELDS GAZETTE 14/12/2009 UK
Fakes foiled
Counterfeit luxury goods, including designer Pandora bracelets, Ugg boots and GHD straighteners,
were among a stash seized by Cleveland Police.
Fake designer goods seized
Three traders were arrested and around £100,000 worth of fake designer labels seized in raid on
market.
SOUTH LONDON PRESS (TUESDAY) 15/12/2009 UK
Conman cheated cancer charity
A 74-year-old businessman cheated a charity out of thousands of pounds by selling fake hair
straighteners.
BOLTON EVENING NEWS 15/12/2009 UK
Golf gang guilty
Members of a UK criminal network have been convicted of a multi-million-pound global fake golf club
scam.
Shelves cleared of lethal fake toys
Deadly counterfeit toys have been taken off the shelves of Blackpool shops as part of a pre-Christmas
purge. Fraudulent Disney goods, including cuddly Mickey Mouse toys and Hannah Montana dolls,
were part of the huge consignment of dodgy products confiscated by Trading Standards
www.ipcb.co.uk
Watch out for those festive fakes
Car boot sales, internet auctions and other websites can seem attractive for cheap Christmas gifts.
But every year Hampshire County Council’s Trading Standards officers seize over 10,000 items of
fake designer goods including perfume, jewellery, clothing, handbags, belts, watches, pens and
trainers as well as fake DVDs, music CDs, cigarettes and children’s toys.
BASINGSTOKE EXTRA 16/12/2009 UK
Woman guilty of eBay scam charge
A former childminder from Hertford has been found guilty of helping to sell fake golf clubs in the
biggest ever eBay scam.
LEA VALLEY STAR 16/12/2009 UK
Don’t be conned by fake Ugg boots
Trading standards officers in Sefton are warning residents not to be a mug when it comes to UGGs
FORMBY TIMES 16/12/2009 UK
Police on the lookout for fakes
Shoppers looking for a bargain this Christmas have been ripped off by unscrupulous salesman selling
fakes in Sittingbourne.
EAST KENT GAZETTE 16/12/2009 UK
Stink over fake scents
Fake designer clothing and perfume were seized by police and trading standards officers during a raid
on a Midland market.
Designer fakes seized in raid
Fake Rolex watches, Tiffany and Chanel jewellery and designer clothing worth thousands of pounds
were seized after police raided a house near Chester.
Fake goods rounded up in Christmas blitz
Counterfeiters could spoil Christmas for many Huddersfield families. Consumer watchdogs warned
today that towns across West Yorkshire are being swamped with fake goods.
Fag shop fined
Flogging dodgy cigarettes has proved more than a bit of a fag for one shopkeeper, writes Sarah
O’Reilly
Fake gifts warning given to shoppers
Shoppers are being told to beware of buying counterfeit Christmas gifts for family and friends
Market blazes trail against sale of fake merchandise
Bury Market is leading a nationwide crackdown on the sale of fake goods. The market team and the
council’s trading standards service have introduced stringent vetting procedures to ensure fakes are
stamped out.
BURY TIMES 17/12/2009 UK
Sun visits secret customs warehouse of smuggled gear
For years they have been used to store the bounty seized from smugglers at airports, which these
days mainly means that drugs, cash, weapons, booze and cigarettes.
SUN, THE 18/12/2009 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Checks all clear on fakes
Calderdale traders have been praised after checks for counterfeit goods came up clear. In other parts
of West Yorkshire trading standards officials seized more than 2,000 fake items.
Gang clubbed together in auction scam
Four eBay fraudsters who pulled off the auction site’s biggest ever swindle by selling fake golf clubs
around the world are facing jail.
Warning to shoppers as fake goods seized from warehouse
Fake goods worth £1m have been seized in a raid on a warehouse in Cheetam Hill.
Watchdog warns on fake goods
Consumer watchdogs have warned fake goods could be doing the rounds in Neath and Port Talbot
Show fakes are seized
Around 700 counterfeit t-shirts were seized at this year’s Clothes Show at the NEC
SOLIHULL NEWS 18/12/2009 UK
`Watch out for fakes being sold`
Trading standards officers are warning Christmas shoppers in Bradford to be vigilant against
counterfeit goods.
Fakes that make for gift gloom
Fake hair straighteners are top of the counterfeit Christmas shopping list, warn West Yorkshire
Trading Standards.
Counterfeit crook must pay back 3m
A man has been told he will be jailed for 10 years unless he can come up with more than 3million in
the next six months
MEDWAY MESSENGER (MONDAY) (GILLINGHAM, CHATHAM & ROCHESTER) 21/12/2009 UK
Checks all clear on fakes
Calderdale traders have been praised after checks for counterfeit goods came up clear. In other parts
of West Yorkshire
trading standards officials seized more than 2,000 fake items.
Beware traders bearing false goods
Bargain hunters should not buy stolen or fake goods just because times are hard, say police and
trading standards officers.
WOKINGHAM TIMES 23/12/2009 UK; BRACKNELL & ASCOT TIMES 23/12/2009 UK
£1.5m of perfume is seized at dockside
An attempt to smuggle 20,000 bottles of counterfeit Coco Chanel perfume, worth more than £1million,
through Felixtowe docks has been foiled.
EAST ANGLIAN DAILY TIMES (SERIES) 23/12/2009 UK; IPSWICH EVENING STAR (SERIES)
23/12/2009 UK; SCOTTISH DAILY RECORD 25/12/2009 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Counterfeit booze is seized
An attempt to smuggle tens of thousands of bottles of counterfeit spirits has been foiled by the UK
Border Agency. A haul of approximately 56,000 litres of vodka and whisky, which arrived from
Germany, was discovered at Tilbury Docks.
‘Del Buy’ dealer sold art fakes
A Marylebone art dealer has been compared to an Only Fools And Horses character for selling cheap
prints as fine art.
HAM & HIGH SERIES 24/12/2009 UK
Shop owner must pay £3.3m - or go to jail
An Ashford shopkeeper who sold fake shoes faces a decade in jail unless he pays off a £3.3 million
fine within six months
KENTISH EXPRESS SERIES 24/12/2009 UK; FOLKESTONE HERALD 24/12/2009 UK
Warnings over sale of fake gifts
Shoppers are being warned not to buy counterfeit goods as Christmas presents.
HEYWOOD ADVERTISER 24/12/2009 UK
Ice cream man in porn and cigarettes shame
An ice cream man sold porn films and fake cigarettes to children from the back of his van - because
sales were slow during winter.
We’ve got crooks to thank for out Christmas treats
Young single parents and homeless people have crooks to thank for giving them a brighter Christmas
Warning over dangerous fake goods in January sales
Shoppers are being warned to be on the lookout for counterfeit goods in the post-Christmas sales
Crusaders target big stars
Australian Test forward Willie Mason and New Zealander Weller Hauraki are the latest players linked
with moves to Super League club Crusaders
Crackdown on illegal alcohol
Spot checks at pubs and restaurants are being conducted in a crackdown on counterfeit and
dangerous booze.
www.ipcb.co.uk
Switched on
Industry experts estimate that counterfeit electronic components entering the UK may be costing the
sector as much as £1bn annually.
PRODUCT & IMAGE SECURITY 01/11/2009 UK
Space-age drug detection
Researchers at a UK University have combined crime research and space-age technology to create a
new method of detecting counterfeit pharmaceuticals.
PHARMACEUTICAL TECHNOLOGY EUROPE 01/11/2009 United Kingdom
Counterfeits cull
Hansgrohe has crushed 10,000 copies of its Radiance shower products which were seized from a
Belgian company. Brassware manufacturer Hansgrohe says it is taking such strong action against
counterfeit products to maintain the integrity of its brand.
ESSENTIAL KITCHEN & BATHROOM BUSINESS 01/11/2009 United Kingdom
The profit of counterfeits
The European Fine Chemicals Group (EFCG) has revealed some disturbing facts regarding
counterfeit APIs
Spot the difference
Counterfeit components are a continuing and growing problem. Counterfeit undermines confidence
and is damaging to both individual brands and to entire industry sectors
EUREKA 01/11/2009 UK
Last chance to save the Barras
Traders at the Barras have drawn up a last-ditch plan to save the world-famous Glasgow market from
closure. They are fed up with criminal gangs peddling contraband and counterfeit goods at The Barras
and want to end its sleazy image.
GLASGOW EVENING TIMES 02/11/2009 United Kingdom
Counterfeit clothes won’t go to waste
His Church Charity works closely with Trading Standards across the country, re-branding seized
counterfeit clothing so that it can be legally given away.
PLYMOUTH HERALD 04/11/2009 United Kingdom
Thousands of fake cigarettes seized
Hundreds of counterfeit cigarettes and litres of booze have been taken off the streets of North East
Lincolnshire.
GRIMSBY EVENING TELEGRAPH 04/11/2009 United Kingdom
Smuggler jailed for five years
A Walsall smuggler has been handed two prison sentences for illegally importing millions of cigarettes
and helping a gang to transport cocaine.
WALSALL ADVERTISER 05/11/2009 United Kingdom
Booze ban for fake vodka
A newsagent was stripped of his shop and banned from selling spirits for 60 days as punishment for
selling counterfeit vodka.
ROMFORD & HAVERING WEEKLY POST 05/11/2009 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Fake shirts man escapes prison
A Wellington man escaped jail after admitting possessing counterfeit football shirts to be sold on the
internet.
SOMERSET COUNTY GAZETTE 05/11/2009 UK, WELLINGTON WEEKLY NEWS 11/11/2009 UK
‘If you return home we’ll be ready for you’
A couple who allegedly ran Hull’s biggest counterfeit operation and fled overseas have been warned
they will be pursued forever.
HULL DAILY MAIL (SERIES) 05/11/2009 United Kingdom
Fakes
Among the goods were fake designer handbags, purses, watches, boots, clothes and jewellery.
Justice at last for counterfeiter who went on the run
A Leeds counterfeiter, jailed in his absence for eight years was officially handed his sentence
yesterday after being brought back from Spain following four years on the run.
YORKSHIRE EVENING POST 10/11/2009 United Kingdom
Jailed, fake designer clothes gang who netted thousands
Three men who were part of a gang that netted tens of thousands of pounds by selling fake designer
clothes on eBay have been jailed
MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS 10/11/2009 United Kingdom
Warning over fake medicine
Buddies looking for a bargain may be gambling with their lives by using fake medicine.
PAISLEY DAILY EXPRESS 10/11/2009 United Kingdom
Know your supplier?
Counterfeit components are so widespread that there is every chance you will unknowingly already
have some in your home gadgets.
NEW ELECTRONICS 10/11/2009 United Kingdom
Man had fake shirts for sale
A Wellington man who admitted possessing counterfeit football shirts to be sold on the internet has
been given a 12-month community order and told to complete 150 hours- unpaid work.
WELLINGTON WEEKLY NEWS 11/11/2009 UK
Hair’s to staying on straight and narrow
People are being warned not to buy fake hair straighteners which could cause electric shocks
Bogus Nike trainers seller sentenced
A trader who sold thousands of pounds worth of counterfeit trainers and tracksuits ar markets around
the Black Country has avoided an immediate jail sentence.
No headline
Essex county council trading standards officers have donated 2,000 towels to animal charities across
the county
www.ipcb.co.uk
Johnny rotten!
Shoppers who bought condoms form supermarket could get more than what they bargained for after
the store was fined for selling FAKES.
Fake designer eBay clothes gang jailed
A Chorlton man who was part of a gang which netted tens of thousands of pounds by selling fake
designer clothes on eBay has been jailed
SOUTH MANCHESTER REPORTER 12/11/2009 UK
Warning to traders after copies are sold
Marked traders in Walsall will not be allowed to rip people off, bosses have warned, after a stallholder
was caught selling counterfeit trainers and tracksuits
Shop fined for selling fake goods
A shop in Kingsbury has been fined for selling fake condoms and batteries/ Officers from Trading
Standards discovered counterfeit Duracell batteries and Durex condoms were being sold at Al Wan
Supermarket in Kingsbury Road.
75k in fake goods seized at market
A trader caught selling counterfeit goods fled his stall when officers carried out a raid in Bescot Market
last week. Nike trainers, G-star jeans and Ralph Lauren items were among the seized haul of more
than 1,100 counterfeit goods, which would have sold for around 75,000
Fake cigarettes hidden in lorry
Six million counterfeit cigarettes were seized when an industrial unit in Aldridge was raided. The huge
haul was discovered inside an HGV in boxes labelled `mixed vegetables`
What is ACTA and what should I know about it?
Unlike other high-powered government meetings - which are often accompanied by protests and
brouhaha - ACTA, the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement, has been progressing for two years
without much fanfare.
GUARDIAN, THE 12/11/2009 United Kingdom
Paying for Dr Who toys in time
A woman guilty of selling fake Dr Who merchandise and potentially lethal toys at Sutton’s St Nicholas
Centre was ordered to pay back £14,000.
SUTTON GUARDIAN 12/11/2009 United Kingdom
I smoke Dunghill
Customs officials seized fake fags worth more than £1million - filled with rabbit poo!
SUN, THE 14/11/2009 United Kingdom
Man admits selling fakes after swoop
A Pilning man has admitted selling counterfeit clothing, films and computer games as well as
possessing a ‘chipped’ games console.
BRISTOL EVENING POST (SERIES) 14/11/2009 United Kingdom
£20m illegal cigarettes seized
Seven people have been arrested after around 20million illegal cigarettes, suspected to be counterfeit,
were seized at Britain’s biggest port.
EAST ANGLIAN DAILY TIMES (SERIES) 14/11/2009 United Kingdom
www.ipcb.co.uk
Russian crime gangs
Russian crime gangs are making millions by flogging counterfeit Tami flu to paranoid Britons online, it
was claimed today.
LEADER (CHESTER) 16/11/2009 UK, SCOTTISH DAILY RECORD 16/11/2009 UK, SHEFFIELD
STAR 16/11/2009 UK, DONCASTER STAR 16/11/2009 UK, METRO LONDON (INC, BRIGHTON)
16/11/2009 UK
Fake clothes cash hidden
A painter and decorator hid almost 10,000, mostly made from selling fake designer clothes, around his
home and garden.
Fake Tamiflu alert
Russian crime gangs are making millions by selling counterfeit Tamiflu to paranoid Britons online, it is
being clamed.
METRO LONDON (INC, BRIGHTON) 16/11/2009 UK; LEADER (CHESTER) 16/11/2009 UK;
SCOTTISH DAILY RECORD 16/11/2009 UK; SHEFFIELD STAR 16/11/2009 UK; DONCASTER
STAR 16/11/2009 UK; LEADER (WREXHAM) 16/11/2009 UK
Fake goods targeted in campaign
An anti-counterfeiting campaign is to be launched by Stoke-On-Trent City Council this month to deter
people from buying fake goods before Christmas
eBay bogus bags scam
Fraud watchdogs in York snared a woman who used an internet auction site to sell almost 7,000 worth
of fake handbags to a York resident and others
YORK EVENING PRESS 17/11/2009 UK
Hooky street crooks
Millions of pounds worth of fake designer gear - blatant rip-offs of big names like Armani, Ugg and
Boss- is being shipped up the M6 to flood Scottish markets
Guilty, the eBay fraudster who helped net £250,000
A man who played a key role in an eBay counterfeit clothing scam that netted almost a quarter of a
million pounds has been jailed for 15 months.
Fake jackets found
Police recovered 26 fake jackets each carrying a £400 for sale label when they raided a house on the
Waterside.
SOUTHERN DAILY ECHO 18/11/2009 United Kingdom
75,000 haul of fake goods seized
Officers have seized 75,000 fake cigarettes, counterfeit DVDs, jewellery and clothes.
YORKSHIRE POST (SERIES) 19/11/2009 United Kingdom
No market for fakes
Everyone likes a bargain but there are times when the cheap option is the bad one. One of those
times is when the goods that you are buying - and that can mean anything from clothes and DVDs to
jewellery and cigarettes turn out to be counterfeit
www.ipcb.co.uk
Fake goods haul
Cigs, DVDs and jewellery seized at Hillhouse shop. Tens of thousands of pounds worth of allegedly
counterfeit goods were seized in a raid on a Huddersfield convenience shop and house.
Conmen built heir kitty on rock’n’roll
A Mill Hill man has been jailed for 21 months for his part in selling counterfeit rock `n` roll memorabilia.
EDGWARE & MILL HILL TIMES 19/11/2009 UK
Conmen built their kitty on rock’n’roll
A Mill Hill man has been jailed for 21 months for his part in selling counterfeit rock’n’roll memorabilia.
In June 2007, more than 158,000 items including T-shirts, wrist bands and wallets were seized during
a raid by officers after test purchase confirmed them to be counterfeit.
HENDON TIMES SERIES 19/11/2009 UK
Shop owner’s fake bags fine
A Hyde shop owner has admitted possessing fake designer clothing and handbags. Ishmael Mensah,
43, of Carrfield, Old Road, Hyde, admitted stocking counterfeit Chanel, Prada, DKNY, and Chloe
goods at his store, Blue Sky Fashions in Manchester Road, in September 2008
Live it
In a sleepy suburban street, police and under-cover agents prepare to raid the HQ of a lucrative drugs
ring. There is big money being made in counterfeit medicines, which are sold mainly on the internet.
The pooches wrapped up in style for winter
Retired greyhounds are ready for the catwalk after trading standards officers donated fake designer
gear that they had seized.
EPPING FOREST GUARDIAN 19 Nov 2009 Country: UK
Medicines regulator plays down threat of fake drugs
The medicines regulator yesterday played down the threat from counterfeit medicines, in a swipe at
fresh, corporate-funded efforts to highlight fake drugs as a growing risk in the UK and Europe.
FINANCIAL TIMES (UK & IRELAND EDITION) 20/11/2009 UK
Sold fake goods
A Hyde trader caught out selling fake designer goods has been hit with a 750 court bill.
TAMESIDE REPORTER 19/11/2009 UK
20m suspect ciggies seized
A container full to the brim with an estimated 10 million suspected counterfeit cigarettes was seized
from an industrial unit in Upminster
Fakes fear
Trading Standards officers are clamping down on rogue traders targeting Christmas shoppers in
Valley Park
CROYDON ADVERTISER 20/11/2009 UK
Jailed over cigarette smuggling
A Ripley man has been jailed for heading a smuggling ring that stole £200,000 of public money.
SURREY ADVERTISER SERIES 20/11/2009 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Arrest over fake fag haul
An estimated 20 million illegal cigarettes shipped into Tilbury have been seized. The cigarettes,
believed to be counterfeit, were worth about 3.4milion in potential duty.
THURROCK GAZETTE 20/11/2009 UK
Pair jailed over scam on eBay
A couple have been spared jail for their part in a con in which thousands of pounds worth of fake
designer goods were sold on website eBay.
NORTHERN ECHO 21/11/2009 UK; TEESSIDE EVENING GAZETTE 21/11/2009 UK
Jailed over cigarette smuggling
A Ripley man has been jailed for heading a smuggling ring that stole 200,000 of public money.
Christopher Machay, 50, spearheaded the plot to import nearly 1,4 million counterfeit cigarettes into
the country.
WOKING REVIEW 21/11/2009 UK
Fakes scotched
A crackdown on counterfeit Scotch whisky will be launched this week. From tomorrow, port authorities
will impound cheap foreign spirits claiming to be the real thing and slap fines on the importers
Fake alert
Trading Standards officers are clamping down on rogue traders targeting Chirstmas shoppers in
Valley Park
CROYDON & SUTTON POST 25/11/2009 UK
Fake tobacco ‘may have been rat droppings and sawdust’
A haul of counterfeit tobacco and cigarettes seized but for Customs they would have found their way
onto the streets of derby, officials say
Fake medicine den shut down
A Chelmsford home was raided as part of the world’s biggest crackdown on the sale of fake
medicines. Interpol and the UK Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency (MHRA) raided 13
homes and businesses across England, including a house in Broomfield Chelmsford netting a total of
300,000 worth of illicit prescription only drugs
ESSEX CHRONICLE SERIES 26/11/2009 UK
Woman must pay for fake clothes
A north-east woman has been ordered to pay back more than £100,000 she made selling counterfeit
clothes on eBay
ABERDEEN PRESS & JOURNAL (SERIES) 27/11/2009 UK; ABERDEEN EVENING EXPRESS
(SERIES) 27/11/2009 UK
Fake that
An ex-cop’s wife who made thousands selling fake designer clothes on eBay has been ordered to pay
back £105,000. Fiona Begg, 47, has been hit with what is though to be the highest confiscation order
made by a UK court after a trading standards probe.
SCOTTISH DAILY RECORD 28/11/2009 UK; HERALD, THE (GLASGOW) 28/11/2009 UK
‘Fake gifts’ Xmas shop raided by officers
A Christmas shop was raided after angry customers claimed they had bought fake electrical items and even empty boxes.
www.ipcb.co.uk
Public given warning over cheap cigarettes
Smokers have been warned about the dangers of buying dodgy fags from street traders in Doncaster
town centre. Cheap cigarettes being touted in the Baxter Gate shopping precinct are either smuggled
or fake with profits going to criminals, according to Britain’s tobacco manufacturers
www.ipcb.co.uk
Man jailed after fake designer goods seized in swoop at lock-up
A ‘delivery man’ has been jailed for 10 months after thousands of fake designer goods were seized in
Leeds.
F for fake
There was a time when counterfeit personal care products were commonly crude fake perfumes
pedalled in markets and workplaces during Christmas and other festive periods to bargain hunters
who knew thet were buying rubbish.
EUROPEAN COSMETIC MARKETS [ECM] 01/10/2009 United Kingdom
Fake gadgets warning
People are being warned not to be fooled by criminals selling fake versions of a popular gadget.
Newham Council is warning residents to look out for imitations of the Apple iPhone after a woman was
caught up in a scam on popular auction site eBay.
STRATFORD & NEWHAM YELLOW ADVERTISER 01/10/2009 UK, NEWHAM RECORDER
07/10/2009 UK
‘Showroom’ full of fake designers worth £6m
Six million pounds worth of counterfeit goods has been seized in one of the biggest hauls ever seen
by industry experts.
ILFORD RECORDER SERIES 01/10/2009 United Kingdom
Fake golf clubs sold from shed
An internet gang who allegedly made millions selling fake golf clubs across the globe, distributed them
from a pensioner’s garden shed, a court heard on Tuesday.
ROMFORD RECORDER 02/10/2009 United Kingdom
Counterfeit vodka seized
A major counterfeit vodka manufacturing and bottling plant has been smashed in Leicestershire in a
two-day operation, following raids by HM Revenue and Customs officers.
BURTON MAIL 02/10/2009 United Kingdom
Spirit ring smashed
A counterfeit booze factory capable of making 100,000 bottles of vodka has been raided.
Tide turns against eBay again over fakes
On September 17, eBay delivered a petition to the European parliament demanding a law change to
stop luxury brands controlling where their goods are sold.
ANTIQUES TRADE GAZETTE 03/10/2009 United Kingdom
Customs raids net £40,000 in illegal cigarettes and tobacco
A Revenue Customs team has seized contraband cigarettes and tobacco with an estimated street
value of £40,000 following a major surveillance operation.
Justice ‘SKEWED’ as Revenue staff get bonus payments for...
Senior prosecution officials have received personal bonuses for seizing defendants’ assets under an
incentive scheme which, it is feared, could create miscarriages of justice.
TIMES, THE 05/10/2009 United Kingdom
The false economy of fakes
www.ipcb.co.uk
Who among us has never bought a fake Louis Vuitton bag costing less than the price of a bag of
messages? Or an imitation Rolex?
HERALD, THE (GLASGOW) 06/10/2009 United Kingdom
Warning on iPhone con
Residents are being warned to look out for imitation iPhones after a Beckon woman was caught up in
a scam on auction site eBay.
NEWHAM RECORDER 07/10/2009 United Kingdom
Detection device could help to win war on counterfeit drugs
University of Leicester researchers have diversified their space research activities to develop a system
that can identify quickly a counterfeit drug product.
PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING 07/10/2009 United Kingdom
Fake Boop swoop alert for traders
Bogus Betty Boop goods are being widely sold in Blackpool and must be taken off the shelves
immediately, warn Trading Standards chiefs.
TEESSIDE EVENING GAZETTE 08/10/2009 United Kingdom
Counterfeit haul: man is arrested
A man has been arrested following a multi-million pound seizure of counterfeit designer goods. The
items - handbags, belts, clothes and accessories - were found by Trading Standards officers last
week.
ILFORD RECORDER SERIES 08/10/2009 United Kingdom
Detection Gifts that turned out to be fakes
Three boxes of counterfeit clothing, found in the back of a car during a routine police check, were
destined as family gifts rather than for commercial gain, a court was told.
CRAVEN HERALD & PIONEER 08/10/2009 United Kingdom
Trader fined for fake goods
A rogue trader who admitted selling fake designer socks and underwear has been fined.
NORTHAMPTONSHIRE EVENING TELEGRAPH (SERIES) 08/10/2009 United Kingdom
A war on fakes
Shoppers are being warned to buy carefully for Christmas this year after police and trading standards
confiscated a large haul of fake goods in Hounslow.
HOUNSLOW BOROUGH CHRONICLE 09/10/2009 United Kingdom
Fugitive forger caught by police on the run in the sun
A millionaire fugitive who set up a huge forgery operation in Huddersfield is heading back to West
Yorkshire.
HUDDERSFIELD DAILY EXAMINER 09/10/2009 United Kingdom
Holidaymakers urged not to buy fake goods abroad
Holidaymakers at Aberdeen Airport were urged not to line the pockets of human traffickers, gun
runners and drug dealers by buying fake goods on their trips abroad.
ABERDEEN PRESS & JOURNAL (SERIES) 10/10/2009 United Kingdom
Fake trainer man guilty
The smell of glue alerted traffic cops to 1,400 fake Nike trainers - worth 120,000 had they been real when they stopped a market trader driving home on the M1 motorway, near Northampton
NORTHAMPTON CHRONICLE & ECHO 13/10/2009 United Kingdom
www.ipcb.co.uk
Police sniff out fake trainers worth 120k
The smell of glue alerted traffic cops to 1,400 fake Nike trainers - worth £120,000 had they been real when they stopped a market trader driving home on the M1 motorway.
HUDDERSFIELD DAILY EXAMINER 13/10/2009 UK, NORTHAMPTON CHRONICLE & ECHO
13/10/2009 UK
Trademark thieves prosecuted
Traders who sold illegal novelty football, music and clothing themed car number plates throughout
north west London have been ordered to pay more than 18,000 by a crown court judge
WEMBLEY OBSERVER 15/10/2009 United Kingdom
An Ugg-ly incident over fake footwear
Love them or loathe them, Ugg boots - those shapeless, saggy clodhoppers - are a must-have fashion
item, and the target of fakers.
SHEFFIELD STAR 16/10/2009 UK, DONCASTER STAR 16/10/2009 UK
Clothing sold on market was fake
Two men who admitted a series of offences of selling counterfeit clothing at the Chirk Car Boot sale in
the summer were given a suspended prison sentence yesterday.
LIVERPOOL DAILY POST (WELSH EDN) 13/10/2009 UK, Chester Evening Leader 23/10/2009 UK
‘Pay back 700k of fortune from counterfeits’
A businessman who bank-rolled a lavish life-style selling counterfeit clothes and jewellery has been
ordered to pay back more than £700,000.
LIVERPOOL DAILY POST (WELSH EDITION) 13/10/2009 United Kingdom
Court ‘shock’ for fake Armani clothes couple
A couple who claimed they inadvertently sold counterfeit goods through an internet auction site have
been given 120 hours’ community service at York Crown Court.
YORK EVENING PRESS 14/10/2009 United Kingdom
Knock-off goods trader must pay
A retailer has been fined for selling counterfeit designer clothing. Northamptonshire County Council’s
trading standards officers started investigating 46-year-old Michael McRitchie after making a test
purchase at a stall.
NORTHAMPTON HERALD & POST 15/10/2009 United Kingdom
Trademark thieves prosecuted
Traders who sold illegal novelty football, music and clothing themed car number plates throughout
north west London have been ordered to pay more than £18,000 by crown court judge
HARROW OBSERVER 15/10/2009 UK, EALING & ACTON GAZETTE 16/10/2009 UK, FULHAM
GAZETTE 16/10/2009 UK
Fake Fake goods traders fined 18k
Traders in Northolt who sold illegal novelty football, music and clothing themed car number plates in
north west London have been ordered to pay more than 18,000 by crown court judge
EALING & ACTON GAZETTE 16/10/2009 UK, FULHAM GAZETTE 16/10/2009 United Kingdom
Fake goods warning for city airport passengers
Police are targeting travellers heading out of Edinburgh Airport in a bid to halt the trade in fake
designer goods.
EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS 17/10/2009 United Kingdom
Faker to pay up
www.ipcb.co.uk
A street cleaner who sold fake clothes and shoes over the internet has been ordered to pay more than
£500 in compensation to his York victim.
eBay fraudster sold fake computer goods
A businessman caught with fake computer products has been given a suspended prison sentence.
NORTH WEST EVENING MAIL (SERIES) 21/10/2009 UK, NORTH WEST EVENING MAIL (SERIES)
22/10/2009 UK
Ebay fraud: sentencing welcomed
Trading Standards officials have welcomed the sentence given to a businessman caught with fake
computer items.
NORTH WEST EVENING MAIL (SERIES) 22/10/2009 United Kingdom
Dock patrol nets 1.5m illegal cigs
Some 1.5 million cigarettes heading for the black market have been uncovered in a single haul at King George
Dock in Hull.
Drugs, stun-gun and counterfeit clothes seized in police raids
Police have made a number of arrests and seized a quantity of drugs believed to be cocaine,
cannabis, ketamine and valium after executing warrants at four addresses in Lowestoft on Monday.
Acting to stub out illicit trade
While businesses across East Yorkshire continue to make great strides forward, local authorities are
also enjoying success in tackling a world-wide problem - the illicit tobacco industry.
Four arrested over `fake cigarettes`
Four men were arrested after nearly four million suspected counterfeit cigarettes were seized at
Cardiff docks, police said yesterday.
WESTERN MAIL SERIES 23/10/2009 United Kingdom
Two sentenced for selling counterfeit clothing
Two men from the Midlands have received suspended prison sentences for the sale and possession
of counterfeit clothing at Chirk car boot sale.
www Chester Evening Leader (UK) 23/10/2009 United Kingdom
Four million fake ciggies discovered in toy crate
Customer officers have uncovered four million counterfeit cigarettes in a crate of toys at Cardiff Docks
SOUTH WALES ECHO 23/10/2009 United Kingdom
9m trade in toxic cigs made with dead flies
A 9M Derby trade in counterfeit cigarettes made with toxic ingredients including asbestos, rat
droppings and dead flies, has left at least half a dozen smokers ill.
DERBY EVENING TELEGRAPH 24/10/2009 United Kingdom
Four arrested over ‘fake cigarettes’
Four men were arrested after nearly four million suspected counterfeit cigarettes were seized at
Cardiff docks, police said yesterday.
WESTERN MAIL SERIES 23/10/2009 UK, WALES ECHO 23/10/2009 United Kingdom
Police net a huge haul
An Aladdin’s cave of knock-off gear worth thousands was found in a raid on a home.
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE SUNDAY SUN 26/10/2009 United Kingdom
www.ipcb.co.uk
Barras blitz
Police seized 2.5m of suspected counterfeit goods in massive raid on the Barras. The huge haul of
what is believed to be fake designer fashion, trainers and jewellery is one of the largest taken in
Glasgow
Owners must act to clean up The Barras
The trade in counterfeit goods might seem like a victimless crime. However, the reality is that fake
clothing’ jewellery and dodgy DVDs are often linked to drug gangs and violence.
Campaign targets fake parts
Counterfeit goods of all types have a detrimental effect on the UK’s economy and estimates put the
cost of the practice at £30billion and 14,800 jobs.
Warning over scary fakes
Halloween revelers are being warned against buying counterfeit goods over the spooky period
LINCOLNSHIRE ECHO 28/10/2009 United Kingdom
Rogue traders in city are fined
Newport Trading Standards prosecuted three traders as it continues its crackdown on rogue operators
in the city.
SOUTH WALES ARGUS 28/10/2009 United Kingdom
Warning over fake watches
Police are warning shoppers to be alert after a man tried to entice elderly people to buy extortionatelypriced watches.
LEEK POST & TIMES 28/10/2009 United Kingdom
Booze sale ban over fake vodka
A Hornchurch off licence has been banned from selling spirits for 60 days after being caught by
Havering Council selling counterfeit vodka.
ESSEX ENQUIRER 29/10/2009 UK, ROMFORD RECORDER 30/10/2009 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Counterfeiting
Counterfeiting is on the increase, in part driven by the growth of the internet and far-Eastern
manufacturing. EU seizures of fake goods more than doubled last year to £178 million. A new anticounterfeiting event at Olympia this September will showcase everything from security inks,
holograms, track and trace, to internet monitoring tools.
CAR & ACCESSORY TRADER [CAT] 01/09/2009 United Kingdom
‘Don’t buy fake religious Zam water’
Scamsters are selling fake religious water containing high levels of arsenic. Lancashire trading
standards service is warning Muslims to avoid drinking Zam Zam water during the Ramadan period.
Zam Zam water is sacred to Muslims.
LANCASHIRE EVENING POST 01/09/2009 United Kingdom
Fake goods seized from Moreton Market stall
Trading Standards officers have seized £539 worth of fake goods at Moreton’s weekly Tuesday
market. Assisted by Moreton’s Police Community Support Officer Gloucestershire County Council
Trading Standards service seized 315 items a stall.
COTSWOLD JOURNAL 03/09/2009 United Kingdom
Visitors to the Great Dorset Steam Fair have been warned to be on their guard against the sale of
counterfeit goods. And Dorset County Council’s trading standards department has told traders not to
risk the heavy penalties that could result if they are caught selling these goods.
WESTERN GAZETTE (SERIES) 03/09/2009 United Kingdom
Man sentenced for clothing con
A Damnsonwood man who made more than £40,000 by selling counterfeit clothes on the internet has
been given a suspended sentence. David Yardley, 27, of Draycote Close, had duped people into
buying fake clothing and footwear on the auction site eBay.
SOLIHULL NEWS 04/09/2009 United Kingdom
Faking hell: why the law’s an ass
Counterfeiting goods is a $200 billion (£122.5bn) industry, accounting for seven percent of the world’s
trade says the International Chamber of commerce (ICC). But loopholes in the current law have been
highlighted in a recent court ruling.
MOBILE NEWS 07/09/2009 United Kingdom
Officers seized fakes costing £1.6m
Dangerous fake hair straighteners and counterfeit football shirts were among goods worth more than
£1.6m million seized by UK Border Agency officers, it was revealed yesterday. The agency seized
£1,646,173 of counterfeit goods coming into the country in four months, from April 1 to July 31.
£1.6m of fakes seized
Dangerous fake hair straighteners and counterfeit football shirts are among goods worth more than
£1.6m seized by UK Border Agency officers. The agency seized £1,464,173 of counterfeit goods
coming into the country in just four months from April 1 to July 31.
HUDDERSFIELD DAILY EXAMINER 08/09/2009 UK, SOUTHEND EVENING ECHO 08/09/2009 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Don’t get caught out by counterfeit goods
Bargain hunters have been urged to shop at safe Lincolnshire market sites or run the risk of buying
dangerous goods. More than 30 county car boot sales and markets are committed to a code of
practice which aims to clamp-down on the sale of fake and illegal products.
Market trader admits to sale of counterfeit toys
A market trader has avoided jail after admitting selling dangerous and counterfeit toys on his stall.
Mark Newton, 35, pleaded guilty to selling the toys, which contained high levels of poisonous
chemicals, and which were also highly flammable.
SOUTHEND EVENING ECHO 11/09/2009 United Kingdom
Cig charge
A Lancashire man has pleaded not guilty to failing to pay duty on 5.3m of counterfeit cigarettes.
WIGAN EVENING POST 11/09/2009 UK, LANCASHIRE EVENING POST 11/09/2009 UK
And finally...
I’ve recently returned from a fortnight in Turkey. Virtually every stall in the local market was awash with
counterfeit goods – any brand you care to name from Rolex to Lacoste. Counterfeit goods are now a
global problem with legitimate tax-paying businesses suffering at the hands of the criminal gangs
behind the multimillion pound ‘knock-off’ industry.
Bogus eBay seller escapes jail term
A Damsonwood man has been ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work after being prosecuted
for selling fake clothing on internet auction site eBay. David Adam Yardley, 27, was also given a
curfew order and a suspended custodial sentence by judge at Warwick Crown Court on Thursday.
SOLIHULL ,SHIRLEY & ARDEN OBSERVER 10/09/2009 United Kingdom
Counterfeit clothes sold at car boot sale
Two men have admitted selling counterfeit copies of some of the world’s most famous clothing brands
at Chirk car boot sale
WREXHAM EVENING LEADER 15/09/2009 United Kingdom
Officers seize fake designer clothes
Trading standards officers seized more than 1,000 fake designer clothes - from a single trader. The
con artist at Bourn Market had a van stuffed full of polo shirts, hoodies, tracksuits, sweaters and
T-shirts.
CAMBRIDGE NEWS 17/09/2009 United Kingdom
Fake cigs seized
A plot to smuggle a million counterfeit cigarettes into Britain has been foiled. The fake Regal and
Superkings, hidden in electric fans, were found at Felixtowe, Suffolk.
SCOTTISH DAILY RECORD 17/09/2009 UK, EXPRESS & STAR WOLVERHAMPTON (CITY)
(WEST MIDLANDS) 17/09/2009 UK, EXPRESS & STAR (STAFFORD) 17/09/2009 UK, EXPRESS &
STAR (STAFFORD) 17/09/2009 UK,
Pair tried to smuggle fake fags in through the back door
A company director has been jailed after attempting to smuggle 1.2 million counterfeit cigarettes into
the UK. Ihtesham Ali Hassan, 30, of Cefn Coed Road, Cefn Coed Cardiff, was given an 18-month
prison sentence after being found guilty of knowingly evading duty on a huge consignment of fake
cigarettes illegally.
www.ipcb.co.uk
Trader who sold fake goods could be jailed
A man who sold counterfeit goods on the internet could be jailed. Stephen Bradshaw sold more than
2,000 Sony branded memory cards and memory sticks through online auction sites eBay and
Amazon, between July 2007 and July 2008, a court heard.
NORTH WEST EVENING MAIL (SERIES) 17/09/2009 United Kingdom
Jail sentences for men who sold fake trainers
Two Walsall men have been jailed after Trading Standards seized more than 1,000 pairs of counterfeit
trainers from their market stall. Nazakat Hussain, aged, 35, and Sajid Hussain, aged 27, both of
Hospital Street, were arrested following a raid on their stall at Wembley Market in north London.
Rugby star faces court on Internet scam charge
A Hull FC star has appeared in court charged with an alleged £100,000 Internet ink cartridge scam.
Great Britain international Gareth Raynor, 31, appeared at Hull Crown Court charged jointly with his
partner, Catriona Thomson, 27, of Brough, with 14 counts of fraud and counterfeiting.
Trader used eBay to sell fake goods
Fraudulent internet trader Paul Clarke has received a suspended prison sentence after selling
counterfeit goods on eBay.
STOKE ON TRENT SENTINEL 18/09/2009 United Kingdom
Disney foods fake
Sponge Bob Square pants and Hannah Montana items were among the counterfeit goods being sold
at Ipswich market stall, a court has heard.
Men admit selling ‘fake’ goods at car boot sale
Two men have admitted a series of offences of selling counterfeit clothing at the Chirk Car Boot sale in
the summer.
OSWESTRY & BORDER COUNTIES ADVERTIZER 22/09/2009 United Kingdom
Fake goods sold at parties
A mother sold fake designer jewellery and boots at parties she organised for her friends.
BRIGHTON ARGUS 23/09/2009 United Kingdom
Warning over online hair straighteners
Customers are being warned about buying top brand hair straighteners off the internet.
BOLTON EVENING NEWS 23/09/2009 United Kingdom
Internet buyers ‘cheated in biggest fraud’
Fake golf clubs and luxury goods worth millions of pounds were sold to unsuspecting eBay customers
around the world in the largest fraud of its kind, a court heard yesterday. The four-year internet scam
involved an international network of criminals, London’s Snaresbrook Crown Court was told.
Warning over illegal booze
South Tynesider’s have been warned to keep an eye out for phoney goods after thousands of gallons
of illegal booze was uncovered in a warehouse raid
SOUTH SHIELDS GAZETTE 24/09/2009 United Kingdom
Trading standards warn of danger straighteners
Customers are being warned about buying top brand hair straighteners off the internet.
WIGAN REPORTER 24/09/2009 United Kingdom
www.ipcb.co.uk
Warning over fake hair irons
Don’t let bad hair day put your life at risk. That’s the stark from Wigan’s trading standards chiefs after
fears that counterfeit electrical straighteners are flooding the borough
WIGAN EVENING POST 24/09/2009 United Kingdom
Man jailed after fake designer goods seized in swoop at lock-up
A `delivery man` has been jailed for 10 months after thousands of fake designer goods were seized in
Leeds
Team swoops to nab stall cheat
Another trader from Wembley Market has been hauled before the court for selling fake goods
KILBURN TIMES 24/09/2009 United Kingdom
Blitz on counterfeits at car boot sales
Denbighshire Trading Standards section was involved in a North Wales operation last weekend to
target local markets and car boot sales in a major crackdown on selling counterfeit and unsafe goods.
DENBIGHSHIRE FREE PRESS (SERIES) 24/09/2009 United Kingdom
‘Biggest ever eBay fraud’
An internet gang, led by a Rainham man, may have made millions of pounds selling fake golf clubs on
eBay and won an award for shipping so much equipment, a court heard this week
Container Centralen settles trolley counterfeit case
Container Centralen (CC) said it has stopped a company copying its plant transport trolleys in the
same way as Gucci bags, Rolex watches or Nike clothes are counterfeited
HORTICULTURE WEEK 25/09/2009 United Kingdom
eBay turn the screw further with EU petition
More than 250,000 people in the UK have signed up to an Ebay petition to stop luxury goods brands
from restricting the sale of their products. The 750,000 signature petition, delivered to the European
parliament on September 17, follows on from a series of court victories eBay have won across Europe
in the past few months against luxury brands who wanted to hold the online giant to account for fake
goods - including exclusive collectables such as jewellery - sold via their site.
Almost 9m cigarettes seized from lorry container at dock
Almost nine million suspected counterfeit cigarettes were seized in Belfast yesterday. The Regal
king-size cigarettes, which originated in China, were discovered on board a 40ft lorry container at
Belfast docks
IRISH NEWS (BELFAST) 30/09/2009 United Kingdom
www.ipcb.co.uk
eBay enlists antiques experts in fight against online fakes
eBay UK is recruiting members of the antiques industry to work in partnership with the online
marketplace to tackle counterfeits online. The new anti-counterfeit campaign - Fighting Fakes with
eBay - will encourage rights owners to join eBay’s Verified Rights Owner programme (VeRO) and use
their expertise to ensure that potentially fake items are removed before consumers can purchase
them.
COLLECTORS GAZETTE 01/08/2009 United Kingdom
Counterfeit C&T product seizures fall by a quarter
The number of counterfeit personal care products seized by EU customs teams fell by a quarter in
2008, compared to 2007, according to the latest European Commission figures.
EUROPEAN COSMETIC MARKETS [ECM] 01/08/2009 UK SOAP PERFUMERY & COSMETICS
[SPC] 01/08/2009 UK
Smoke out our street tobacco
Counterfeit cigarette dealers are being targeted in Wigan. State-of-the-art hand-held scanners are
being introduced to detect illegal cigarettes and tobacco. Specialist detection teams have also been
set up to track down counterfeit tobacco dealers across the borough.
Counterfeit connectors
Although counterfeiting is most often associated with currency and coins, counterfeiting, in reality,
reaches far beyond this. Counterfeiting includes: - The fraudulent manufacturing of product that
intentionally copies another product which is patented, copyrighted, or trademarked; - The altering of
an original product with the intent to deceive or defraud.
EE TIMES EUROPE (BELGIUM) 01/08/2009 United Kingdom
Eight retailers probed for selling bogus cigarettes
Eight retailers are being investigated by the Revenue after they were discovered selling counterfeit
cigarettes. The cigarettes display fake Irish Tax stamps and came to light after series of "test
purchases". A spokesman for the Revenue said the figure of eight investigations excluded separate
probes into other smuggled cigarettes in markets and by street sellers.
SUNDAY TRIBUNE, THE (EIRE) 02/08/2009 Ireland
Hard times
Meet the baby-faced dealer who is doing stiff trade illegally selling counterfeit Viagra tablets to not-sohard-up punters. The dodgy crook, who goes by the name of Fabio, is charging his customers £6.25
for each individual pill. On prescription a box of four pills cost £54.
IRISH DAILY STAR ON SUNDAY 02/08/2009 Ireland
Makers of fakes target brands with sporting links
Decking out your family in next season’s rugby or football strips can be a costly business, so it’s no
surprise there is a lucrative market for counterfeiters or replica shirts, hats or tracksuits. According to
the US Chamber of Commerce, counterfeiting costs the world economy about $650bn every year and
it not only hits organisations like sports clubs in the pocket, but can do serious damage to brand
image.
CRAIN`S MANCHESTER BUSINESS 03/08/2009 United Kingdom
Man sold fake United badges
A man has been sentenced to 100 hours community service for selling counterfeit Manchester United
badges at football games. Joseph Lawson, 47, of Hurtsville Road, Chorlton, appeared at Trafford
Magistrates Court charged with six counts of offering to supply goods which bore an infringing trade
mark.
TRAFFORD METRO NEWS 03/08/2009 United Kingdom
www.ipcb.co.uk
Workplace targeted in blitz on illegal sale of tax-free tobacco
A hard-hitting poster campaign has been launched in the East Midlands to warn people of the
consequences of illegal tobacco sales. Produced by HM Revenue and Customs, the posters will be
handed out to employers across the region this week.
Fake goods are put to good use by group
Counterfeit goods seized by Swindon Council have been donated to charity. Forty-five exhibit bags
and eight boxes containing items worth £100,000 have been acquired by Trading Standards officers
over the last two years. The items, which include footwear, clothing, bags and jewellery, were donated
to HIS Church, a registered charity based in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, on Friday.
SWINDON EVENING ADVERTISER 03/08/2009 United Kingdom
Police swoop on traders’ fake brands
Counterfeit designer goods, including poor quality rip-offs of expensive handbags and watches, have
been found on sale at Harrow Market. Officers from Brent and Harrow Trading Standards swooped on
two stalls and confiscated items that would have been worth a total of £10,000 had they been genuine.
HARROW LEADER 06/08/2009 United Kingdom
Engineer walks free after Sat Nav scam
An electronics engineer who made £12,000 selling counterfeit Sat Nav software on eBay has walked
free from court. Computer expert Kevin Ellis, who has PhD, used an array of sophisticated equipment
to manufacture the fake goods from a caravan outside his home.
LIVERPOOL DAILY POST (ENGLISH EDITION) 06/08/2009 UK LIVERPOOL ECHO 06/08/2009 UK
Fake cigarette warning
The dangers of smoking ‘dodgy’ cigarettes will be highlighted at a road show. North Staffordshire PCT
will be staging the event at the Midsummer Mayhen fun day at Lyme Valley Park, Newcastle, on
Sunday. As well as providing advice for those wishing to stop smoking, health experts will also show
smokers the variety of unusual substances they may be inhaling if they buy dodgy cigarettes
STOKE ON TRENT SENTINEL SERIES 07/08/2009 United Kingdom
Landlady fined for selling fakes
A former landlady is today several thousands pounds out of pocket after she admitted selling fake
designer goods at an Ipswich pub. Kim O’Hagan was told to pay a £6,000 confiscation order and
another £1,000 in fines after pleading guilty at an earlier hearing to selling and possessing items likely
to be mistaken for trademarks.
Trades warning on fake hair products
Shoppers are being warned against fake hair straighteners. Lancashire’s trading standards team says
three people in the county have already fallen foul of a Chinese web-site claiming to sell top brand
products at bargain prices.
BLACKPOOL GAZETTE 07/08/2009 United Kingdom
Market trader facing jail over fake toys
A market trader faces jail after selling potentially lethal fake kids’ toys. Mark Newton, 35, admitted
peddling counterfeit products which contained high amounts of dangerous and flammable chemicals.
Countless unsuspecting shoppers may have bought the hazardous toys from stall 175 in Romford
Market in the months leading to June last year.
www.ipcb.co.uk
Rag traders stand up to rip-offs
While junior staff were steaming and hanging clothes on the Super dry stand at a trade fair in Berlin
last month, Julian Dunkerton, chief executive of the niche fashion brand, was preparing to repel
pirates.
SUNDAY TIMES, THE 09/08/2009 United Kingdom
Warning over straighteners
Lancashire County Council Trading Standards Service is warning internet shoppers not to get stung
by a website selling dangerous fake hair straighteners. Three people in Lancashire have already fallen
foul of a Chinese website claiming to sell top brand of straighteners at bargain prices.
CHORLEY CITIZEN 12/08/2009 United Kingdom
Shop is hit by £16,500 fines over fake goods
A Luton shop has been fined for selling fake vodka, razor blades and lighters. Luton Borough
Council’s Trading Standards officers seized more than 1,300 counterfeit items in December 2007,
from the Sri Lankan Tamil Foods store on Dunstable Road.
LUTON NEWS & DUNSTABLE GAZETTE 12/08/2009 United Kingdom
£60,000 bill for selling counterfeit goods
A Crook caught selling counterfeit clothes and cigarettes has been hit with a 60,000 bill. Gareth
Knowles Krager, of Tower Street, Hendon, pleaded guilty to 13 offences against the Trademarks Act
in February after being caught by police.
SUNDERLAND ECHO 12/08/2009 United Kingdom
Brand scam man in court
A man accused of trading in goods similar to fashion brands has appeared in court. Steven Fitzgerald,
28, is alleged to have been caught dealing in goods purporting to be made by Ralph Lauren, Ugg and
Juicy Couture
Man was charging £100 for fake sat nav systems
An electronics engineer has escaped with a suspended jail sentence for making and selling counterfeit
satellite navigation systems on eBay. Keving Ellis (47), from Norley Drive in Eccleston, was sentenced
to 10 months in prison, suspended for 18 months.
ST HELENS STAR 13/08/2009 UK, ST HELENS REPORTER 12/08/2009 UK
Illegal market sellers targeted
Over 1,000 counterfeit goods were seized this weekend in a crackdown on market traders and car
booters. Denbighshire’s Trading Standards team were part of the joint venture between North Wales’
six councils and police to target illegal sales.
Fake goods are put to good use by group
Counterfeit goods seized by Swindon Council have been donated to charity. Forty-five exhibit bags
and eight boxes containing items worth £100,000 have been acquired by Trading Standards officers
over the last two years. The items, which include footwear, clothing, bags and jewellery, were donated
to HIS Church, a registered charity based in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, on Friday.
ESSEX CHRONICLE (BRAINTREE EDITION) 13/08/2009 United Kingdom
eBay fraudsters nailed
Two men involved in a £200,000 internet counterfeiting operation have been ordered to pay nearly
£30,000 in confiscation orders and prosecution costs. James O’Donnell, 26, and Reza Fazeli, 25,
appeared at Snaresbrook Court on Friday.
ESSEX ENQUIRER 13/08/2009 UK, ROMFORD & HAVERING WEEKLY POST 21/08/2009 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Drugs and fake goods seized in raids
A large quantity of drugs and counterfeit goods have been seized by police in raids across the town.
Officers from Warrington central NPU discovered the first stash of suspected class B drugs and fake
goods after executing a warrant on a container at a self-storage site in Chorley Street last Wednesday.
WARRINGTON GUARDIAN 13/08/2009 United Kingdom
Fine for trader on fake razors
Fake razors were discovered during a raid on a Black Country market stall, a court was told. Customer
Paul Breakwell complained to trading standards after paying 10 for four packets of Gilette-branded
razors from West Bromwich market.
EXPRESS & STAR WOLVERHAMPTON (CITY) (WEST MIDLANDS) 14/08/2009 United Kingdom
Warning over phone chargers that can kill
Dangerous mobile phone chargers are for sale on the Fylde coast. The chargers can cause fires or
electrocute whoever is using them and have been labelled as potentially fatal. They have been on sale
in market stalls and shops across Lancashire - and nine have been bought in St Anne’s.
Shop owner is fined for sale of dangerous vodka
An off-licence owner who sold dangerous counterfeit vodka has been hit with a £1,000 fine. Abdur
Rashid, who runs Valley Food Stores in Mountain Ash, was found to be selling counterfeit Spar ownbrand vodka which contained dangerous levels of methanol.
Cigs seized in customs shop raid
More than 10,000 cigarettes and 1.5kg of tobacco were seized during a raid on a shop. Trading
Standards officers form Wirral council targeted the business in Birkenhead in a joint raid with HM
Revenue and Customs.
LIVERPOOL ECHO 17/08/2009 United Kingdom
Man sentenced over tobacco haul
A Glasgow man was caught with 190,000 counterfeit duty-free cigarettes and 57 kilos of hand-rolling
tobacco in a bag outside his home. James McLean, 54, of Acredyke Crescent, Glasgow, was
sentenced to 200 hours community service at Glasgow Sherriff Court after admitting trading illegally
and evading paying taxes.
How to spot a fake item when you shop
Spree doesn’t think it’s unreasonable to say that most people like to have something in their wardrobe
that’s designer and that people can compliment them on. And with the Internet it’s a lot easier to get
our hands on designer items, but a recent report has found that fake items such as Christian
Louboutin shoes from China and flooding the virtual World.
Why intellectual property is increasingly crucial
The new series of Dragon’s Den has highlighted the importance of protecting intellectual property
rights. Often one of the first questions asked by the Dragons is what steps an entrepreneur has taken
to protect a new idea or brand. If you purchase what you believe to be luxury item such as a Louis
Vuitton handbag and the quality is inferior and not as expected, as you have, in fact, unknown to you,
bought a counterfeit copy, then the reputation of that Louis Vuitton brand can be affected.
BOURNEMOUTH DAILY ECHO 18/08/2009 United Kingdom
www.ipcb.co.uk
Banksy 3 face trial
Three fraud suspects yesterday denied making around £100,000 selling 100 bogus prints of work by
graffiti artist Banksy on eBay. They also flogged copies of clothes by fashion guru Vivienne Westwood
and punk guru Malcolm McLaren on the internet auction site for a similar amount, it was claimed.
17,000 cigs seized in double raid
Thousands more dodgy cigarettes have been taken off the streets of Huddersfield following raids on a
shop and a house. About 4,000 allegedly counterfeit and non-duty paid cigarettes were seized in a
swoop at HD International Food at John William Street
Fake clothing to help out charities
Somerset County Council will hand over £200,000 worth of seized counterfeit goods to worldwide
charities as a result of a successful year of Trading Standards operations. The counterfeit goods were
seized during the past 12 months by Somerset County Council in operations that took place
throughout the county.
CENTRAL SOMERSET GAZETTE 20/08/2009 UK, SOMERSET COUNTY GAZETTE SERIES
20/08/2009 UK, WELLINGTON WEEKLY NEWS 20/08/2009 UK, MJ, THE 20/08/2009 United
Kingdom
Council news
More than a thousand counterfeit and unsafe goods were seized during a week long crackdown on
Anglesey. Items were confiscated from car boot sales in Valley, Mona and Benllech, as well as
council-run markets, including sunglasses, handbags, watched, jewellery, music CDs and DVDs.
NORTH WALES CHRONICLE 20/08/2009 United Kingdom
Fakes fall foul of real brand
A gang who ran a huge fake clothing scam on eBay were caught when the ringleader sold a jacket to
a man who worked for the real brand. Anthony Kaufmaln, who was the ring-leader of the racket, sold
the Stone Island jacket on eBay in early 2006.
SALFORD ADVERTISER (INC. SALFORD CITY REPORTER) 20/08/2009 United Kingdom
Officers swoop on fake IT equipment
Trading Standards officers have swooped on a garage in Watford, seizing fake computer software.
The IT equipment was being used by the business to diagnose faults and repair vehicles and officers
say the bogus software could have been a danger to the public.
WATFORD FREE OBSERVER 20/08/2009 United Kingdom
City swoop on illegal factory for cigarettes
An illegal tobacco factory has been discovered hidden at an industrial unit in Willenhall. Machinery and
600 kilos of tobacco was found during a raid by Customs teams. There was enough tobacco to make
an average of 1.2 million rolled cigarettes which officials said were destined to be peddled in pubs,
workplaces, car boot sales and at street corners.
EXPRESS & STAR WOLVERHAMPTON (CITY) (WEST MIDLANDS) 21/08/2009 UK, EXPRESS &
STAR DUDLEY (WEST MIDLANDS) 21/08/2009 UK, WIRRAL GLOBE (SERIES) 26/08/2009 UK
Customs seize fake fag haul
More than 85,000 illegal cigarettes were seized by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) officers in an
operation in the Knowsley area. The illegal cigarettes, along with around 7,000 in cash, were found
during a search of four premises in Huyton.
www.ipcb.co.uk
Tourists warned on fakes
Tourists could be fined thousands of pounds for buying fake designer gear when they go abroad.
France and Italy are stepping up a campaign against counterfeiters as well as their customers.
SCOTTISH SUNDAY MAIL 23/08/2009 United Kingdom
Warning over fake designer gear
Midland holidaymakers could be fined thousands of pounds for buying fake designer gear when they
go abroad, lawyers warned today. Authorities in countries like France and Italy are stepping up a
campaign against those who peddle counterfeit goods as well as those who buy them.
BIRMINGHAM SUNDAY MERCURY 23/08/2009 United Kingdom
Rogue traders told to avoid steam festival
Rogue traders selling counterfeit designer goods are being warned to stay away from this year’s Great
Dorset Steam Fair near Blandford. Louis Vuitton handbags, Jimmy Choo sunglasses, and New Era
baseball caps were among the items seized by trading standards officers at last year’s events.
600 kilos of illegal tobacco in police `factory` raids
An illegal tobacco manufacturing unit was uncovered in Walsall last week with 600 kilos of tobacco
seized. HM Revenue & Customs officers raided two addresses in Willenhall last Monday, one
residential and one industrial and seized counterfeit Golden Virginia wrappers, semi-processed and
processed tobacco, counterfeit European tax stamps, scales and the finished product.
Cops in crackdown on market tricksters
Conmen have cheated unlucky punters by selling them ‘laptops’ - then swapping the bags for others
full of potatoes and onions at the last minute. The scam was uncovered around the White Hart Lane
Market in Tottenham during two large-scale enforcement officers and the police in recent weeks.
TOTTENHAM & WOOD GREEN JOURNAL 27/08/2009 United Kingdom
Fake items are seized at market
More fakes have been found at Moreton-in-Marsh market. Police have seized goods including mugs
and money boxes branded with popular cartoon characters, such as Postman Pat, the Simpsons and
Dora the Explorer.
GLOUCESTERSHIRE ECHO (SERIES) 28/08/2009 United Kingdom
Officers vow to keep fake goods off city’s street
Traders have been warned any attempt to sell counterfeit goods in Swansea will not be tolerated. The
warning from the local authority comes after a businessman was fined thousands of pounds at
Swansea Crown Court for attempting to sell fake merchandise in the city centre.
Pair tried to smuggle fake fags in through the back door
A company director has been jailed after attempting to smuggle 1.2 million counterfeit cigarettes into
the UK. Ihtesham Ali Hassan, 30, of Cefn Coed Roadm was given an 18-month prison sentence after
being found guilty of knowingly evading duty on a huge consignment of fake cigarettes illegally
imported through Southampton Container Port.
Jail for cigs smuggler
A scots newsagent who tried to smuggle 1.2 million fake cigarettes into Britain hidden in doors has
been jailed. Amjif Arfane Saqqid, 31, from Cambuslang, was caught after the massive haul was
discovered in a 20ft cargo container.
www.ipcb.co.uk
Revealed: £2bn cost to UK from cigarette smuggling
A small town on the Ukranian-Polish border is the epicentre of a fast-growing contraband industry,
which is leeching money from taxpayers, industry and the Government.
SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, THE 30/08/2009 United Kingdom
www.ipcb.co.uk
Fake brands sale accused
A Wolverhampton man accused of selling fake brand name clothes from two city centre shops has
appeared in court. Anup Patel, aged 43, of Lyndhurst Road, faces 21 separate charges of possessing
goods with a false trade mark. He pleaded not guilty at Wolverhampton Magistrates Court yesterday.
No headline
Manchester: Counterfeit t-shirts for rock bands including Oasis, Kasabian and The Enemy, seized
outside shows in Heaton Park, are to be sent to some of the world’s poorest people. More than 1,300
fake shirts were seized by trading standards officers during the concerts in early June.
LANCASHIRE EVENING POST 01/07/2009 UK WIGAN EVENING POST 01/07/2009 UK
Why are we here?
L’Oreal, the French cosmetics group has been told by the UK high court that eBay is not legally
accountable for the sale of counterfeit L’Oreal cosmetics on its UK Website. Judges in Belgium and
France had previously ruled that the online auction group is not ultimately responsible for policing
counterfeit sales.
B THERE! 01/07/2009 United Kingdom
Faking it
Word on the street says there are some dodgy deals going on. Hairdressers are being confronted with
all sorts of fake ‘professional’ tools of the trade, from electrical equipment to scissors. But resist such
offers and remember: the road to ruin is littered with temptation...
SALON BUSINESS 01/07/2009 United Kingdom
F for Fake
Time was when counterfeit personal care products were commonly crude fake perfumes pedalled in
markets and workplaces during Christmas and other festive periods to bargain hunter who knew they
were buying rubbish. Not any more.
SOAP PERFUMERY & COSMETICS [SPC] 01/07/2009 United Kingdom
Jail for boss after police stub out fags import plan
A company director from Kenton has been jailed for five years after masterminding a plot to smuggle
nearly 12 million cigarettes into the country. Valji Varsani, the brains behind the ploy, organised for
three shipments of 3.8 million counterfeit fags to be delivered to his industrial unit in Wembley in
containers said to be packed with plastic DVD cases.
HARROW OBSERVER 02/07/2009 United Kingdom
Trader on the run
A market trader found with more than 100 counterfeit goods at a Harrow market has gone on the run,
dodging a prison sentence. Police are hunting Hittesh Sood, of Harrow Weald, who failed to turn up at
Harrow Crown Court and is now thought to be in hiding. Sood, 43, was sentenced to three months in
prison on June 15 after he was caught selling fake sportswear after an undercover test purchase by
Brent and Harrow Trading Standards in September.
HARROW TIMES 02/07/2009 UK, HARROW OBSERVER 02/07/2009 UK, WEMBLEY OBSERVER
02/07/2009 UK
Fag ends
Smuggling counterfeit cigarettes can have huge consequences, so it was good to see a long sentence
for the mastermind behind the latest important ploy. Not only do cheap, fake cigarettes undermine the
efforts of suppliers and shops who try to sell products legally, it puts buyers at risk.
www.ipcb.co.uk
Don’t buy fake swine flu drugs
The government’s Chief Medical Officer today warned the public to avoid panic-buying ‘counterfeit’
anti-swine flu drugs online. This comes after it was revealed the number of new cases could soon
reach 100,000 per day.
ABERDEEN EVENING EXPRESS (SERIES) 03/07/2009 UK GLASGOW EVENING TIMES
03/07/2009 UK, EXPRESS & STAR WOLVERHAMPTON (CITY) (WEST MIDLANDS) 03/07/2009 UK
Internet fake tamiflu danger warning
Health experts are urging Fylde coast residents not to buy an anti-viral drug online in the swine flu
panic. Internet sales often involve fake drugs and the Royal Pharmaceutical society says products
bought in this way could include little more than sugar or even dangerous substances, such as rat
poison.
Stub out dodgy cigarettes
Smokers are to be shown that they are getting more than a bargain when they buy dodgy tobacco
products. As well as providing advice for those wishing to stop smoking it will also show people the
variety of unusual substances they may be inhaling if they buy dodgy cigarettes.
HEARTLAND EVENING NEWS 06/07/2009 United Kingdom
It’s war against fakes
A new national charter has been launched in the ongoing battle against fakes in the UK. Real Deal:
Working Together For Fake-Free Markets aims to kick counterfeits out of markets and car boot sales.
Nokia in claim over counterfeit goods
Customs are allowing counterfeit goods to pass through Britain if they have no connection with the
EU, a High Court judge was told yesterday. Nokia is asking the court in London to quash a decision by
Customs to release 423 fake Nokia mobile handsets seized at Heathrow.
Designer fakes up for sale on eBay
A gang was involved in a conspiracy to sell tens of thousands of pounds of fake designer clothes on
eBay, a court heard. They bore fake logos of top fashion houses including Armani, Hugo Boss, Fred
Perry and Prada. Manchester Crown Court heard how the lucrative conspiracy operated through a
string of eBay and Pay Pal accounts owned by a sales team recruited by Kaufman.
Jail for cigarette smuggling gang which targeted resort.
A racketeering gang of illegal immigrants who targeted Felixstowe in a multi-million pound smuggling
plot are behind bars today. Undercover customs officers foiled their cigarette and tobacco operation,
which evaded £2.6million in tax. Over the course of 14 months they illegally imported more than
15million counterfeit cigarettes and nearly 2.5 tonnes of hand rolling tobacco from China.
IPSWICH EVENING STAR (SERIES) 08/07/2009 United Kingdom
Raids reveal toxic cigarette problem
Around 1,600 fake cigarettes were seized during a blitz on sellers of illegal imports. Officials targeted
35 pubs and shops in Bentilee and Townsend is Stoke-on-Trent. More than 3.4kg of rolling tobacco
was also seized in a joint operation by officers from HM Revenue and Customs, NHS Stoke-on-Trent
and Stoke-on-Trent City Councils Trading Standards and Environmental Health teams.
www.ipcb.co.uk
Crown court for a Viagra seller
An Aylesbury man accused of selling a counterfeit Viagra-type drug on the internet will be tried before
a crown court later this year. Harish Gami, 40, faces 12 charges including selling goods bearing a
false Cialis trademark and importing Cialis from Pakistan not in accordance to the manufacturer’s
license.
BUCKS HERALD 08/07/2009 United Kingdom
Beware fake swine flu medication
Fake swine flu drugs have started appearing on the Internet and they pose severe health risks if
consumed, a Trading Standards boss is warning.
Suspended sentence for teacher who made £40,000.
- By selling fake football shirts. A teacher who duped about 200 people into buying counterfeit football
shirts on eBay made nearly £40,000 from his criminal enterprise. Paul Edward Davies advertised
shirts on the internet auction site and claimed they were the real thing. But they were all counterfeit
and had been imported by him from Thailand. In March the 34-year-old admitted four fraud charges,
six trademark offences and one count of obtaining money by deception.
CHESTER EVENING LEADER 10/07/2009 United Kingdom
Guard must repay 50k
A security guard who was caught with a cache of counterfeit goods and prescription drugs during a
raid at his home has been ordered to repay £50,000 of his ill-gotten gains. When police swooped on
Andrew Wisemans flat in Christchurch Road, Bournemouth on January 17, 2006 they seized £14,000
in cash, a large quantity of cigarettes, 772 gms of cannabis and 570 Diazapan sachets.
Fighting the Fakes
Counterfeit components are a continuing headache for the electronics industry. The UK Electronics
Alliance intends to launch a website to let engineers share information on fake components in an
attempt to stem the flow of damaging counterfeits from the Far East. In 2008, the UKEA estimated the
cost of electronic counterfeiting in the UK alone came to 1bn per year.
ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY 11/07/2009 United Kingdom
Beware of dodgy smokes
Smokers were given information and advice on what they are getting when they purchase dodgy
cigarettes. The event was the latest part of a hard-hitting poster and radio campaign from the
Department of Health and HM Revenue & Customs highlighting some of the unpleasant ingredients
that can be in illicit tobacco products.
Fake Goods
A man has appeared in court charged with trying to sell hundreds of fake goods. Mark Clay was
caught with the items bearing false trademarks in Bulwell Market by city council trading standards
officers, Nottingham magistrates heard.
NOTTINGHAM RECORDER 16/07/2009 United Kingdom
Customs officers unveil cigarette haul
Customs officers have unveiled a haul of more than a million cigarettes from an Ellistown industrial
estate. Officers found the packets of Marlboro - which could be fake - on Tuesday following a tip-off.
The haul is thought to have a street value of £150,000.
COALVILLE TIMES 17/07/2009 United Kingdom
www.ipcb.co.uk
Customs officers seize 170,000 fake cigarettes
A haul of 170,000 black market cigarettes was found stashed under the floorboards of a house in
Walsall during a raid by customs officers. The cigarettes had been hidden under the floorboards in the
bedrooms and the main landing area of the detached house in Caldmore Green and were found
during the raid this week.
Probe starts as cut-price counterfeiters move down value chain
The real targets for the investigation are the importers who supply small-scale sellers with fake goods.
Once it was luxury brands such as L’Oreal, Gucci and Jimmy Choo that had most to fear from
counterfeiting. JML, the consumer goods distributor, is the latest brand owner to employ private
investigators after it discovered evidence that cheap imitation versions of its hit gadget, the PedEgg,
were being sold online and at car boot sales.
FINANCIAL TIMES (UK & IRELAND EDITION) 18/07/2009 United Kingdom
100-hour work order for trader who sold counterfeit clothing.
A trader was ordered to do 100 hours of unpaid community work after being caught selling counterfeit
clothing at Penrith’s open air market. Mohammed Pervez Akthar (44) was sentenced at Carlisle Crown
Court on Friday after being found guilty of 15 charges of selling or possessing clothes with false
trademarks.
CUMBERLAND & WESTMORELAND HERALD 18/07/2009 United Kingdom
Fake cigarettes: Police arrest four
Four men have been arrested after police officers seized a haul of fake cigarettes at a Bolton market.
More than £8,000 worth of cigarettes and rolling tobacco was confiscated in Great Lever yesterday. A
total of 23,000 cigarettes, 12 kilos of rolling tobacco and a vehicle were taken away.
Fine over fake toy haul
Fake Spiderman, Superman and Winnie the Pooh toys were seized from a Blackpool shop before
Christmas, a court was told. Vincent Baxter, 54, owner of the Bargain Gift Superstore on the
Promenade, admitted three offences of selling counterfeit goods.
£3m of fake designer gear seized in swoop on factory
Fake goods worth about £3m were seized in one of the biggest-ever counterfeit raids in Manchester.
Customs and trading standards officers swooped on a Piccadilly warehouse after a tip-off - and found
thousands of boxes of bogus gear. The haul included a vast array of fake designer clothes and
sportswear. There were also hair straighteners, perfumes, sunglasses, fireworks and razor blades.
Boss sacked and fined for fake vodka
A shop boss ended up in court after buying crates of counterfeit vodka he then sold to customers who
believed it was a top brand. The deal was a costly one for Noveed Naz, 24, who was sacked as
manager of the store he ran. Now he must also pay out £515 after a prosecution by Manchester
council in a crackdown on rouge retailers.
MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS 22/07/2009 UK, NORTH EAST MANCHESTER ADVERTISER
30/07/2009 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
One you can’t beat if you counterfeit
Dodgy traders in Luton are being warned against selling fake goods in town after a Trading Standards
worker was named the country’s top anti-counterfeiting officer. A judging panel including fellow
Trading Standards professionals, trademark owners and Patent Office representatives have awarded
Luton Trading Standards officer Clare Pope a prize for outstanding achievement and dedication,
following a three-year study aimed at cracking down on counterfeiting.
LUTON NEWS & DUNSTABLE GAZETTE 22/07/2009 United Kingdom
Goods are fake... but crime is real
If people needed any more convincing that counterfeiting is not harmless, small-scale
entrepreneurism, they should read our report today about a raid by customs and trading standards
officers on a warehouse in Piccadilly, Manchester. Here in the heart of the city, £3m worth of fake
goods were piled up - bogus designer clothes, handbags, trainers, hair straighteners, even fake Ugg
boots. Those goods were probably destined for distribution to market stalls and discount shops across
the country. In raids across Britain, vendors so often point to Manchester as the source of their
supplies.
Crime Reporter
Counterfeit phone accessories and computer games with an estimated value of £30,000 have been
seized by police and Trading Standards officers in Leeds. The seized property included, counterfeit
mobile phone equipment and accessories including headphones and covers, and stickers featuring
the logos of larger manufacturing companies to be applied to them to make them appear legitimate.
Also seized were a large number of R4 chips, which allow people to download video games from the
internet without charge or small fee, for use on games consoles.
Shop owners fined £6,500 on fake vodka
The shop owners prosecuted after counterfeit vodka was sold in the Black Country have been landed
with a court bill of more than £7,000. Fake bottles of Glen’s Vodka were found at a food store in
Quarry Bank, Dudley.
Rogue trader sold counterfeit goods
A pair of rogue traders who attempted to sell 705 fake designer accessories at the Great Dorset
Steam Fair has been sentenced by a judge. Harider Singh, 44, and Rajpal Tal Singh, 23, set up a stall
at last Augusts’ Tarrant Hinton fair containing around £7,700 worth of stolen goods, Dorset trading
standards officers say.
DORSET ECHO 22/07/2009 United Kingdom
Trader facing charges over fake goods
An undercover operation by Swansea trading standards officers has landed an Essex trader in court
facing charges relating to the production of counterfeit clothing.
SOUTH WALES EVENING POST 22/07/2009 United Kingdom
Cigarette haul at OAP house
A pensioner was busted with hundreds of illegal cigarettes at her home during a crackdown on
counterfeit tobacco in Barnsley.
SHEFFIELD STAR (SERIES) 22/07/2009 United Kingdom
Trader sold fake designer clothing
A market stall trader who sold fake designer clothes when profits fell has been jailed. Aslan Nyrem,
37, was caught selling fake Playboy, Rabbit and Beck items after a trading standards sting at his five
stalls in Wrexhams Peoples Market.
www.ipcb.co.uk
Market trader sentenced for selling fake clothing
A stallholder who operated at Blackbushe Sunday market, near Yateley, has been convicted of selling
counterfeit clothing. Aldershot Magistrates’ Court heard on July 15 that Ajmal Mamhood Bagurai, 27,
of Eileen Road, Birmingham was found with nearly 500 items of counterfeit clothing with names such
as Drunknmunky, Timberland and Henri-Lloyd.
SURREY/HANTS STAR (CAMBERLEY, FARNBOROUGH, ALDERSHOT & FLEET) 23/07/2009 U K
ALDERSHOT NEWS & MAIL 24/07/2009 UK
Swansea City FC fakes fooled buyers
Swansea City FC merchandise seized from an Essex trader may have fooled members of the public
who thought they were buying officially authorised goods, according to a club representative.
Traders sentenced for fake goods
A trader has been ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work after 650 counterfeit luxury brand
items were seized from his stall at the Great Dorset Steam Fair. There had been a hidden section at
Harinder Singh’s stall last summer, within which hundreds of illegal copies of designer handbags had
been found.
Highly toxic booze sold
The owner of an off-licence in Esher High Street that sold highly toxic counterfeit vodka has been fined
£1,690 at Staines Magistrates Court.
SURREY COMET 24/07/2009 United Kingdom
Man admits selling counterfeit goods bought at market...
A man has appeared in court after admitting to selling counterfeit goods he bought at Wellesbourne
market. David Adam Yardley had been operating a business from his home selling fake designer
shoes and clothes over the internet from 2007 until early last year.
LEAMINGTON SPA COURIER 24/07/2009 United Kingdom
Fake cigarettes seized in raids on businesses
A bumper haul of fake cigarettes has been seized after a series of swoops on six Peterborough
business, the bogus goods - which some shop managers admitted they had bought from the back of a
van - were seized by officers from Peterborough City Councils Trading standards team.
PETERBOROUGH EVENING TELEGRAPH 25/07/2009 United Kingdom
Trader to face trial over counterfeit clothing
A trader is facing a trial relating to the production of counterfeit clothing, Andrew Splain, 45 from
Southend, appeared at Swansea crown court to answer charges he was involved in the production of
replica football shirts without permission.
Smuggling charge
A group of six men accused of illegally importing 25,000kgs of counterfeit soap powder into Cheshire
are due to appear at Northwich Magistrates Court next week
MID CHESHIRE CHRONICLE 29/07/2009 United Kingdom
Trader sold fake blades
A trader with a stall in West Bromwich has pleaded guilty to selling falsely branded razor blades.
Michael Tarplee, aged 28, of Ashton Road, Yardley, Birmingham, admitted 15 charges regarding the
supply of counterfeit Gilette blades to a trading standards officer.
EXPRESS & STAR DUDLEY (WEST MIDLANDS) 29/07/2009 United Kingdom
www.ipcb.co.uk
Police swoop on fakes
Counterfeit designer goods, including rip-offs of expensive handbags and watches, have been found
on sale at Harrow Market. Officers from Brent and Harrow Trading Standards swooped on two stalls
and confiscated items that would have been worth a total of £10,000 had they been genuine
Boss in court over counterfeit vodka
A shop boss ended up in court after buying crates of counterfeit vodka he then sold to customers who
believed it was a top brand. The deal was a costly one for Noveed Naz, 24, who was sacked as
manager of the store he ran.
NORTH EAST MANCHESTER ADVERTISER 30/07/2009 United Kingdom
Fair stallhorlders had hundreds of fakes
Two more market traders caught selling counterfeit goods at the great Dorset steam fair last year have
been sentenced at Dorchester Crown Court. The case brought by Dorset Trading Standards followed
the seizure of 650 counterfeit items from a market stall that had a hidden section containing hundreds
of illegal copies of designer handbags.
Fake handbags seized
Fake goods being sold at knock-down prices have been seized from traders in Harrow town centre.
Watches and counterfeit Gucci handbags were among the items found on sale in the streets in Harrow
during raids carried out last week.
HARROW TIMES 30/07/2009 United Kingdom
Rip off bid helps Sudan
Counterfeit Gripples donated to community. A failed bid to rip off a pioneering Sheffield invention is
benefiting impoverished farmers in one of the most remote and inaccessible parts of Sudan. It all
began when Gripple founder Hugh Facey discovered copies were being made in China of a special
version of the innovative wire joining and tensioning device.
Aiming to stamp out the illegal cig sellers
A crackdown on criminals targeting youngsters with illegal cigarettes has been launched in Wigan.
The aim is to clear the streets of cigarette crime and slash the toll of smoking-related deaths.
Fake Wolves shirts inquiry
Wolves were today investigating claims that fake replica club tops are being sold over the internet.
The club conformed today it was looking closely at the 2009/10 home shirts which are selling for
almost £30 and are thought to be coming from Thailand.
Trading award
A Surrey trading standards officer has won an award after seizing fake goods worth more than
£100,000 last year. Paul Manwaring landed the honour from the Anti-Counterfeiting Group (ACG) after
confiscating thousands of counterfeit items, including fake DVDs, toys and designer goods.
SURREY ADVERTISER SERIES 31/07/2009 United Kingdom
Grass on illegal dealers, urges NHS
Health bosses have launched a new initiative to tackle illicit tobacco on the streets of Cumbria. Last
year around 60 million cigarettes and 15 tonnes of illegal tobacco were seized across the North West.
Now, in a bid to cut the number of children taking up smoking, NHS Cumbria wants members of the
public to telephone a special hotline to go online to report illegal dealers.
WESTMORLAND GAZETTE 31/07/2009 United Kingdom
www.ipcb.co.uk
It’s poetic justice for cig cheat
A man jailed for selling fake cigarettes received a poem from cops poking fun at him. Police seized
£255,000 of assets from Joby Sanders, 37, under a Proceeds of Crime order and taunted him in
verse. Detective Inspector Graham Wragg wrote the crook a note, pointing out he was serving more
than three years in prison. Sanders had earlier sent cops a poem from his cell, telling them how the
smuggled the fake cigs from Poland.
Brands to take on Net cheats
On-line marketplace eBay urged major retail brands today to co-operate in fighting fake goods on the
Internet rather than going to court. The call came after eBay won a French court case brought by
cosmetics giant L’Oreal which claimed not enough was being done to crack down on counterfeit goods
sold on eBay.
EXPRESS & STAR CANNOCK (MID STAFFS) 01/06/09 United Kingdom
Web fakes ruling keeps claims at bay
If counterfeit goods have been sold via an online auction house, who should take responsibility for
cracking down on the counterfeiters - the manufacturer whose goods have been cloned or the online
auction house that provides the sales outlet? It is a debate that has dogged eBay for some time.
LAWYER 01/06/09 United Kingdom
Warning over fake alcohol
Stockport Council is warning shopkeepers and residents to be on the look-out for counterfeit vodka
after some bottles were seized in the borough. Trading Standards officers were alerted to the vodka
by a member of the public who had purchased a 70cl bottle of red Smirnoff Vodka from a Heaton
Norris newsagent. On pouring a glass from the bottle, the complainant’s wife found the liquid did not
taste or smell right and she could not drink it.
STOCKPORT EXPRESS 02/06/09 United Kingdom
French court turns tide in favour of eBay over fakes
The tide has clearly turned in favour of eBay in the legal war over the sale of counterfeit goods on their
site after a French court backed them against L’Oreal. There have been numerous cases across the
globe, notably in the United States and Europe, with mixed results. However, until now, eBay have
largely been victorious throughout the process except in France.
Auction site ‘not liable’ for breaches of copyright
Online marketplace eBay has claimed victory in a High Court test case brought by cosmetics giant
L’Oreal. A judge in London ruled that eBay was not jointly liable for trademark infringements
committed by its users. Mr Justice Arnold announced his decision in the latest of a number of cases
brought by L’Oreal in courts around Europe.
HERALD, THE (GLASGOW) 02/06/09 United Kingdom
£7,000 bill for firm with fake ‘danger’ lighters
A firm has been fined more than £6,000 with nearly £900 costs after counterfeit batteries and
potentially dangerous cigarette lighters were found on its premises. Magistrates were told investigators
found hundreds of bogus Duracell batteries at Manchester Direct Trading, on Rugby Street,
Strangeways. On a later visit, a council official found 97 packs of fake Clipper lighters - 400 in total.
www.ipcb.co.uk
Trader denies selling fake designer bags
A market trader has denied selling fake designer handbags claiming police mixed up what was on his
stall with personal items seized from his home, a court heard. Officers and trading standards
representatives launched ‘Operation Luggage’ to target Owen Wright, aged 48, of Bradwell Street,
Heeley, Sheffield, after a tip-off
Restaurant owner sold fake spirits
A cross keys restaurant owner was fined more than £1,000 for passing off cheap spirits as premium
brands. Abdul Shaim, owner of Balti Nite on Gladstone Street, pleaded guilty to four charges before
magistrates in Abertillery on May 28.
Trader’s counterfeit goods trial
A market trader accused of selling counterfeit designer clothes at Penrith’s open air market told a
court yesterday he did everything he could to make sure they weren’t fake. ‘My job is to purchase
items at the best price to pass on to the public’ he said. `When I buy something I look at the quality
and the price. The label doesn’t matter’
CARLISLE NEWS & STAR (SERIES) 03/06/2009 UK
‘Smuggled’ cigs sold to girl, 16
A haul of illegal Russian cigarettes were seized during a sting to stop traders selling cigarettes to
children in Liverpool. Enforcement officers visited a range of premises across the city where shops
sold the fags to two girl volunteers, aged 16 and 14. In a premises in Lodge Lane, Toxteth, a member
of staff sold smuggled Russian cigarettes, which were being kept secretly under the counter, to the
teenager.
Trader hits back in fake goods case
A market trader trying to reclaim £18,000 seized by police after he was suspected of selling fake
designer bags branded a detective involved in the case ‘malicious and vindictive’. Owen Wright, aged
48 of Bradwell Street, Heeley, Sheffield, is contesting a forfeiture hearing brought by South Yorkshire
Police, who want to retain the cash despite never charging Mr Owen with any offences.
Market trader’s victory over police cash seizure
Police have been ordered to pay back £18,000 seized from a South Yorkshire market trader
suspected of selling fake designer bags on his stall. Officers seized the cash and a number of bags
after raiding Owen Wright`s home on Bradwell Street, Heeley, Sheffield, with Trading Standards
Officers. He was never prosecuted but police retained the cash because they believed he had made it
by trading illegally on Barnsley Market.
DONCASTER ADVERTISER (SERIES) 05/06/09 United Kingdom
eBay win against L’Oreal in the High Court too
eBay have now added a London High Court victory against a claim from luxury brand L’Oreal to the
one they gained in France on May 13. As reported last week, this expected to all but end court action
against the online giant over trademark infringements that take place on their site.
www.ipcb.co.uk
Shop owner sold counterfeit clothing
A clothes shop owner has been fined more than £4,000 for selling counterfeit goods. Amir Sadr, 47,
admitted nine counts of selling clothes which were not the designer labels they were claimed to be.
Sadr, who owns Back 2 Back Clothing Ltd, was selling the clothes at his shop in St Benedict’s Street
and a unit on the third floor of the Castle Mall, with some of the garments up for sale for more than
£100.
NORWICH EVENING NEWS 06/06/09 United Kingdom
Penrith trader convicted over counterfeit goods
A Penrith market trader has been convicted of trading in counterfeit goods, following a trial at Carlisle
Crown Court. Mohammed Pervez Akthar (44), Braeview, Stenhousemuir, Scotland, went on trial on
five charges of selling and 10 matters of possessing falsely trademarked items at the auction martbased Saturday market, when he appeared at court on Monday.
CUMBERLAND & WESTMORELAND HERALD 06/06/09 United Kingdom
Customs swoop on fake trainers
An organised crime gang’s plot to flood markets with thousands of fake Nike trainers has been foiled
at Felixtowe docks. Today two containers holding more than 7,200 pairs of women’s training shoes
were due to be reopened at the port for a comprehensive inspection. The counterfeit goods arrived
from Athens, but were intercepted by customs officers when they arrived in Suffolk.
IPSWICH EVENING STAR (SERIES) 09/06/09 UK; EAST ANGLIAN DAILY TIMES (SERIES)
12/06/09 UK
Warning over fake baccy
People are being warned about phoney hand-rolling tobacco after counterfeit stashes were seized
from sellers targeting people in pubs and betting shops. The tobacco does not meet standards set
down by the UK Government for permitted levels of tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide and could be
dangerous, according to Lewisham council. The pouches of the fake tobacco are labelled with
German health warnings but is believed to be imported from Asia.
SOUTH LONDON PRESS (TUESDAY) 09/06/09 United Kingdom
£6m sex pill scam
A man was jailed for two years yesterday for running a £6.1 million fake Viagra scam. Martin Hickman
sold sex pills on the net with a 1,000 per cent mark-up. He splashed out on luxury villas, flash cars and
a number plate reading L13RGE, London’s Southwark Crown Court heard.
SUN, THE 09/06/2009 UK; METRO LONDON (INC, BRIGHTON) 09/06/2009 UK
Warning on counterfeit goods
Uttoxeter consumers and traders are being reminded of dangers of buying and selling counterfeit
goods. Staffordshire County Council Trading Standards sent out the reminder for World Anti
Counterfeiting Day tomorrow.
UTTOXETER ADVERTISER 10/06/09 United Kingdom
Steer clear of fakes, say watchdogs
A new crackdown on counterfeit goods was launched today. And the message from West Yorkshire’s
Chief Trading Standards Officer, Graham Hebblethwaite to consumers in the run up to World AntiCounterfeiting Day tomorrow was: Don’t buy the fakes.
eBay user avoids jail for selling fake Nikes
A swindler who profited by thousands of pounds selling fake Nike Air Max trainers on eBay has
narrowly escaped a jail term. Daniel Davison, 31, of Browning Avenue, Worcester Park, admitted
importing the 200 fake trainers from China and then selling them to unsuspecting customers on the
internet auction site between February and May 2008.
EPSOM GUARDIAN 11/06/09 UK; EPSOM GUARDIAN 11/06/09 UK;
SUTTON GUARDIAN 11/06/2009 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Arrests made after £50k of counterfeit goods seized
Three market traders were arrested after police seized nearly 50,000 of counterfeit clothes, DVDs and
computer games at a Sunday morning market in Battersea. Police, trading standards officers and
representatives from the film, clothing and music industry discovered the haul during a joint operation
to crack on pirate goods.
WANDSWORTH GUARDIAN SERIES 11/06/09 United Kingdom SURREY COMET 12/06/2009 UK
A crushing fate for the fakes that cost us all millions
The heavy roller was sent in to flatten the fakes that cost the region millions. Illegal electrical
equipment, unsafe toys and dud pens and watches were destroyed to mark World Anti-Counterfeiting
Day. West Yorkshire Trading Standards recovered £3m worth of dodgy goods last year. Figures from
the Intellectual Property Office suggest that the total cost to West Yorkshire could be as much as
£300m.
Fakes flattened!
Watchdog officers seize gear to highlight illegal trade menace. Fake goods were crushed by a road
roller in a campaign to combat counterfeiting. West Yorkshire Trading Standards (WYTS) used a
heavy vehicle to squash knock-off gear they had seized including designer watches, pens, electrical
equipment and unsafe toys.
‘Don’t buy fakes’ plea
Around £1.6m worth of counterfeit goods were seized in the region last year, latest figures have
revealed. And as part of World Anti-Counterfeiting Day (today), Trading Standards is warning local
consumers and traders of the dangers of buying, and selling, counterfeit goods. About 10,000
cigarettes, 670 pairs of trainers, and over 163,400 discs were seized in Staffordshire last year, with the
problem continuing on a global scale.
STAFFORD POST 11/06/09 United Kingdom
Faking it
Trading Standards have crushed fake goods as part of a campaign against counterfeiting. You might
wonder why fake products are such a bad thing? Surely it’s good for the consumer to have the chance
to buy something on the cheap? Well, not always. You cannot guarantee that fake goods conform to
the quality standards we expect from products. Fakes can even be dangerous.
Don’t be a victim of counterfeiters
It’s an Aladdin’s Cave of fake designer goods. But this is no dodgy street dealer. It is the top secret
warehouse in Birmingham where Trading Standards officers stock-pile the counterfeit items they have
seized. According to the latest figure, officers last year seized more than £5.5 million-worth of fake
goods. The 330,000 items included fake designer jewellery, counterfeit clothes, phoney trainers and
dodgy DVDs.
BIRMINGHAM MAIL (SERIES) 11/06/09 United Kingdom
‘Don’t buy fake goods’ message
People are putting their health at risk if they buy counterfeit goods, trading standards officers have
warned. World Anti-Counterfeiting Day took place yesterday to raise awareness of the dangers of
bogus products.
LANCASHIRE TELEGRAPH 12/06/09 United Kingdom
www.ipcb.co.uk
£100K bill of fakes dealer
Consumer watchdogs are urging the public not to support the illegal trade in counterfeit goods. Wigan
Council’s Trading Standards team issued the warning just days after a fraudster who tried to fleece
Wigan customers was told he will have to pay back £100,000 of his ill-gotten gains. They aim to
highlight the murky and often dangerous world of fakes, counterfeits and pirate goods to coincide with
World Anti-Counterfeiting Day.
Trading standards issues warning over fake goods
It could be seen by shoppers as a way of saving money during the recession, but buying counterfeit
goods could cost lives, according to Norfolk’s consumer watchdogs. Fake and potentially dangerous
goods are becoming more of a problem, according to Norfolk’s Trading Standards team, which is
warning consumers about the pitfalls of buying fake, sub-standards products.
500 Nike scam
Customs officers seized 7260 pairs of fake Nike trainers, worth more than £500,000, at Felixstowe in
Suffolk.
SCOTTISH DAILY RECORD 13/06/09 United Kingdom
Ebay call on antiques industry to help them beat counterfeits
Ebay UK have launched a new anti-counterfeit campaign and want to work closely with the antiques
industry to beat the fakers. Antiques professionals will be able to plug the gaps in eBay’s expertise
when it comes to supporting the fakes, say the online giant. The move comes in the wake of a series
of court victories for eBay across Europe - most recently in the High Court in London - in disputes over
counterfeit luxury goods.
ANTIQUES & COLLECTABLES 13/06/09 United Kingdom
Fake goods can harm your health
Trading standards bosses have seized £250,000 of illegally manufactured products across Lancashire
over the last year. Officers warned using counterfeit goods can bring about ‘serious health problems’.
It is claimed 4,000 job losses are linked to the trade in counterfeit goods across the UK each year with
industries taking a hit of £1bn per year.
LANCASHIRE BUSINESS VIEW 15/06/09 United Kingdom
Smuggling purge
Employers in the region are being urged to keep their eyes out for cigarette crime. Business bosses
should be on their guard against a minority of employees who may be selling illicit cigarettes and hand
rolling tobacco to co-workers in factories, warehouses and company car parks.
Fakes on sale at borough shops
While the sale of counterfeit goods in local markets has reduced by 90 percent, a recent check of 30
shops showed that 12 of those - 40 percent - were selling fakes. The fake goods included Durex
condoms, cigarettes and Duracell AA and AAA batteries.
H & F NEWS (FULHAM EDITION) 16/06/2009 United Kingdom
Look out for illicit traders in tobacco
Employers in the Burton Trader area are being urged by customs officials to be on the lookout for
workers who may be selling illicit cigarettes, and hand rolling tobacco to their colleagues. The warning
comes from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) as it continues efforts to stamp out tobacco
smuggling. Smuggling sees around £3bn in revenue drained from the public purse each year - money
that could be funding local schools, hospitals, and care homes.
BURTON TRADER 17/06/09 United Kingdom; SUTTON COLDFIELD NEWS 19/06/2009 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Officers vow illegal fags crackdown
Employers in the Staffordshire Moorlands are being urged to be on their guard against employees
selling illicit cigarettes. The call comes from HM Revenue and Customs, which has seen a rise in
those selling illicit cigarettes and hand rolling tobacco to co-workers in factories, warehouses and
company car parks.
YOUR LEEK PAPER 17/06/2009 United Kingdom
Man pleads guilty to selling fake trainers
A Yate man who made up to £1,600 a week selling fake trainers has pleaded guilty to selling
counterfeit goods on auction website eBay. Martyn Davis, 28, of Badminton Road, appeared before
Bristol Crown Court on Monday, where he pleaded guilty to 13 charges under Trade Marks Act 1994.
GLOUCESTERSHIRE COUNTY GAZETTE SERIES 18/06/2009 United Kingdom
Designer label con
A wealthy businessman is facing jail for fake designer labels scan. Nazakat Hussain, 45, who runs a
string of sports shops, supplied dodgy goods to market stalls around the country. Investigators who
seized £100,000 worth of counterfeit Nike, Lacoste and Fred Perry trainers linked invoices for them to
his business.
SUNDAY MIRROR 21/06/09 United Kingdom
Satnav device a lost cause
I purchased a satellite navigation unit on eBay paying through PayPal. The seller was based in China,
as so many are. I was content to make the purchase as the software offered was by a well-established
company. I attempted to update it with the company’s updates but was unable to do so. The company
said it was counterfeit – ‘pirated and hacked’.
SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, THE 21/06/09 United Kingdom
Egg on their faces
Shoppers may have been conned into paying extra for fake free range eggs. An Irish firm are accused
of selling supermarkets 36 million which were really laid by caged hens.
Payback for trainer scam man
A bootleg bandit who raked in thousands flogging phoney designer trainers has been ordered to pay
back £25,000. Market trader Larry Howard Macatonia was ordered to pay back the money after being
caught by trading standards watchdogs selling counterfeit Nike trainers and clothing in Sutton High
Street
Crushing fate for the fakes that cost us millions
Illegal electrical equipment, unsafe toys and dud pens and watches were destroyed to mark World
Anti-counterfeiting Day. West Yorkshire Trading Standards recovered £3m worth of dodgy goods last
year. Figures from the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) suggested that the total cost to West
Yorkshire could be as much as 300m.
LEEDS WEEKLY NEWS (SERIES) 25/06/2009 United Kingdom
Counterfeit goods seized in fair raid
Nine hundred counterfeit brand-name items were seized when a stall was raided at the Great Dorset
Steam Fair. Weymouth magistrates heard Harmeet Singh Sidana, aged 24, admitted nine offences
relating to the fair near Blandford on Thursday and Friday 27/28 August last year.
WESTERN DAILY PRESS (SERIES) 25/06/2009 United Kingdom
www.ipcb.co.uk
Smuggler sent to jail over fake cigarettes
A 42-year-old smuggling mastermind has been jailed for five years for plotting to sneak almost 12
million cigarettes through Felixstowe docks. Valji Varsani tried to evade more than £2.2m in VAT and
excise duty by shipping in the contraband in three separate consignments of counterfeit cigarettes.
NOODLES OF FAGS
A million fake cigarettes were recovered when Customs officers raided a Chinese takeaway shop in
Nottingham
Dad & girl gem con
A father and a daughter who sold fake Tiffany goods were rumbled after customers complained their
jewellery was falling apart and leaving green marks on their skin. Richard Hilton and daughter Kelly,
who live in Charles Dickens’s cliff-top mansion Bleak House, in Broadstairs, Kent, were fined £16,500
under the Trades Descriptions Act
Police issue warning over fake Valium tablets
Counterfeit Valium tablets are in circulation on Preston’s streets, police have warned. Police have
found that a number of prisoners at Preston police station have previously taken these tablets and
were subsequently taken to hospital suffering from a number of side effects.
Trader sold fake designer goods
A market trader caught selling fake designer goods for the third time has been handed a suspended
jail sentence. Philip John Rose had 303 counterfeit items seized by trading standards officers at a
market in Castle Donington. Rose admitted 13 counts of selling counterfeit goods, between December
2006 and July 2007.
www.ipcb.co.uk
Woman sold counterfeit designer clothes
A Valleys woman has been given a 12-month community order for selling fake goods. Trading
standards officers seized 42 designer label items found in the front room of Yvette Morgan’s Merthyr
Tydfil home last September, including Lyle and Scott T-shirts, Prada sunglasses, Nike trainers,
Lacoste polo shirts and shorts, and G Star T-shirts and jeans.
CSi removed £35 million of counterfeit and infringing items ...
Counterfeit goods and brand infringing products appearing on internet auction sites such as eBay,
amazon and b2b trade boards such as Alibaba, cause significant financial and negative brand
reputation risk in terms of lost revenue, consumer loyalty, sub-standard performance and alarmingly,
health and safety issues.
First fake Games Consoles seized in UK Raid
A raid to investigate an illegal counterfeiting operation on eBay, the online auction site, lead to a
husband and wife team in Kent (UK) and the seizure of 40 counterfeit Nintendo DS consoles-the first
instance of its kind in the United Kingdom.
£500,000 fake drug stash seized in undercover operation
Approximately half a million pounds worth of counterfeit medicines were seized by the Medicines and
Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) enforcement team on 26 March 2009 as part of
simultaneously raid on four locations in Middlesbrough (UK)
PRODUCT & IMAGE SECURITY 01/05/2009 United Kingdom
Dangers of fake items on market
Visitors to the Staffordshire County Show later this month will be able to see the latest counterfeit
designer goods at the HM Revenue & Customs stand. Parents will be able to learn why they should be
wary of buying fake items in an industry that costs the UK economy £9 billion a year. Among the
exhibits will be imported counterfeit games consoles found to have been supplied with potentially
dangerous power adaptors.
EXPRESS & STAR (STAFFORD) 06/05/2009; UK STOKE ON TRENT SENTINEL SERIES
06/05/2009 UK; STAFFORDSHIRE NEWSLETTER (SERIES) 07/05/2009 UK; STAFFORD &
STONE CHRONICLE 14/05/2009 United Kingdom
Safety failings are ‘major concern’
A market trader has been fined £300 for selling dodgy Duracell batteries and Nokia mobile phone
pouches. Inder Kumar Puri, 32, of Hayes, was found with around 120 unsafe or counterfeit goods at
Harrow Market, in the Debenhams car park, in Greenhill Way. Among the products were travel
adapters with access to live parts, creating a risk of electric shock for anyone using them.
HARROW TIMES 07/05/2009 United Kingdom; HARROW OBSERVER 07/05/2009 UK
Fake fags stashed in shop cellar
An illegal cigarette and booze operation has been uncovered in Liverpool. Officers raided a newsagent
in Anfield and found hauls of fake alcohol and tobacco. Over 25 kilograms of Golden Virginia tobacco,
valued at £6,000, along with 800 packets of cigarettes, were seized. The discoveries were made
behind the counter and in shop cellar, stuffed into large mailbags.
Steroid nation
Youngsters obsessed with expanding their muscles - so called bigorexics, which are the opposite of
anorexics - generally have no idea what they are taking and what the side effects may be. Ignorance
results in many being duped into buying counterfeit steroids from foreign Internet sites. Mr Lowes said
vials of liquid sometimes contain part steroid and part baby oil or cooking oil. Sometimes they contain
no steroid at all.
WALES ON SUNDAY (SERIES) 10/05/2009 United Kingdom
www.ipcb.co.uk
Coat in a trap
A lorry load of fake designer jackets shipped in through Ramsgate harbour is to be destroyed. In total
7,883 fake coats were found, with brands including Timberland, G-Star, Prada and Stone Island, when
Customs and Trading Standards stopped the lorry in September. Officers discovered a wall of
cardboard boxes containing the fake goods.
THANET TIMES 12/05/2009 United Kingdom
eBay spared fake goods liability
eBay has won an important legal battle in a long-running war with luxury brand owners over the sale of
counterfeit goods on its auction site, potentially paving the way for more united approach to fighting
fakes. The skirmish between eBay and L’Oreal, the French cosmetic group, is one of a series of
lawsuits across the world considering who should be responsible for policing the validity of Internet
sales, particularly in high-value markets such as handbags, jewellery and perfume.
Goodbye to fake Hello Kitty
A Chinese woman selling fake Hello Kitty goods in a Sutton shopping centre has been deported.
Thousands of pounds worth of counterfeit items - enough to fill 29 bin bags - was seized from the Cute
Inn stall in the St Nicholas Shopping Centre on Wednesday, May 6. The goods, including bags,
purses, children’s toys and household items, will now be destroyed.
Authorities raided base of ‘fake Viagra mastermind’
A raid was carried out this week on the Monaghan base of the alleged mastermind behind an outfit
selling fake Viagra on the Internet, the high court heard yesterday. The raid on the house occupied by
Andrew Mills, also known as Andrew Butcher, was carried out after pharmaceutical giant Pfizer
secured a High Court order claiming he was behind the lucrative operation in which a number of
counterfeit drugs, allegedly made in China, are sold over the Internet.
Ex-shopkeeper sentenced after cig and booze sales
A former shopkeeper has been sentenced to 100 hours’ unpaid work for selling cigarettes and alcohol
to an underage person. Amin Ahmed, 27, and formerly of Co-operative Street in Derby, was caught by
Derby City Council Trading Standards officers offering counterfeit cigarettes and selling alcohol to a
person under 18 from a shop in Normanton between June 3 and September 3 last year.
Hard lines
Fake Viagra pills containing road paint and printer ink were found on sale in Whitstable, Kent.
Counterfeit chainsaws
A 32-year-old was arrested on the A1076 after police discovered he was in possession of several
counterfeit chainsaws. The man was taken into custody on Friday with a number of fake Stihl
chainsaws.
Man had van load of fake vodka
A man caught with a van load of counterfeit vodka has been brought to justice after 18 months.
Michael Airton, 32, of Acre Gate in South Shore, admitted two offences of having falsely labelled
vodka and an offence of assaulting a civilian detention officer. He was sentenced to 12 weeks’
imprisonment suspended for 12 months, put on an 8am curfew for three months and ordered to pay
his victim £100 compensation and the council £150 costs
www.ipcb.co.uk
Fake batteries cost dear
A shopkeeper has been fined more than £12,500 for selling counterfeit Duracell batteries. Council
trading standards officers seized over 100 packets of fake batteries - once in 2007 and again in 2008 from Stock Clearance UK in Dunstable Road.
LUTON & DUNSTABLE EXPRESS 20/05/2009 United Kingdom
Charges over fake batteries
A company caught with hundreds of counterfeit batteries and dozens of fake lighters has been ordered
to pay nearly £7,000. Manchester Direct Trading Limited, on Rugby Street in Cheetham, was found
guilty of two counts of possessing trade marked goods without consent and one count of selling the
goods, during a hearing at Manchester Magistrates Court.
Market cheats face jail term
The ring leader of a gang of counterfeit market traders has been jailed for 12 months. Manmon Singh
Chopra, 32, from Northolt, Middlesex, ran a £400,000 operation that included top designer clothes and
footwear. Viki Singh Goulwara, 24, from Hayes, Middlesex, Tanwan Gingh Chopra 31, Rajinder Singh
Chopra (28) all from Northolt, Middlesex, also ran stalls at Wembley Market, selling counterfeit
clothing and footwear.
KILBURN TIMES 21/05/09 United Kingdom; HARROW TIMES 21/05/09 United Kingdom
Public was ‘put at risk’ by fake toys sold by trader
A market trader was caught selling more than 800 fake toys at Dawlish Warren market. Trading
standards officers caught Bhagat Singh Dubb, 33, from Handworth in Birmingham in June last year
selling fake Spiderman and Disney goods including a Winnie the Pooh cuddly bear and toy cars from
the hit animation ‘Cars’.
TORQUAY HERALD EXPRESS SERIES 22/05/09 United Kingdom
Web fakes ruling keeps claims at bay
If counterfeit goods have been sold via an online auction house, who should take responsibility for
cracking down on the counterfeiters - the manufacturer whose goods have been cloned or the online
auction house that provides the sales outlet? It is a debate that has dogged eBay for some time.
LAWYER 25/05/2009 United Kingdom
Geeks-on-wheels
Over a quarter of all software installed on PCs in the UK is pirated, the Business Software Alliance has
claimed. The claim came as the body, whose members include Microsoft and Adobe, released
research into piracy around the world. According to the research, the French are some of the worst
offenders, with 41 per cent of software installed on PCs thought to be unlicensed.
LATEST HOMES 26/05/09 United Kingdom
Crackdown on sale of illegal goods on Internet
A crackdown on people selling illegal items on the Internet let to North Lincolnshire council searching
five homes last month. Trading standards have seized computers, DVD copiers, counterfeit DVDs,
games, clothing, footwear and even bank details and documents. Four people are suspected of either
producing, copying, or selling counterfeit items. If found guilty, the offenders face an unlimited fine and
up to 10 years imprisonment per offence.
SCUNTHORPE EVENING TELEGRAPH 26/05/09 United Kingdom
Bootleg cigs found in shop
Bootleg cigarettes with a retail value of more than £2,000 have been seized from a city newsagents.
Anthony Kean, who ran Toy’s Newsagents in St Leonard’s Street, Hendon, was due to appear before
city magistrates’ last week after denying two charges of possessing the counterfeit tobacco products.
www.ipcb.co.uk
Dad faces £2,000 fine for having fake goods
A dad-of-three has to pay more than £2,000 in fines after being found with a haul of fake goods which
could have been sold for thousands of pounds. Charlie Ward, 41, was discovered with three fake
Apple iPods, ten watches purporting to be made by Emporio Armani and ten fake JVC camcorders.
Jackets are cheap fakes
Spalding police are warning people in and around Market Deeping to beware a trader who sells fakes
as genuine Italian designer leather jackets. On Friday (May 15) the man offered the jackets at inflated
prices to people in the car park of the Rainbow supermarket in Godsey Lane, Market Deeping.
LINCOLNSHIRE FREE PRESS 26/05/09 United Kingdom
Bootleg alcohol factory is raided
Two men arrested after a raid on an illegal booze factory in Edmonton unearthed bottles of fake
vodka. The raid, carried out by Enfield Council, HM Revenue & Customs and Enfield police, was
carried out last Wednesday. One man was arrested in connection with illegally made alcohol at the
site. Further evidence was found to link both him and the address to the discovery of 2,700 bottles of
counterfeit Glen’s vodka in a storage unit in east London.
ENFIELD ADVERTISER 27/05/09 United Kingdom; ENFIELD GAZETTE 28/05/09 United Kingdom
Trader gave false name
A market trader selling counterfeit toys at Dawlish Market, gave a false name and tried to pretend the
stall wasn’t his. Bhagat Dubb from Handworth, Birmingham, gave trading standards officers a false
name but police were able to establish his real identity by checking the ownership of his vehicle.
DAWLISH GAZETTE 27/05/09 United Kingdom
Beware bogus charity salesmen, cops warn residents
Fake charity sellers are feared to be on the prowl. Residents say they have been visited by a group
purporting to be selling household goods for The Organisation for Homeless and Unemployed People.
The Charity Commission said the organisation was not a registered charity and Post Office Ltd
confirmed an address in Essex it claimed to hold did not exist.
STREATHAM, CLAPHAM & DULWICH POST 28/05/09 United Kingdom
Off-licence fined for selling deadly vodka
A shop owner who sold counterfeit spirits containing deadly methanol has escaped having his drinks
licence revolved. Off-licence owner Sivagurd Shivatharsan mistakenly bought fake bottles of Glen’s
Vodka from a friend after his stocks ran low at Costcutters in St Helen’s Road, Swansea, last year, a
court heard.
www.ipcb.co.uk
Counterfeits: reducing the growing threat
The value of counterfeit drugs sold globally is estimated at more than $35 billion (£27.5 billion) and
The US Centre for Medicines in public interest recently predicted that this figure could reach $75
billion (£58.9 billion) by 2010. A report by the International Medicinal Products Anti-Counterfeiting
Taskforce (IMPACT) - created by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2006 to mobilise
awareness and action in the fight against counterfeit drugs - stated that 10-30% of medicines for sale
in much of the developing world are counterfeit.
PHARMACEUTICAL TECHNOLOGY EUROPE 01/04/2009 United Kingdom
Late news
A fraudster selling £26,000 of fake designer clothes, cosmetics and computer games on auction
website eBay was caught out by a sting operation. Bhavin Shah (28), who went by the online name
healthheaven2000, ordered goods from China. He was caught out when he unknowingly sold
counterfeit Gillette Mach3 Turbo razor blades to Brent and Harrow Trading Standards officers.
DUNDEE EVENING TELEGRAPH 02/04/2009 United Kingdom
Seized: Huge haul of fake designer shoes and trainers worth £2.3m
Fake designer shoes and trainers with a street value of £2.3millon have been seized by Customs
officers at Britain’s largest container port. The 318 boxes of counterfeit Jimmy Choo and Gucci ladies’
shoes and boots, and 600 cartons of fake Nike trainers, were found at Felixstowe in Suffolk. They are
thought to have been shipped from China and would have been sold at car boot sales. Jim Jarvie, of
the UK Border Agency, said: ‘Most illegal goods fund organised crime and even terrorism.’
DAILY MAIL 10/04/09 UK
Bogus goods haul
Hundreds of counterfeit items bound for a car boot sale were recovered when a businessman’s home
was raided. Trading standards officers launched an investigation after buying a pair of fake Nike
trainers from Leonard Evans at a Seaham car boot sale.
PETERLEE STAR 02/04/2009 United Kingdom
Man sold fake iPods on internet
A man who bought and sold counterfeit items using the Internet from his home has been prosecuted
by Dorset County Council’s Trading Standards Service. Goods included iPods, watches and well
known brands of clothing and footwear.
The fag end
Smokers could find themselves sucking down a cocktail of harmful or even illegal chemicals if they
buy counterfeit cigarettes at car boot sales. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has issued the
warning to Lincolnshire bargain hunters to coincide with Easter and the start of the car boot sale
season.
BOSTON STANDARD 08/04/2009 United Kingdom
Court action against eBay counterfeit trader postponed
Fresh court action against a north-east woman who was caught with £11,000 of counterfeit clothes
has been postponed. Fiona Begg narrowly avoided being jailed just before Christmas after a court
heard how council officers uncovered thousands of pounds worth of fake branded clothes at her home
at Stuartfield.
www.ipcb.co.uk
Some bottle... mafia’s fake champagne scam uncorked
British restaurants have been unwittingly selling ‘champagne’ that was bottled in a factory in Turin by
Italian ‘wine counterfeiters’ as part of a Europe-wide fraud involving hundreds of thousands of bottles.
French customs officials discovered the fake champagne when they seized a batch of 2,000 suspect
bottles, provoking an investigation by police in Turin and the champagne industry in France
Dates set for counterfeit clothing trials
Two traders operating stalls at Penrith’s Saturday market appeared at Carlisle Crown Court on
Tuesday accused of selling counterfeit clothing. Mohammed Pervez Akthar (44) denied 15 charges
brought by Cumbria Trading Standards department. His brother, Mohammed Javed Akthar (39),
appeared in a separate case immediately afterwards and pleaded not guilty to 15 similar but different
charges.
CUMBERLAND & WESTMORLAND HERALD (SERIES) 04/04/2009 United Kingdom
eBay fraudster is caught out in sting
A fraudster selling £26,000 of fake designer clothes, cosmetics and computer games on auction
website eBay was caught out by a sting operation. Bhavin Shah, 28, who went by the online name
healthheaven2000, ordered goods from China to sell to UK consumers. He was caught out when he
unknowingly sold counterfeit Gillette Mach3 Turbo razor blades to Brent and Harrow Trading
Standards officers.
Cheap cigarette warning
Customs officers last night warned people to be on the look out for traders selling counterfeit and
smuggled cigarettes as the car boot season gets underway this Easter. Cheap tobacco products can
often seem like an attractive offer but it is almost impossible to spot counterfeit cigarettes.
Crackdown on counterfeit cigs
Customs and Trading Standards officers have a new weapon in their fight against counterfeit
cigarettes. New covert makings on cigarette packages and tobacco pouches are invisible to the naked
eye. But they can be identified on hand-held readers used by officers from HM Revenue and Customs
(HMRC) and Lancashire Trading Standards.
Police in city market swoop
Suspected stolen mobile phones and counterfeit goods were seized in raids on a business at
Preston’s market. Uniformed police officers swooped on two stalls and a shop in city centre as
shocked traders and shoppers looked on. The raids yesterday were part of an operation cracking
down on suspected rogue traders dealing in stolen property.
Fakes help out
Counterfeit items seized by trading standards officers in North East Lincolnshire are helping
disadvantaged people after a distribution deal was struck with a local charity. The trading standards
team has been working with Brookenby-based His Church to bring seized counterfeit clothing back
into use.
GRIMSBY EVENING TELEGRAPH 07/04/2009 United Kingdom
Shops are stung in illegal cigs swoop
Four shops near the centre of Derby have been caught during a crackdown on retailers selling
smuggled or counterfeit cigarettes. Customs officers raided the shops, in Normanton, and seized
illegal goods which would have fetched more than £11,000 if they were sold legally.
DERBY EXPRESS 16/04/2009 United Kingdom
www.ipcb.co.uk
Smugglers foiled in attempt to bring in illegal tobacco
Parcels containing a substantial amount of hand rolling tobacco (HRT) have been seized at Stanstead
Airport after smugglers attempted to hide it in rolls of fabric and tubes of baseballs. Barry McGill,
assistant director UK Border Agency (UKBA), said: ‘These seizures illustrate the lengths that
smugglers will go to in an attempt to bring their illegal tobacco products into the UK, as well as the skill
and dedication of UK Border Agency officers in intercepting the parcels’.
SAFFRON WALDEN REPORTER 09/04/2009 United Kingdom
BRAINTREE & WITHAM TIMES 08/04/2009 United Kingdom
DUNMOW BROADCAST & RECORDER 09/04/2009 United Kingdom
‘Don’t be tempted by cheap cigarettes at sales’
Easter visitors to car boot sales are being warned to be on the look out for traders selling counterfeit
and smuggled cigarettes. HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is reminding people visiting car boot sales
and markets of the dangers of the illicit cigarette trade. It says cheap tobacco can seem attractive but
the sales are unlicensed and unregulated
BRADFORD TELEGRAPH & ARGUS 10/04/2009 United Kingdom
Drivers are warned over fake tobacco
Drivers are being warned to look out for rogue traders selling counterfeit and smuggled cigarettes as
the car boot season steps up. The Government’s Revenue and Customs department warns that,
though cheap tobacco products can seem attractive these sales are unlicensed and unregulated.
‘My needles are blunt’
A mum is angry after her eight-year-old diabetic daughter was left bruised by blunt needles. Claudia
Allison has to inject insulin four times a day. But her mum Angela only found out the needles were
‘counterfeit’ when she got an e-mail from the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
19k seized from dodgy booze peddler
Thousands of pounds have been seized from a man convicted of peddling counterfeit goods. Police
won an order at Newcastle Crown Court to confiscate £19,000 from 58-year-old John Mason. The
case brought by trading standards officers involved 40,000 counterfeit cigarettes and 125 litres of
methanol - which can cause blindness and even death - disguised as Kristoff Vodka.
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE EVENING CHRONICLE (SERIES) 13/04/2009 United Kingdom
1 million fake cigarettes recovered in North-east
Crime gangs have flooded the North-east with more than one million fake cigarettes, the Evening
Express can reveal today. Customs officers have uncovered hauls of illicit tobacco - laced with rat
droppings and sawdust. The fakes, shipped in by criminals in China and Eastern Europe, have been
seized at Aberdeen Airport, ports and car boot sales.
ABERDEEN EVENING EXPRESS (SERIES) 14/04/2009 United Kingdom
Fake fags not worth the risk
It is shocking that criminals have flooded the North-east with counterfeit cigarettes. But smokers
tempted to buy fake fags, believing they offer a bargain, should think again. They may not realise what
these bogus cigarettes contain - and it’s terrifying.
Fake straighteners could catch fire
A haul of fake and dangerous hair straighteners has been recovered by police and council officers in
north Lincolnshire. A dozen appliances were recovered from two cars stopped by Humberside Police
and three suspects are due to answer police bail in April. Trading standards officers at North
Lincolnshire Council found the devices, being sold as top-of-the-range GHD straighteners, to be
‘unsafe’ after testing and they have issued warnings about using the fake products
www.ipcb.co.uk
SCUNTHORPE EVENING TELEGRAPH 16/04/2009 United Kingdom
Net drugs warning
Doctors have issued a health warning against buying drugs over the Internet. It follows a survey for
GP newspaper which found that one in four family medics had treated patients made ill by medicines
bought online.
Warning over online chemists
Doctors issued a new warning on the dangers of buying drugs over the internet today after it emerged
one in four has treated patients made ill by them. People face a ‘minefield’ when it comes to buying
on-line, with many sites offering fake medicines and promoting online doctors and advisers who have
no professional qualifications.
Shops are caught selling illegal goods
Four shops near the centre of Derby have been caught during a crackdown on retailers selling
smuggled or counterfeit cigarettes. Customs officers raided the shops, in Normanton, and seized
illegal goods which would have fetched more than 11,000 if they were sold legally.
DERBY EXPRESS 16/04/2009 United Kingdom
Flood of fake cigs
Gangs of criminals are flooding the north east of Scotland with tons of tobacco and counterfeit
cigarettes. More than a million fake fags containing high levels of dangerous chemicals were
recovered in the area in the past year. Smokers looking for cut price tobacco are now being warned
they are helping fund international crime gangs and are seriously risking their health.
Be on your guard for stolen or fake goods public warned
The public are being warned to look for stolen and counterfeit goods being sold. Wrexham council’s
Trading Standards have raised the alert following a number of cases reported where poor quality
counterfeit tools or cameras have been sold.
‘Pay back 60,000 or more’ jail order
Two brothers who made thousands of pounds selling counterfeit goods on eBay have been ordered to
pay back the public or face more time in jail. Arif and Murad have been told they must pay back
£60,000 from the cash they made selling the fake clothes and trainers on the Internet.
Trader jailed for selling fake toys
A trader is doing time after being caught selling fake Doctor Who toys. Malik Aftab Hussain was jailed
for 10 months for his dodgy dealing at the annual Neath Fair - which included selling counterfeit and
unsafe toys. He was also ordered to pay more than £34,000 under the Proceeds of Crime Act, 2002.
Fake perfume seller ignored warnings
A Polish national working in this country sold thousands of bottles of fake perfume on eBay. Matuesz
Guzda, aged 27, of Beaufighter Grove, Tunstall, bought the bottles in bulk from a dealer in his country,
though he believed they originally came from France and Spain.
www.ipcb.co.uk
Man admits selling counterfeit toys
A man caught selling counterfeit toys at a market in Dawlish Warren has appeared in court. Trading
Standards officers seized 800 items from Bhagat Dubb, 33, from Birmingham, at Dawlish Warren
market last June. He appeared at South Devon Magistrates Court in Newton Abbot and pleaded guilty
to four charges relating to the unauthorised use of trademarks.
TORQUAY HERALD EXPRESS SERIES 27/04/2009 United Kingdom
Fake Teletubies land trader in jail
A man who sold fake Doctor Who, Spiderman and Teletubbies toys at a Norfolk market has been sent
to prison and ordered to pay more than £34,000. A trading standards investigations team discovered
that Malik Hussain was selling the toys at Snetterton market in December 2007.
Ten million illegal cigarettes seized in city swoop
Customs officers have seized more than 10 million illegal cigarettes after they used cutting equipment
to gain access to storage containers at ware-houses in Sheffield. Specialist fire-fighters were called in
by HM Revenue and Customs to assist in the operation on industrial premises in the Brightside and
Attercliffe areas.
Woman sold designer fakes to her friends
A Cefn Coed woman has been given a 12-month community order for selling fake goods. Trading
Standards officers seized 42 designer label items found in the front room of Yvette Morgan’s home
last September including Lyle and Scott T-shirts, Prada sunglasses, Nike trainers, Lacoste polo shirts
and shorts, G Star T-shirts and jeans.
MERTHYR EXPRESS 30/04/2009 United Kingdom
www.ipcb.co.uk
Fake Fags Seized In City Raids
Illegaly imported cigarettes and tobacco worth £50,000 have been seized by trading standards officers
in Derby. The 250,000 counterfeit cigarettes were found during raids on two warehouses and one
shop in the city as part of an undercover sting.
DERBY EVENING TELEGRAPH (SERIES) 02/03/2009 United Kingdom
The Hard Sell
Internet crooks are making fake Viagra in cement mixers. From £333 worth of ingredients they can
make tablets selling for £200,000. But people taking them could be risking their lives, an expert
warned. Jim Thomson, of European Alliance for Access to safe Medicines, last night said ‘majorleague’ international narcotics dealers were turning to selling the fake tablets for £20 each because it
was ‘2,000 times more profitable’ than dealing in cocaine.
DAILY TELEGRAPH, THE 03/03/2009 United Kingdom
Fake vodka raids
Intelligence gathered through the UK’s Food Standards Agency’s national food fraud database has led
police, customs and environmental health officers to raid four premises in the London Borough of
Haringey and seize hundreds of bottles of potentially dangerous counterfeit vodka.
PRODUCT & IMAGE SECURITY 03/03/2009 United
Shop fined again over fake toys
A toy shop prosecuted for stocking sub standard counterfeit goods for the fourth time in 18 months
was given a ‘lenient’ £5,000 fine because of the credit crunch. Baljit Singh, director of 7 Star UK, on
Lockett Street, Strangeways, admitted four trademark offences. A trading standards investigation
found thousands of counterfeit movie and TV-themed toys at the premises.
NORTH EAST MANCHESTER ADVERTISER 03/03/2009 United
Woman sold ‘lethal’ toys in centre
A woman who sold potentially lethal toys and fake Dr Who merchandise in Sutton has been sentenced
to 300 hours of community service. Kelly Magnas, 31, of Buckles Lane, South Ockendon, Essex,
pleaded guilty to five consumer safety and four trading standards in relation to items she sold in the St
Nicholas Centre in November 2007
SUTTON GUARDIAN 03/03/2009 United
Fake designer shoe case is adjourned
An investigation on the financial affairs of a woman who sold fake designer shoes at an Ipswich public
house has been adjourned Before Ipswich Crown Court was Kim O’Hagan, who has admitted selling
shoes which had false trademark labels including Chanel and Christian Dior.
EAST ANGLIAN DAILY TIMES (SERIES) 03/03/2009 United
IPSWICH EVENING STAR (SERIES) 03/03/2009 United
College student sold fake goods on the Internet
A teenage student who picked up enterprising tips as part of a special scheme at his school, made illgotten gains from his new knowledge by flogging fake goods on the Internet. Matthew Tinkler, 19, from
Turnham Green picked up advice on how to get ahead in business on a Young Enterprise Scheme at
school, but his teachers would not have taught him that landed him in court.
NORWICH EVENING NEWS 03/03/2009 United
www.ipcb.co.uk
Hi-tech pirate escapes prison
A man caught selling pirated computer software at a Leeds sports centre has escaped jail. Father-offour Wassem Malik, 40, was at a Red Rats computer fair at Rothwell Sports Centre, Leeds Crown
Court heard. Police and trading standards officers seized 1,000 disks of which 431 were found to be
counterfeit.
YORKSHIRE EVENING POST 03/03/2009 United
Crackdown on sales of fake goods online
Trading Standards officials in Shropshire today announced they are launching a crackdown on fake
goods being sold on the Internet. Criminals are using the Internet more than ever as a way to sell
counterfeit and dodgy goods to the public, the county’s enforcement officers warned.
SHROPSHIRE STAR (SERIES) 03/03/2009 United
Cutting Counterfeit Risk
The risk of encountering counterfeit components has risen significantly in recent times. The sheer
scale was highlighted by a US/EU customs operation which seized 360,000 counterfeit electronic
components over a two-week period late last year.
ELECTRONICS WEEKLY 04/03/2009 United Kingdom
Fake Vodka Sold By Off-Licence Owner Was Unsafe To Drink
Unsafe illegal vodka was found on sale at a Valley store, a court has heard. Shop owner Avtar
Singhm, 32, of High Street, Cefn Coed, Merthyr Tydfil, was fined £405 and ordered to pay £997.37
costs at Merthyr Tydfil Magistrates’ Court.
No Headline
An Internet trader who sold counterfeit straighteners and fake cosmetics on his website has been fined
a total of £2,400, writes Lorraine King. Ausman Khalid, of Wembley, duped his fashion-conscious
victims into paying up to £90 for the GHD straighteners at
Foul Tasting Cig Was Counterfeit
A newsagent was caught with a haul of counterfeit cigarettes after costumer complained of a ‘foultasting’ cigarette. Trading Standards officers launched an investigation into Everyday News, Potovens
Lane, Outwood, after an allegation that cigarettes were being sold under the counter and in singles.
BATLEY & BIRSTALL NEWS 06/03/2009 United Kingdom
L’Oreal Mounts Legal Challenge Over eBay Sales
A whiff of perfume hangs over law courts from Paris to London this week, as French consumer group
L’Oreal and online retailer eBay square off in series of legal tussles over counterfeit goods and the
right of companies to dictate where their products are sold.
FINANCIAL TIMES (UK & IRELAND EDITION) 10/03/2009 UK, DAILY TELEGRAPH, THE
10/03/2009 UK, OLDHAM EVENING CHRONICLE 10/03/2009 UK, ABERDEEN PRESS &
JOURNAL (SERIES) 10/03/2009 UK, CAMPAIGN 13/03/2009 UK
Contraband Cigarette Man Spared Jail Term
A contrite former miner who became involved in contraband cigarette sales has walked free from a
Doncaster court with a suspended sentence. Thomas John Hunter wiped away tears as a judge at
Doncaster Crown Court told him he had decided not to send him down because of ‘all the
good things I have heard about you’ in testimonials from friends and associates.
DONCASTER STAR 10/03/2009 United Kingdom
www.ipcb.co.uk
Swoop on Fake T-Shirt Racket
A massive fake T-shirt racket has been uncovered behind the doors of a Blackpool home. Trading
standards officers raided the semi-detached house on Highfield Road, South Shore, after a tip off that
a husband and wife team were ripping of trademarked designs - including those from hit teen film
‘High School Musical’.
Fakes on Oxford Street
An Oxford Street trader has been convicted of selling thousands of fake Rolex watches and Gucci
handbags. Harvey Jassemine was prosecuted after trading standards officers from Westminster
Council raided his stall inside the former Amazon arcade to seize more than 1,500 counterfeit
bags, belts, wallets and watches.
LONDON PAPER 10/03/2009 United Kingdom
Market trader caught selling fake trainers
A market trader who tried to sell counterfeit trainers in Harpurhey has been ordered to pay nearly
£2,000. Iqbal Patel, 46, pleaded guilty to five counts of possessing trademark goods without consent
when he appeared before Manchester magistrates. They found 139 pairs of counterfeit Nike trainers,
ten pairs of counterfeit Lacoste trainers and several bogus keyrings, bearing the Ford, Jaguar and
Land Rover logos.
Dodgy trader is fined £5k
A trader caught with £42,000 worth of fake goods was fined £5000 yesterday. John McOlvogue, 33,
kept more than 4000 pieces of bogus Lacoste, Armani, Diesel and Prada clothes and trainers in a
business unit in Kenning Park, Glasgow
Raid nets illegal tobacco
Smuggled cigarettes and tobacco valued at more than £10,000 were discovered after a raid at the
home of a 62-year-old woman in Winsford. About £1,300 in cash, £2,000 worth of copied DVDs and
£1,200 counterfeit cigarettes were also found at the property on Grampian Way after joint operation
between Cheshire Trading Standards, Cheshire Constabulary and HM Revenue & Customs on
Thursday.
MID CHESHIRE CHRONICLE 18/03/2009 United Kingdom
Chain store selling fake goods has 28 days to pay £150,000
A man caught selling fake iPod accessories has been slapped with a £150,000 fine. Mr Arshhid
Hussain who ran Fone Box in the St Nicholas Centre was also sentenced to 160 hours Community
Punishment after a successful prosecution by Sutton Council. About 185 items were seized including
counterfeit mobile phone covers and accessories,
football tags and Simpsons accessories.
Police net illegal haul in flat raid
A haul of drugs, cash, and dodgy cigarettes were seized when police raided a block of flats. Officers
smashed their way into the flats at St Peter’s Court, in Sacristan, Country Durham, on Tuesday. They
used a search warrant to access the building after receiving a tip-off that it was being used as an
illegal drugs factory.
www.ipcb.co.uk
£19k fine for counterfeit software importer
A man who imported and sold counterfeit software has been fined £19,500. Iqbal Ahmed, of Inchwood
Avenue, Bathgate, was convicted of five charges under section 92(1)(c) of the Trade Marks Act 1994.
The counterfeit goods involved included 600 copies of Microsoft Windows XP software, 1800 fake
Epsom print cartridges and 50 fake Hewlett Packard cartridges.
Shop owner fined for selling illegal vodka
Unsafe illegal vodka was found on sale at a Valleys store, a court has heard. Shop owner Avtar Singh,
32, of High Street, Cefn Coed, Merthyr Tydfil, was fined £405 and ordered to pay £997.37 costs by
Merthyr Tydfil Magistrates. He pleaded guilty to offences under the Food and Safety Act 1990 and the
Trademarks Act 1994
RHYMNEY VALLEY EXPRESS 19/03/2009 United Kingdom
Con-line shopping
Fake branded goods worth £800 million were sold on UK shopping web-sites last year, a study has
revealed. Sales are rising by 45 per cent a year. Fashion items such as watches and handbags
account for 59 per cent of fake traded, said the Annual European Anti-Counterfeit report.
Trader was selling fake trainers
A Neath trader has been made the subject of a 12-month community order after being caught selling
counterfeit Nike trainers/ Trading standards officers seized 263 pairs of the fake footwear when they
went to Satpal Singh’s stall at Rheola Market, prosecutor Ben Blakemore told a judge.
Pirate booted into jail
A Hull market trader has been sentenced to a year in prison after being found guilty of selling and
distributing counterfeit game discs. The discs were for PlayStation 2 Portable, PlayStation, Xbox 360
and Wii consoles and PCs. A search of his home had revealed more than 1,500 illegal game discs in
various formats.
ERT WEEKLY 26/03/2009 United Kingdom
Cheat traders sent to prison
A pair of counterfeiters who planned to flood the market with fake sports and designer goods have
been jailed and ordered to hand over £50,000. Harrow Crown Court heard Imdad Ullah, of
Westminster Court in Aberdeen Place, Marylebone, and Rashid Mejdoub from Chelsea, were caught
in their tracks after eagle-eyed officers from Brent and Harrow Trading Standards
Warning over car-boot cigs
Bargain-hunters are being warned to be on the lookout for traders selling counterfeit and smuggled
cigarettes as the car boot season gets under way this Easter. The warning has come from HM
Revenue and Customs. It says cheap tobacco can often seem like an attractive offer but such sales
are unlicensed and unregulated and can contain poisonous chemicals.
DERBY EVENING TELEGRAPH 27/03/2009 United Kingdom SUTTON COLDFIELD NEWS
27/03/2009 United Kingdom EXPRESS & STAR (STAFFORD) 27/03/2009 United Kingdom
SHEFFIELD STAR 30/03/2009 United Kingdom
‘We are ashamed and we plead guilty. We have never been in ...’
They used a York car boot sale as the base of operations for their rogue trading - now a shamed
couple are waiting to learn their fate after being caught selling dodgy designer clothes. Paramijit Singh
and Surinder Kaur aimed to line their pockets by flogging fake top-name clothing - which included
brand names and designer labels such as Armani, Diesel, Playboy, Nike and Timberland.
www.ipcb.co.uk
‘Don’t trade with counterfeit dealers’ warning
People are being warned to be on the look-out for traders selling counterfeit and smuggled cigarettes
as the car boot sale season gets under way this Easter. HM Revenue & Customs is warning people
visiting car boot sales and markets to be aware of the dangers of the illicit cigarette trade
BRADFORD TELEGRAPH & ARGUS 27/03/2009 United Kingdom
Battery fakes could have put trader in a cell of his own - Judge
A businessman and a role model in Cardiff’s Sikh community has been convicted for stocking fake
Duracell batteries. Sangat Singh was yesterday given a suspended jail sentence for having more than
£30,000 worth of counterfeit stock on his shelves. The fake Duracell packages were said to be so
good they were almost indistinguishable from the real thing
£40,000 in fake goods seized
Almost £40,000 worth of bogus goods have been seized by trading standards officers in Grampian
over the past three years, new figures have revealed. Thousands of fake items, including clothing,
DVDs, cigarettes and alcohol have been recovered in Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and Moray since
2006.
Fake darts flights were not in the Premier League
A man made thousands of pounds by selling fake darts flights from top Premier League clubs. But
keen-eyed officials at Manchester United blew the whistle on Sean David Catton, after spotting the
bogus flights advertised on internet auction site eBay.
WREXHAM EVENING LEADER 31/03/2009 United Kingdom
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Police seize fake goods
Raids in Knowsley Village have netted more than 6,000 illegal cigarettes as well as hundreds of items
of fake designer goods. Knowsley’s consumer protection officers, HM Revenue and Customs and
Merseyside Police descended on homes in the village on Friday.
LIVERPOOL DAILY POST (ENGLISH EDITION) 04/02/2009 United Kingdom
Briefing
Police raided a home and seized hundreds of fake goods and smuggled cigarettes. Officers found
more than 6,000 smuggled cigarettes in the house in Knowsley Village, alongside fake DVDs, clothing
and perfume. They also found 26kg of illicit tobacco and eventually removed 27 bags and boxes of
counterfeit designer goods.
Hidden dangers of dodgy drugs on the Internet
Open your email inbox and the chances are you’ll find it includes junk mail invariably offering solutions
to impotence problems. Its estimated that 90 per cent of drugs sold over the Internet have been
"watered down" and contain less of the active ingredients.
SCOTTISH SUNDAY POST (SERIES) 08/02/2009 United Kingdom
The Italian job
A squad of trading standards officers are trying to snare a gang of conmen targeting shoppers in
Lincolnshire. They operate in car parks without CCTV, usually claim to have lost all their money on the
way home from a conference before offering their victim fake designer clothes.
LINCOLN TARGET 20/02/2009 United
Snap shot
A man was killed when his camera phone exploded in his face, according to reports in China.
Authorities are investigating if he had recently fitted a counterfeit battery. The explosion is understood
to have severed an artery in the victim’s neck
AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHER 20/02/2009 United
Dispute over Blades merchandise licence
Keith Doherty, of Darnall, has applied to Sheffield Council for permission to continue standing at the
corner of Clough Road and behind the John Street stand. The 54-year-old, who has sold unofficial
Sheffield United hats, scarves and badges outside the ground for years is due to have his application
considered by a licensing board today
DONCASTER STAR 20/02/2009 United
SHEFFIELD STAR 20/02/2009 United
Counterfeit goods donated
Thurrock Council has donated thousands of counterfeit items to a national humanitarian aid
organisation. The goods, confiscated by the council’s Trading Standards Department, are being
donated to the organisation called ‘His Church’ and distributed mainly in Africa include clothes and
handbags.
SOUTHEND EVENING ECHO 20/02/2009 United
Seized
Huge hauls of illegal cigarettes, drugs and dangerous weapons have been seized at the region’s
biggest airport. Tobacco trafficers have been caught trying to sneak more than 30 million cigs into
Newcastle International Airport in just six months. UK Border Agency also recovered around £2m
worth of class A drugs and weapons including samurai swords, knuckle-dusters, CS gas sprays
disguised as pens and lighters.
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE JOURNAL 20/02/2009 United
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Company will ensure no fake drugs repeat
A drugs firm rocked by a fake medicine probe says it has tightened up controls following the incident.
Brian McEwan, General Manager of Waymade, said the company, based in Basildon, already has
stringent protocols in place around the drug suppliers. But in the investigation, the firm has joined a
global and European network of pharmaceutical firms which exchange information supplying
medicines
SOUTHEND EVENING ECHO 20/02/2009 United
Fake Watch Man Guilty
A Pontypool man was ordered to pay more than £20,000 after being convicted of selling counterfeit
watches. John James Coop, of Greenhill Road, Griffithistown, denied selling counterfeit watches,
including imitations of Omega and Rolex brands, over five-year period via the internet after importing
them from the far east but was found guilty at court.
Twenty Homes Raided In Major Drugs Bust
Hundreds of police swooped on suspects in a massive crackdown on guns, drugs and fake clothes.
The major series of raids - one of the biggest of its kind ever launched in Herts - saw 300 police
including dogs and firearms officers strike at homes across the west of the county.
HEMEL HEMPSTEAD GAZETTE 25/02/2009 United Kingdom
Payout Appeal Rejected
A father and son hit with a £280,000 confiscation order for trading in counterfeit goods have failed in
an Appeal Court bid to claw back part of the cash. Ehsan Khan, 60, and Rizwan Khan, 25, from
Birmingham, admitted 16 charges concerning dealing in counterfeit goods by their company Bad Boys
Clothing Ltd.
Concern Over Fake Razors
Fake brand razor blades were sold by a woman shopkeeper on Blackpool Promenade. Karen
Williamson, 40, of Onslow Road, Layton, admitted having counterfeit goods. She was given a threeweek curfew which states she must be inside her home between 8pm and 7am and ordered to pay
£200 costs by Blackpool magistrates.
www.ipcb.co.uk
Man jailed for selling fake clothes on eBay
A man has been jailed for 12 months after selling hundreds of fake designer clothes on eBay. Huw
David Rees, 28, of Commercial Street Maesteg, admitted transferring criminal property and three
counts of unauthorised use of a trademark. Newport Crown Court heard Rees, who worked for British
Transport Police, had been selling fake clothes on the online auction site, including more than 400
pairs of counterfeit Diesel cargo shorts.
SOUTH WALES ECHO (SERIES) 01/01/2009 United Kingdom
Alert over fake Colgate toothpaste
Trading Standards chiefs are warning people to be on the lookout for counterfeit Colgate toothpaste.
The alert follows the purchase of a tube of the toothpaste in Preston. The product affected is Colgate
‘Great Regular Flavour Cavity Protection’ toothpaste in 100ml tubes with a manufacturing code of
8037PL1115
LYTHAM ST ANNES EXPRESS 01/01/2009 United Kingdom
Fake hair product warning
Consumer watchdogs are warning residents not to get their fingers burnt on dangerous fake designer
hair straightening irons. The look-alike irons being sold in the region are counterfeit versions of the
top-rated GHD brand’s Hot Pink irons, a limited edition product sold in October last year to promote
Breast Cancer Awareness month.
LEIGH, TYLDESLEY & ATHERTON JOURNAL 01/01/2009 United Kingdom
Lethal vodka could shut newsagents
Bottles of illegal and potentially lethal vodka found on sale at a Collier Row newsagents could lead to
the place being shut down. Collier Row Newsagent was stocking the brew and will face a licence
review at Havering Town Hall on January 9 and recommendations are that owner, John Queenstan,
must change his ways or risk losing all.
ROMFORD RECORDER (SERIES) 02/01/2009 United Kingdom
Police clerk in eBay scam
A police records clerk was jailed yesterday for selling fake designer clothes on eBay. Huw Rees, 28,
logged crimes and criminals’ details while playing a part in an international scam. He sold the fakes
under the name ‘hugeandhard’ and sent nearly £100,000 to an accomplice in Thailand. The transport
police employee admitted transferring criminal property and trademark misuse.
DAILY MIRROR 03/01/2009 United Kingdom
Health fears grow as fake drugs flood into Britain
Counterfeit gangs based in China are producing sophisticated copies of the world’s bestselling
pharmaceuticals. In 2008 an estimated 8m of these potentially deadly pills found their way to NHS
patients. The health of millions of people is at risk. They were made in China, labelled in French and
then shipped to Singapore. They ended up in Liverpool and from there were sold straight into the heart
of the NHS. As the criminal investigation continues into how a fake consignment of Zyprexa, an
antipsychotic treatment prescribed for schizophrenia, infiltrated Britain’s healthcare system last year.
OBSERVER, THE 04/01/2009 United Kingdom
Operation to target dodgy traders
People selling counterfeit goods are being caught red handed by trading standards officers keen to
stamp out the problem. Warwickshire County Council’s Trading Standards Service ins continuing its
work to target dodgy market traders with a series of operations securing thousands of pounds with of
items.
www.ipcb.co.uk
£8m fraud charges
York trading standards officers are prosecuting four people over an alleged £8 million fraud involving
fake jewellery. The four were charged as part of an investigation into sales of trade-marked jewellery
in the city. Trading standards officers allege that the four are responsible for a warehouse that held
166,000 items, that if genuine, would have been worth £8 million.
£200,000 fake goods haul
More than £200,000 worth of fake clothes, watches and handbags bound for London street markets
were seized in Ponders End last week. Police found the goods in a raid at a Ponders End property in
connection with an unrelated inquiry in East London.
ENFIELD INDEPENDENT 07/01/2009 United Kingdom
Shop owners fined over vodka
Two shop owners in Slough have been fined for being in possession of 70 counterfeit bottles of vodka.
Pal Singh Arora, of Metro Food and Wine, in Farnham Road, pleaded guilty to four offences under the
Trade Marks Act and Trade Descriptions Act. He was fined £1,215 (6000 penalty with 615) for
offences relating to 12 bottles of Glen’s Vodka and 10 bottles of Kirov Vodka.
SLOUGH MIDWEEK 07/01/2009 United Kingdom
Watchdogs target fake goods traders
Trading Standards spent the festive season making sure dodgy gifts didn’t end up under Christmas
trees in a blitz on counterfeit goods. In separate raids officers seized perfume featuring unauthorised
images of well-known celebrities and continued to rid the streets of un-hallmarked items of jewellery
and counterfeit goods.
LUTON & DUNSTABLE EXPRESS 07/01/2009 United Kingdom
All that glistens may not be genuine
Bargain hunters in Luton are being warned to beware of dodgy retailers selling counterfeit jewellery,
possibly without a hallmark. In the UK, all jewellery exceeding certain weights - silver 7.78g, gold 1g,
platinum 0.5g - must have hallmark to specify its purity. Any item displayed for sale must also carry a
hallmark.
LUTON NEWS 07/01/2009 United Kingdom
Fresh warning over fake toothpaste
Lancashire County Council’s Trading Standards Service has renewed warnings about counterfeit
toothpaste. It comes after a shopper in Preston bought a 100ml tube of Colgate Great Regular Flavour
Cavity Protection Toothpaste that was found to be fake and was not produced by Colgate-Palmolive. It
is believed the fake goods may have been on sale at Sainsbury’s between Nov 28 and December.
CHORLEY CITIZEN 07/01/2009 United Kingdom
Police stumble on warehouse of fakes
Police officers discovered dozens of boxes of fake designer clothes while looking for a long book at a
warehouse in Ponders End. It is estimated that the haul, which included fake Armani jackets, Jimmy
Choo shoes and Gucci watches, had a street value of about 200,000. Officers arrested two men in
connection with the fakes. They have been released on bail until February.
ENFIELD ADVERTISER 07/01/2009 United Kingdom
Pair fined £1,000 each for selling illicit tobacco
A Valleys couple have been fined £1,000 each for selling illicit imported cigarettes and tobacco.
Robert Ian Edwards and Cheryl Searle, of Woodlands Place, Quakers Yard, Merthyr Tydfil, admitted
charges of selling and possessing for sale imported cigarettes and hand-rolling tobacco, which failed
to carry the required health warnings.
www.ipcb.co.uk
Don’t be fooled by fake hair straighteners
Trading standards chiefs are warning Bury shoppers not to have a bad hair day by buying counterfeit
straighteners. The hair irons are fake versions of the top-rated GHD brand’s Hot Pink irons, a limited
edition product sold in October last year to promote Breast Cancer Awareness month.
RADCLIFFE TIMES 08/01/2009 United Kingdom
BURY TIMES 08/01/2009 United Kingdom
Don’t get your fingers burned by fake straighteners
Trafford residents have been warned not to get their fingers burned by fake hair straighteners. Trading
Standards and consumer watchdogs said lookalike GHD straightening irons are being sold across the
region. The counterfeits include versions of the brand’s ‘Hot Pink’ irons, a limited edition product sold
in October to promote Breast Cancer Awareness month, as well as the traditional black GHD.
STRETFORD & URMSTON MESSENGER 08/01/2009 United Kingdom
Police stumble on warehouse of fakes
Police officers discovered dozens of boxes of fake designer clothes at a warehouse in Ponders End. It
is estimated that the haul, which included fake Armani jackets, Jimmy Choo shoes and Gucci watches,
had a street value of about £200,000. Officers arrested two men in connection with the fakes. They
have been released on bail until February.
Rip-off trader faces jail
A trader was caught with more than £4,000 fake designer clothes items in SIX separate raids on his
stores. Navid Salim, of Bury Old Road, Salford, pleaded guilty to selling counterfeit goods after
swoops on his shops. The clothes would have sold for £100,000 if they had been genuine and Salim,
40, could now face jail.
MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS (SERIES) 08/01/2009 United Kingdom
Probe into cash mum made from selling fake gear
A North-East mum who was caught with £11,000 of counterfeit clothing is again under investigation.
Specialist accountants have been drafted in to find out how much money Fiona Begg made by selling
the goods on eBay. A proceeds of crime action to recoup cash has been launched against her.
Forensic accountants from Edinburgh have been asked to draw up a report on money made from
Beggs’ eBay account.
Fined for selling counterfeit vodka
Two Slough off-licensees have been fined for selling counterfeit vodka. Trading standards officials say
Pal Singh Arora and Asif Ali Khan had 70 bottles of the fake spirits on their shelves. Mr Arora, of Metro
Food and Wine in Farnham Road, pleaded guilty to four offences under the Trade Mark Act and Trade
Descriptions Act and was fined £600 with £615 costs.
SLOUGH EXPRESS SERIES 09/01/2009 United Kingdom
Warning over dangerous fake hair straighteners
Potentially dangerous fake hair straighteners are being flogged around the borough. The counterfeit
tongs look like GHD’s Hot Pink Irons, a limited edition product sold in October 2008 to promote Breast
Cancer Awareness Month. Black GHD irons are also known to have been counterfeited. The lookalikes are being offered for between £60 and £100, while the genuine articles retail for £100 to £155.
MANCHESTER METRO NEWS (SERIES) 09/01/2009 United Kingdom
www.ipcb.co.uk
Got-Choo!
Fake designer shoes and trainers with a street value of £2.3million have been seized by customs
officers at Felixstowe docks. They were among thousands of counterfeit goods, including poisonous
herbal remedies, which international crime gangs tried to smuggle through the Suffolk port. HM
Customs revealed that among the contraband seized towards the end of last year were 318 cartons of
counterfeit designer Jimmy Choo and Gucci-branded ladies shoes and boots which had arrived from
China.
Pirate Granny
The mastermind behind an international racket in fake designer goods can today be revealed as a 60year-old cleaner. Granny Elizabeth Warrender raked in £165,000 a year flogging rip-offs from the
garage of her modest semi-detached home. She imported huge loads of counterfeit Prada and
Versace gear from China and had them sent by TNT couriers. She was only rumbled when the firm’s
drivers became suspicious at the size of the deliveries to her house.
£2m fake shoe find
Fake designer shoes worth £2.3million have been seized by customs, it was revealed yesterday.
Thousands of Jimmy Choo, Gucci shoes and Nike trainers were found by officers at Britain’s biggest
container port. The consignments from China were intended to be sold at markets and car boot sales.
African herbal medicines with dangerous toxin levels were also seized in Felixstowe, Suffolk.
Warning to drinkers as counterfeit vodka found
Drinkers are being warned that bottles of counterfeit vodka are currently in circulation in the county.
Norfolk County Council trading standards officers have issued a warning that counterfeit Spar Imperial
Vodka has been found in Norfolk. The counterfeit vodka was found in a non-Spar store in Norwich on
Friday, January 9, following a call from a member of the public who had purchased a bottle.
Hair iron alert
Women are being urged to take care when straighteners are being sold across the north-west. Trading
standards chiefs are warning that counterfeit copies of GHD ‘hot pink’ irons are on sale - and are
warning they could have electrical faults which may start fire or cause electrocution.
Stallholder could face prison term for selling fake designer ...
Market trader David Leitch has been warned he could face up to 10 years in jail for selling fake
designer sports gear at a city car boot sale. Leitch, 36, Lilac Road, Tiverton, has pleaded guilty to nine
offences after being caught in an undercover sting by trading standards officers at Matford car boot
sale in Marsh Barton, Exeter.
EXETER EXPRESS & ECHO 13/01/2009 United Kingdom
Foaming at the mouth over fake toothpaste
A disgruntled shopper has lambasted supermarket giant discovering the toothpaste she bought from
the store was counterfeit. Tracey Dexter, 47, of Ayebridge Avenue, Egham, bought what she thought
was a tube of her regular Colgate toothpaste from the shop in The Causeway, Staines, but had been
getting sore throats since using it.
SURREY HERALD & STAINES NEWS SERIES 14/01/2009 United Kingdom
www.ipcb.co.uk
Fake trader caught with 4,000 copies
A trader was caught with more than 4,000 fake designer clothes items in six separate raids on his
fashion stores. Navid Salim, 40, of Bury Old Road, Salford, pleaded guilty at Manchester Crown Court
to selling counterfeit goods after trading standards officers swooped on his shops in Stockport and
Barrow-in-Furness. The clothes would have sold for 100,000 if they had been genuine and Salim, 40,
could now face jail.
Fake goods charge
The sale of fake brand-name goods has cost one shop £2,7000. Pure Image Limited was fined a total
of £2,200 and ordered to pay £506 court costs after trading standards officers found counterfeit goods
on sale at its Taff Street store in Pontypridd. Items including a ‘Spongebob’ rucksack and Playboy
socks, which break the Trade Marks Act, were seized and destroyed.
Illegal vodka rap for newsagent
A Collier Row newsagent came ‘within a whisker’ of losing his licence after bottles of illegal and
potentially lethal vodka were found on sale in his shop. On September 9 last year nine bottles of fake
Spar branded Imperial vodka were found at the shop - only a month after councils across the country
issued leaflet warnings to retailers about the toxic liquor.
ROMFORD & HAVERING WEEKLY POST 24/01/2009 United Kingdom
Stubbed Out
Customs officers seized Wales’ biggest ever haul of fake cigarettes when they raided a ship docked in
Cardiff. A total of 22 million counterfeit cigarettes worth £5m on the streets was discovered stashed
among bed linen and towels when the unnamed, deep-sea cargo vessel arrived in the capital from
Dubai.
Trader selling designer fakes
Market trader David Leitch has given car boot sales a bad name by selling fake designer clothes in the
city, Exeter Crown Court was told. Leitch, who had been trading a car boot sales including ones at
Matford in Marsh Barton, and Westpoint, near Clyst St Mary, was also ordered to complete 150 hours
of unpaid work in the community.
1.5m-plus cigs seized
More than 1.5m counterfeit cigarettes were seized at East Midlands Airport in the last six weeks of
2008. The cigarettes recovered by HM Revenue & Customs officers represented a duty loss to the
Treasury of £316,000. A further 400kg in hand-rolling tobacco - representing a £55,000 loss in duty was also seized.
Charity handover sees ‘good come out of bad’
Counterfeit goods including compact discs, clothing and other goods seized by Powys County Council
have been handed to a charity to be recycled or destroyed. The latest handover is to the Huntingdon
based His Church charity, which works with Trading Standards Services across Britain turning seized
counterfeit goods into humanitarian aid for those suffering from poverty in Eastern Europe and Africa.
SOUTH SHROPSHIRE & MID-WALES JOURNAL SERIES 19/01/2009 United Kingdom
Fake drugs fear
Chinese Triads are flooding Scotland with fake medicines, according to senior drugs cops. They warn
that the counterfeit pills could be dangerous if taken.
www.ipcb.co.uk
Fashion faux-pas
A Stockport trader was caught with more than 4,000 fake designer clothes items in six separate raids
on his stores. Navid Salim pleaded guilty to selling counterfeit goods after swoops on his shops. The
clothes would have sold for £100,000 if they had been genuine and he could now face jail.
STOCKPORT TIMES SERIES 22/01/2009 United Kingdom
Stores fined for selling fake vodka
Four off-licences which sold potentially dangerous counterfeit vodka have been ordered to pay more
than £6,000 after prosecutions by Islington Council. The councils trading standards team was alerted
in August last year after a customer was sold a bottle of fake Spar Imperial vodka at an off-licence in
Archway.
ISLINGTON GAZETTE 22/01/2009 United Kingdom
£2,500 bill for fake sports goods trader
A trader has admitted selling fake sports goods worth around £2,500 from a stall in the market.
Mohammed Qasim, aged 23, of Mitchell Street, was handed a community order at Rochdale
Magistrates Court after pleaded guilty to six charges relating to the sale of fake items.
ROCHDALE OBSERVER (SATURDAY) 24/01/2009 United Kingdom
The dodgy doll Who’s not the real doctor
Counterfeit Spiderman and Dr Who figures landed a wholesaler with a fine of more than £16,000.
Trading Standards officers found replica Spiderman, Mr Incredibles and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
at Roxmeade Ltd in Mouton Street, Cheetham Hill which the genuine manufacturers confirm were
counterfeits.
Firms warned about the risks of using counterfeit components
The Component Obsolescence Group has published best-practice guidance to help companies up
and down the supply chain avoid counterfeit electronic components. The message is that companies
in the electronics supply chain should take the threat from counterfeit components seriously.
Chinese Fakeaway
More than £60,000 of fake designer clothing destined for the regions black market has been seized.
Trading Standards and police busted a shop in Newcastle’s West End and discovered an Aladdin’s
cave of bogus goods, most of which are suspected to have been made in China.
Shoe seller had fake trainers
A woman was fined for possessing fake designer goods to sell at her business. Angela Thomson, 33,
who was running a business in Bootle, was found by police with 40 pairs of counterfeit Hugo Boss
trainers in her car. Appearing in court last Thursday, Thomson was fined and ordered to pay costs
totalling £1,728.
£16,000 of fakes on market stall
A market stall boss stocked fake clothing and training shoes which would have cheated manufacturers
and legitimate traders out of £16,000, a court heard. DD Mens Wear, owned by David Dean, was
raided twice by Trading Standards officers, who found counterfeit Nike trainers stashed in a roof void
above the stall, and fake clothing at the back of it.
LANCASHIRE EVENING TELEGRAPH (SERIES) 29/01/2009 United Kingdom
www.ipcb.co.uk
Game over for fake toys
We all know Spiderman catches thieves just like flies, but it looks like he’s not too bad at helping to
nab counterfeit firms either. The game was up for one Cheetham Hill company when trading
standards officers raided their Moulton Street premises last November to find several suspicious
Spidey toys. Bosses from Roxmeade Ltd were invited to a town hall interview to give their side of the
story on two occasions, but didn’t bother to turn up.
"Rip-off" trader has his van confiscated
A man who was prosecuted for selling counterfeit clothing at markets in Powys has had the vehicle he
traded in taken away from him, Powys County Council has announced. The councils Trading
Standards Service has conducted its first Proceeds of Crime hearing against West Midlands-based
counterfeiter Isran Khan.
SOUTH SHROPSHIRE & MID-WALES JOURNAL SERIES 30/01/2009 United Kingdom
www.ipcb.co.uk
Seven scams of Christmas
Harrow Council’s Trading Standards team is warning consumers this year to be aware of seven scams
of Christmas. Bargain presents may not be all they seem. Protect yourself and your family with our
safety tips. Brand goods at markets - If it looks too good to be true, it probably is. Harrow was hit
earlier this year by a UK smuggling ring that illegally imported fake Nike trainers from China. While
sold for a bargain £25 a pair, you would be unlikely to run to the end of the street in these, never mind
run a marathon, as they typically fell apart in weeks
HARROW PEOPLE 01/12/2008 United Kingdom
UK electrical industry fights back
Concern over the sale of counterfeit and non-compliant electrical goods prompted four major trade
associations – BEAMA Installation, The Electrical Distributors Association, the Electrical Contractors
Association and Select (The Scottish electrical contractors` association) - to issue an ‘Electrical
Installation Industry Charter’ to combat the trade.
ELECTRICAL WHOLESALER 01/12/2008 United Kingdom
Jailed computer ‘pirate’ cost industry £900,000
A conman has been convicted of selling fake computer software and console games in Wigan. The
jailing of Steve Adams followed one of the biggest investigations into software piracy by Wigan
Council Trading Standards. The 38-year-old lived a life of luxury at the centre of an empire based on
the profits of illegal copies of the latest games and films.
WIGAN OBSERVER 02/12/2008 United Kingdom
£250,000 fakes in raid on market
More than £250,000 worth of fake trainers, sunglasses and clothes have been seized from stalls at a
popular Walsall market. Four Transit-size van loads of counterfeit goods were retrieved from Bescot in
a crackdown by investigators. The haul included around 1,000 pairs of Nike and Lacoste trainers, 100
pairs of designer sunglasses, sweatshirts, hoodies, jeans and T-shirts from top brands Adidas,
Timberland and G-Star clothing.
Man jailed for selling fake designer clothes
A man caught selling counterfeit clothing at a Chirk car boot sale has been jailed after committing the
same offence at a Rhyl market while in bail. Last Tuesday, defendant Yasim Tariq, 49, a father of
eight, was jailed for six months at Mold Crown Court after admitting two trademarks offences brought
by Wrexham County Borough Council, eight charges brought by Cowy County Borough Council, with
136 similar offences taken into consideration.
OSWESTRY & BORDER COUNTIES ADVERTIZER 02/12/2008 United Kingdom
STOCKPORT EXPRESS 03/12/2008 United Kingdom
Counterfeit trader jailed
Counterfeit tobacco and DVD trader has been given a prison sentence at Luton Magistrates Court.
Der Ching Yang, 39, who lives in London, was jailed for 28 days for the possession for sale of 64
packets of fake Golden Virginia Tobacco. Yang was arrested in Luton in November after police officers
spotted him selling DVDs and tobacco.
LUTON NEWS 03/12/2008 United Kingdom
Goods seized
A haul of fake designer goods worth £4,000 was seized by Trading Standards last weekend. Officers
working undercover at North Weald Market seized a range of counterfeit goods including GHD hair
straighteners Links of London jewellery, UGG boots and Jimmy Choo shoes.
SOUTHEND EVENING ECHO 03/12/2008 United Kingdom CHELMSFORD YELLOW ADVERTISER
04/12/2008 United Kingdom ESSEX ENQUIRER 04/12/2008 United Kingdom
Registered in England No 1984849 VAT Registration No GB 434 5353
www.ipcb.co.uk
‘He was warned about illegal conduct’
A dodgy South Harrow trader found with hundreds of phony designer clothes has been banned from
markets across the country. Police found 726 items of clothing mocked up to look like genuine
designers, like Dolce & Gabanna, Moschino and Lacoste, after searching the home of Adnel Avram,
also known as Hagi, in January this year.
Trader had told ‘porky pies’
A rogue trader who peddled piles of fake designer clothes has been banned from every market in
England and Wales. Adnel Avram, 30, was also slapped with a three-month suspended prison
sentence, ordered to complete 150 hours of community service and fined more than 10,000. The stallholder, who also goes by the name of Hagi Avram, sold the counterfeit clothes at Wembley and
Bovingdon markets, before being stung by Brent and Harrow Trading Standards.
HARROW OBSERVER 04/12/2008 United Kingdom WILLESDEN LEADER 10/12/2008 United
Kingdom HARROW LEADER 11/12/2008 United Kingdom
How to make sure you don’t get conned with a fake Nintendo
Cut price killers could be under Christmas trees across the North East. Hundreds of potentially lethal
games consoles have been seized. The bogus Nintendo DS and DS Lite machines were addressed to
buyers in Tyneside, Northumberland and County Durham but were intercepted by customs officers at
ports and airports across the UK
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE JOURNAL 05/12/2008 United Kingdom
Police warning over fake jackets
Police are warning residents to be aware of counterfeit goods after a man was seen trying to sell fake
Armani jackets in a car park in Leatherhead.
Fake Nintendo alert
Counterfeit Nintendo consoles given to children for Christmas could put their lives at risk, parents were
warned today. Hundreds of fake computer consoles imported and seized at freight depots across the
UK were found to have potentially dangerous power adaptors, HM Revenue & Customs said.
READING EVENING POST 05/12/2008 United Kingdom NORTHERN ECHO (SERIES) 05/12/2008
United Kingdom GLASGOW EVENING TIMES 05/12/2008 UK DAILY TELEGRAPH, THE 05/12/2008
United Kingdom BOLTON EVENING NEWS 05/12/2008 United Kingdom HULL DAILY MAIL
(SERIES) 05/12/2008 United Kingdom DAILY TELEGRAPH, THE 05/12/2008 United Kingdom
BOLTON EVENING NEWS 05/12/2008 United Kingdom READING EVENING POST 05/12/2008
United Kingdom DONCASTER STAR 12/12/2008 United Kingdom LEATHERHEAD ADVERTISER
18/12/2008 United Kingdom FOLKESTONE HERALD 18/12/2008 United Kingdom
Warning over fake consoles
Bogus Nintendo consoles bought as Christmas presents could put children’s lives at risk, parents have
been warned. Hundreds of the fake DS and DS Lites seized by Costums were found to have
potentially dangerous power adaptors. Advertised as ‘genuine Nintendo’, they were bought from
websites based mainly in Asia for around £40, instead of the usual £100.
SCOTTISH DAILY RECORD 05/12/2008 United Kingdom GAINSBOROUGH TARGET 12/12/2008
United Kingdom BLACKPOOL GAZETTE 16/12/2008 United Kingdom
Moonshine Mogul netted £10million
A chemist who used his expertise to set up a moonshine distillery which made him £10million has
been sentenced to nine years in jail. Mridyul Das, who had worked for pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca, churned out vodka and whisky from a warehouse. The 31-year-old set up his operation in
Oldham, Greater Manchester, producing fake vodkas Royal Czar, Tamova and Glen’s.
www.ipcb.co.uk
Nike trainers - conman jailed
A rogue trader who was caught with a huge haul of Nike trainers worth a whopping half a million
pounds was yesterday caged for a year. Greedy Mark McLinthock, from Paisley, hoped to make a
fortune by flogging the footwear through the eBay internet site.
PAISLEY DAILY EXPRESS 06/12/2008 United Kingdom GLASGOW EVENING TIMES 06/12/2008
United Kingdom HERALD, THE (GLASGOW) 06/12/2008 United Kingdom GLASGOW EVENING
TIMES 06/12/2008 United Kingdom
Fake consoles are a real danger
Fake computer games consoles and adaptors are potentially putting Christmas customers lives in
danger, customs officials have warned. Bosses at revenues and Customs have warned East
Lancashire parents who are tempted to buy the cheap counterfeits.
Clamping down on the fakers
More than 18,000 items of counterfeit merchandise have been seized by Rochdale trading standards
officers over the past year. A wide range of goods, including fake big-branded clothing and footwear
handbags, perfume, jewellery as well as cigarettes, tobacco and vodka, have been taken off the black
market.
ROCHDALE OBSERVER (SATURDAY) 06/12/2008 United Kingdom
‘£8m fraud’ charges
York trading standards officers are prosecuting four people over an alleged £8 million fraud involving
fake jewellery. The four were charged as part of an investigation into sales of trade-marked jewellery
in the city. Trading standards officers allege that the four are responsible for a warehouse that held
166,000 items, that if genuine, would have been worth £8 million.
Game over?
Dangerous counterfeit games consoles could be putting the lives of Lincolnshire bargain-hunters at
risk. HM Revenue and Customs has seized hundreds of fake Nintendo DS and DS Lites, dozens of
which were destined for the county. It says the consoles’ power adaptors, which have not been safety
tested, could ‘put consumers’ lives in danger`.
LINCOLNSHIRE ECHO (SERIES) 08/12/2008 United Kingdom
Bogus bags, fake jewels worth 3.6m seized
Fake designer goods with an estimated street value of 3.6 million have been seized from a ship at
Grangemouth, it was revealed today. UK Border Agency officers at the port discovered three
containers from China packed with counterfeit handbags and jewellery. More than 14,000 items were
recovered in the swoop, stopping them from entering the market place in the run-up to Christmas.
DUNDEE EVENING TELEGRAPH 09/12/2008 United Kingdom ABERDEEN EVENING EXPRESS
(SERIES) 09/12/2008 United Kingdom HERALD, THE (GLASGOW) 10/12/2008 United Kingdom
In brief
The county’s trading standards is urging customers to think twice if they are offered goods at prices
that are too good to be true. At Christmas, many people are looking for bargains, but Surrey Trading
Standards warns that many goods bought at markets are counterfeit and of poor quality, with many
being potentially dangerous.
WEYBRIDGE NEWS & MAIL 10/12/2008 United Kingdom
www.ipcb.co.uk
Kicked out of UK after role in clothes con
A man living in Forest Gate has been kicked out of the country after police smashed a £500,000
counterfeit clothing scam. The 50-year-old was arrested at his home in Katherine Road after police
discovered fake designer goods destined for Christmas buyers. They were stored at a container yard
on an industrial estate in Rainham, Essex.
NEWHAM RECORDER 10/12/2008 United Kingdom
Newsagent fined after selling fake condoms
A newsagent has been fined for selling fake condoms in her Lower Clapton shop. Derba Heshinro, the
owner of Lucky Newsagents in Chatsworth Road, appeared at Thames magistrates’ court on
Wednesday last week. She was fined £100 and ordered to pay £265 costs after admitting offences
under the Trades Mark Act.
HACKNEY GAZETTE 11/12/2008 United Kingdom
Trader fined over jewellery
A Dalston trader was fined £250 last week for selling silver jewellery that was fake or did not have a
hallmark. Tuncer Tanriverdi, who has a stall in Ridley Road market, was ordered to pay another £250
in legal costs and £150 worth of stock was confiscated. The 32-year-old pleaded guilty at
Snaresbrook Crown Court to six charges of offering to supply silver jewellery without the mark and five
charges of offering to supply counterfeit jewellery.
HACKNEY GAZETTE 11/12/2008 United Kingdom
Fake trainer trader to pay back 125k
A bogus trader has this week been ordered to pay back £125,000 he made selling fake goods.
Michael Potter was caught after Nike investigators worked with Havering Trading Standards officers in
a sting operation, London’s Snaresbrook Crown Court heard.
EAST LONDON ENQUIRER 11/12/2008 United Kingdom
Fake toys warning from trading standards
Surrey trading standards is urging Mole Valley residents to think twice before buying goods at prices
that are too good to be true. The consumer watchdog said that the counterfeiters gear up for the
Christmas rush just as legitimate retailers do, and will flood the market with copies of this year’s ‘must
have’ toys.
LEATHERHEAD ADVERTISER 11/12/2008 United Kingdom
DORKING ADVERTISER 11/12/2008 United Kingdom
Pay-back time for fakes sales
A minicab driver who was caught with 2,000 pairs of fake Nike trainers has been ordered to pay back
£125,000. Michael Potter, 49, was snared after undercover Nike investigators launched a sting
operation at a depot in Upminster, on April 21, 2006.
Alert over fake goods
Watch out for counterfeit goods at Christmas is the message from Rochdale trading standards
officers. More than 18,000 items of counterfeit merchandise have been seized by Rochdale officers
over the past year. A wide range of goods, including fake big brand clothing and footwear, handbags,
perfume, jewellery as well as cigarettes, tobacco and vodka, have been taken off the black market.
ROCHDALE EXPRESS 12/12/2008 United Kingdom
Beware of fake goods
People are being warned to think twice before buying Christmas goods at prices too good to be true.
Surrey Trading Standards is warning consumers after recent figures showed nearly a quarter of all
toys on sale could be fake. The festive period leads to many looking for bargains but goods bought at
markets can be counterfeit and of poor quality and often dangerous, according to trading standards
officers.
VILLAGER, THE (SLOUGH) 12/12/2008 United Kingdom
www.ipcb.co.uk
Woman with faked designer gear avoids jail
A woman caught with thousands of pounds of dodgy designer gear avoided jail this afternoon. Northeast mum Fiona Begg was ordered to carry out 300 hours of unpaid work after admitting having fake
top brand clothes and accessories. Peterhead Sheriff Court heard that the qualified nurse had been
facing jail.
Cigarettes and alcohol in fake hall of shame
Alcohol, cigarette lighters and tobacco - not the kind of items you would usually expect to be
counterfeit. But these are just a slice of the thousands of fake goods seized by Beds County Council’s
Trading Standards team in recent months. Clothing, watches, perfume and toys - a number of which
had been seized in Chronicle County - were some of the other counterfeit items on display at County
Hall this week as part of the council’s crack-down on illegal trading.
BIGGLESWADE CHRONICLE 12/12/2008 United Kingdom
Top cop: Buying fake goods funds organised crime
Shoppers in Glasgow have been earned to steer clear of fake DVDs in the run-up to Christmas. The
Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency said money from fake goods was used by crime groups
to fund activities such as human trafficking, firearms and illegal drugs. So far this year the Federation
Against Copyright Theft has seized more than £115,000 counterfeit DVDs in Strathclyde with a street
value of around £335,000. Other items often forged include sophisticated goods such as car or
plane parts, electrical goods and pharmaceuticals.
eBay to pay Louis Vuitton £40 million
Imitation is not often the flattery it claims to be as online auctioneer eBay discovered. Accused of
selling fake Louis Vuitton handbags and leather goods, the retailer was slapped with a damages bill of
£40 million. Ouch!
IRISH EXAMINER, THE (EIRE) 13/12/2008 Ireland
Chinese burn
Ruthless Chinese triads are using illegal immigrants to produce fake fags in the UK. And, as the credit
crunch bites and people look to save money, the gangs are upping production in a bid to cash in. The
cigarettes are filled with various killer toxins including 60% more tar and 130% more carbon monoxide.
They also contain rat droppings and arsenic.
DAILY STAR - SUNDAY 14/12/2008 United Kingdom
Dangers of shoddy goods
Trading Standards officials have issued their starkest warning yet about the dangers of buying fake
goods this Christmas. Officers say criminal gangs have flooded Britain’s festive market with
counterfeit alcohol, cigarettes, clothes and electrical products. Many are up to 80 per cent cheaper
than genuine products or brands.
Advice on toys for shoppers
Families in the Wellington area have been urged not to compromise children’s safety as they seek to
save money this Christmas. Christmas shoppers have been advised not to buy counterfeit toys, which
may not comply with toy safety standards. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents has also
come up with tips for people planning to give knocked-down presents this year.
WELLINGTON WEEKLY NEWS 17/12/2008 United Kingdom
www.ipcb.co.uk
Community service for trader who sold fakes
A judge told a market trader who admitted selling counterfeit clothing that he was not only undermining
public confidence, but giving other market traders in the region a bad name. Judge Dafydd Hughes,
sitting at Mold Crown Court, warned Mohammed Afzal, 36, a father of three, caught selling fake
designer clothing at Prestatyn market, that he could easily have been imprisoned immediately.
WREXHAM EVENING LEADER (SERIES) 17/12/2008 United Kingdom
Raids net fake items at market
Fake perfume, shoes and watches were among the items seized by Northamptonshire County Council
in three raids against counterfeit sales. In the first operation last month, officers from the council’s
trading standards department, acting on a tip-off, swooped on an out-of-country market trader who
was running a stall on the Market Square in Northampton.
Consoles alert
Christmas shoppers are being asked to stay alert for potentially dangerous fake games consoles. This
is after HM Revenue and Customs recently seized hundreds of imported counterfeit games players
supplied with dangerous power adaptors.
LEATHERHEAD ADVERTISER 18/12/2008 United Kingdom
Fake goods seized
Counterfeit goods have been seized in a series of operations by trading standards officers. The county
trading standards service carried out a test purchase on a small independent retailer in
Wellingborough and seized counterfeit clothing and trainers from the store.
Warning as fakes are seized
Fake designer footwear, handbags and watches worth thousands of pounds were seized as police
and trading standards officers raided a home. The operation, a joint initiative by Sussex Police and
Brighton and Hove trading standards, uncovered fake Tiffany jewellery, 12 Gucci handbags, four
Rolex watches and 100 pairs of counterfeit Ugg boots.
BRIGHTON ARGUS 19/12/2008 United Kingdom
eBay condemns shamed wife of former PC
Fiona Begg was arrested after a two-year trading standards investigation, the biggest of this kind
carried out in Aberdeenshire. Consumer protection officers raided her home at Stuartfield, near
Mintlaw, and uncovered a haul of jeans, shirts and jackets falsely labelled with brand names such as
Diesel, Burberry, Prada, Armani, Lacoste, Dolce and Gabanna, Timberland and Henri Lloyd.
£21,700 profits from selling fake designer gear
A man who sold counterfeit designer gear at an open air market stall in Newtown made an illegal profit
of £21,700, Mold Crown Court was told last Thursday. A judge rejected claims by Isran Khan that he
did not have a half share in his sister’s house and adjourned a financial hearing under The Proceeds
of Crime Act for the house to be valued.
POWYS COUNTY TIMES & EXPRESS SERIES 19/12/2008 United Kingdom
Praise for some real action on fake gear
Most people would admit to having at least one fake designer item in their wardrobe. Whether it’s a
quality copy of a Prada bag bought on holiday or a fake YSL shirt bought at a market stall - not many
of us would turn down a bargain. But those behind the £10 billion UK counterfeit industry could face
jail if they are caught with dodgy goods.
www.ipcb.co.uk
Crash cop’s wife dodges jail over £11k eBay fakes
A policeman’s wife caught selling fake designer clothes on eBay escaped a jail sentence yesterday.
Fiona Begg, 46, was nabbed with a £11,000 of bogus jackets, jeans and shirts after a sting by
consumer watchdogs. And when she admitted selling the fakes at an earlier hearing, she was warned
she faced being put behind bars.
Counterfeit seizure
A Christmas crackdown by Kent Trading Standards officers led to the seizure of more than 2,000
potentially dangerous toys. They formed part of a larger haul of nearly 4,500 counterfeit items that also
included clothing and footwear.
KENT ON SUNDAY 21/12/2008 United Kingdom
Fake hair irons could be killers
Counterfeit hair straighteners being sold at knockdown prices around Liverpool could cause fatal
injuries. The fake irons are made to look like the market-leading GHD brand, which retail for between
£100 and £140. Trading Standards officers today warned the poor quality of the equipment’s electrics
could cause electrocutions.
Alert over dangerous of ‘bent’ hair straighteners
Some girls won’t leave home without them - but shoppers in Mersey are being warned not to buy
potentially dangerous fake designer hair straighteners. Consumer watchdogs at Liverpool City Council
and Halton Borough Council are advising last-minute shoppers to avoid the counterfeit versions of toprated ghd brand straighteners.
Four held in drug and fake cigarette crackdown
Cannabis and fake cigarettes worth thousands of pounds have been seized and four people arrested
as part of a purge to smash counterfeit tobacco rings linked to organised crime. Operation Apus,
involving trading standards and customs officers and police, has been targeting addresses across
Yorkshire suspected of taking deliveries of big shipments of counterfeit cigarettes and hand-rolling
tobacco.
Fakes warning on toothpaste
Thousands of tubes of fake Colgate toothpaste sold between November 28 and December 5 have
been recalled by Sainsbury`s and Boots. It was labelled Colgate Cavity Protection and came in 100ml
tubes.
Choc horror at Ferreros
Ten tons of fake Ferrero Rocher chocolates, which would have left a bad taste with the sophisticated
party set, have been seized by French customs officials. Nearly 33,000 boxes of gold-foil-wrapped
sweets were impounded at an international market outside Paris.
No confidence
Thousands of tubes of fake Colgate toothpaste have been recalled by two major retailers. Sainsbury’s
and Boots were duped into selling the counterfeit between Nov 28 - Dec 5. It was labelled Colgate
Cavity Protection, in 100ml tubes. The supermarket wrote to 17,000 customers.
SHEFFIELD STAR 26/12/2008 United Kingdom
www.ipcb.co.uk
Fake hair irons could kill you, say watchdogs
Fake designer hair straighteners on sale in the north west could kill, consumer watchdogs are
warning. The irons are counterfeit versions of the top-rated ghd brand’s Hot Pink styles, a special
limited edition which was sold in October this year to promote Breast Cancer Awareness month.
Traditional black ghd stylers are also known to have been faked.
Three arrested over counterfeit tobacco
Three people from the city have been arrested following a regional crackdown on counterfeit tobacco.
Operation Apus, involving police, trading standards and HM Revenue and Customs, held a day of
action across Yorkshire and the Humber. Officers recovered 10,000 counterfeit cigarettes from an
address in west Hull and discovered a large number of unclassified DVDs.
Internet fakes scam puts man in prison
A Rochdale couple have admitted charges relating to the possession of £300,000 of counterfeit
clothing and money laundering. The pair, of Eastbourne Street, Freehold, were sentenced at Bolton
Crown Court. Mahmood Sultan, were selling counterfeit goods using various trading names on the
internet auction site eBay.
ROCHDALE OBSERVER (WEDNESDAY) 31/12/2008 United Kingdom
Safety warning over fake straighteners
A warning has gone out to Halton shoppers following a flood of fake designer hair straighteners into
the North West market. Halton consumer protection staff fear that counterfeit limited edition GHD
brand Hot Pink irons will end up on sale in the borough.
RUNCORN & WIDNES WEEKLY NEWS (SERIES) 31/12/2008 United Kingdom
www.ipcb.co.uk
Fake pesticides on the rise
A report released on September 17th by the European Crop Protection Association shows that fake
pesticides are now increasingly present in most European countries. These illegally-traded pesticides
are completely untested and commonly contain toxic elements that pose significant threats to farmers,
consumers and the environment.
Business welcomes new EU Observatory to fight counterfeiting ...
Business leaders from Business Action to Stop Counterfeiting and Piracy (BASCAP), an initiative of
the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), have welcomed news that the European Council has
established a European Observatory on Counterfeiting.
Oh my GHD! Counterfeit straighteners
Consumers are being warned that their money could end up burning more than a hole in their pocket if
they spend it on a set of fake hair straighteners. Lancashire County Council Trading Standards
Service is warning consumers to steer away from two particular websites selling fake GHD hair
products.
MORECAMBE VISITOR 19/11/08
Fears over vodka that could make you ‘blind’ drunk
More than 100 bottles of fake vodka dangerous enough to cause blindness have been seized by
Enfield Council. Several swoops by the authority’s Food Safety Team discovered 46 bottles of Spar
Brand Imperial Vodka - which could contain high levels of methanol that can cause blindness - and 85
bottles of Glen’s vodka.
ENFIELD GAZETTE 20/11/2008 United Kingdom
Scambusters declare war
War has been declared on dodgy dealing in York with a crack-down on the city’s rogue traders,
‘scammers’ and counterfeiters. The Scambusters team, headed by David Short, a former chief
superintendent with North Yorkshire Police, has been gradually growing since October and the
scheme has now being officially launched by City of York Council.
YORK STAR 20/11/2008 United Kingdom
Concern as fake vodka hits shops
Christmas revellers are being warned not to buy cheap alcohol as new cases of potentially harmful
counterfeit vodka were discovered in police raids across Lancashire. The counterfeit booze can
contain methanol - an industrial alcohol, which can have serious health implications.
BURNLEY CITIZEN 20/11/2008 United Kingdom
Officers reveal the top 10 fakes of Christmas
Trading Standards officers in Dorset are using the current National Consumer Week to warn online
shoppers about being vigilant when looking for Christmas gifts. Investigations into internet sales via
online auctions and similar sites have highlighted a range of counterfeit goods that consumers should
be aware of.
www.ipcb.co.uk
Crackdown targets counterfeit gangs
Organised gangs of criminals are being targeted in a crackdown on dodgy goods flooding
Lincolnshire. The blitz on counterfeit products has left police with a haul of tens of thousands of fake
items such as DVDs and clothing. And, although most fakes were sold in car boot sales and market
stalls, criminal gangs are behind the distribution of most products.
GAINSBOROUGH TARGET 21/11/2008 United Kingdom
Teenager ran global fake goods empire
A schoolboy ran a global fake goods empire from the attic bedroom of his parents’ home, a court
heard. Faried Patel imported counterfeit computer games, clothes and jewellery worth up to 500,000,
then sold them on Internet auction site eBay. He recruited his father; Umer Patel, whose bank
account he used to launder money, and also cut his cousin in the deal.
Woman ‘linked with criminal fraternity’
A woman caught with thousands of pounds of dodgy designer clothes could have been part of a wider
criminal fraternity, it was revealed today. Fiona Begg may have bought the garments from distributors
of counterfeit goods working throughout the country. As revealed in later editions of yesterday’s
Evening Express, the 46-year-old admitted having clothes and accessories falsely labelled with
brand names such as Diesel, Burberry, Prada, Armani and Lacoste.
Consumers are being warned to steer away from websites selling fake GHD hair products. The
websites are www.gohairline.com and www.gohaironline.com. Both appear to offer genuine GHD
branded hair straighteners at reduced prices. However, Lancashire County Council Trading Standards
has received two complaints from consumers where hair straighteners purchased from the websites
were found to be counterfeit.
LONGRIDGE NEWS 26/11/2008 United Kingdom
Same offence committed while man on bail
A man caught selling counterfeit designer label clothing at a Sunday market in Chirk was later caught
doing the same thing while on bail. Yasim Tariq, 49, a father of eight, was jailed for six months at Mold
Crown Court, after he admitted two trademarks offences brought by Wrexham Council and eight
charges brought by Conwy Council, with 136 similar offences taken into consideration.
WREXHAM EVENING LEADER (SERIES) 26/11/2008 United Kingdom
Cop’s wife flogs fakes on eBay
A policeman’s wife has been caught flogging thousands of pounds worth of fake designer clothes on
eBay. Watchdogs who raided Fiona Beggs’ home found £11,000 worth of dodgy gear. She now faces
a possible jail sentence. Trading standards officers spent more than two years investigating mum-offour Beggs’ dealings on the auction website. Undercover investigators bought clothes from her and
had them checked by the firms who make the real versions.
Fake clothes scam foiled
An international fake clothing ring was smashed by police in Rainham - but the crook behind it is on
the run. A storage unit packed with counterfeit sports clothes and fashion-wear to the value of 500,000
was uncovered at a container yard in the Denver Industrial Estate, Ferry Lane. The clothes were
destined to be sold during the busy Christmas period.
www.ipcb.co.uk
Rangers team up with Nintendo to halt T-shirt sales
Rangers have joined forces with computer games giant Nintendo to threaten legal action against fans
who have stolen their logos. Supporters are cashing in on the Nintendo console’s worldwide success
by producing T-shirts bearing the slogan ‘Wii Are The People.’
www.ipcb.co.uk
Counterfeit goods
A judge has warned that trading in counterfeit goods is an extremely serious matter and will not be
tolerated. But a man arrested on his way to a North Wales market with counterfeit Nike training shoes
has escaped prison sentence. Ranbar Sujan from Wolverhampton was said to have bought the 24
pairs of shoes and was planning to sell them at Tir Price in Towyn to make
a profit to help his ailing shop.
DENBIGSHIRE VISITOR 01/10/2008 United Kingdom
NORTH WALES WEEKLY NEWS (SERIES) 02/10/2008 United Kingdom
Counterfeit trader must pay £2,000
A shopkeeper who sold a hoard of illegal lighters, condoms and DVDs has been fined more than
£2,000. Mahalingam Santheepan, who owns Malar Supermarket, in Wembley High Road, pleaded
guilty to seven offences under the trademarks and video recordings act, after selling the goods to
undercover officers from Brent and Harrow Trading Standards. He was first visited by officials in
October 2007 and was warned about selling illegal goods.
WEMBLEY OBSERVER 02/10/2008 United Kingdom
Fake eBay goods land man with two-year ban
A man who sold fake designer jewellery on eBay has been banned from using the website for two
years. Bryan Mottram, 33, from Gwynedd, was also ordered to pay more than £2,000 costs and given
a four-month suspended jail sentence after using the auction site to sell counterfeit Gucci and Tiffany
& Co jewellery. Magistrates imposed a four month custodial sentence, suspended for two years, and
banned Mottram, who now lives in Persac in France, from buying or selling items on eBay for two
years.
Police warning to shoppers over fake goods
Police are warning shoppers to be on their guard after a Towyn trader was prosecuted for selling
counterfeit goods in the town. Rambir Singh Sujan was sentenced at Mold Crown Court on
September 25 after being rumbled for selling fake products at Tir Prince Market on Towyn Road.
Seizure of fake scent
More than 40,000 bottles of suspected fake designer perfume with a retail value of £750,000 have
been seized by trading standards. The seizure, made on Thursday at a premise in Middlemore Road,
Handsworth, included top brand names. Officers also discovered paraphernalia needed to produce
counterfeit branded perfume on an industrial scale.
Council seizes £40,000 worth of stolen goods
Over £40,000 of suspected fake goods have been seized by Hampshire CC Trading Standards and
police in an operation to target the sale of illegal copies of branded and designer gear at markets.
More than 40 officers from Trading Standards, Hampshire Constabulary and the UK Border Agency,
raided eight stalls at Blackbushe Market on Sunday 21 September, with support from Hampshire CC’s
Accredited Community Safety Officers (ACSOs) and industry representatives, to help identify any
possible fakes from the genuine articles.
ALTON GAZETTE/ALRESFORD ADVERTISER (SERIES) 20/10/2008 United Kingdom
Market raided over counterfeit goods
A market has been raided during a counterfeit goods sting in which 1,000 items were seized, writes
Kelly-Ann Kiernan. Trading Standards officers arrived at Hatfield Market shortly after noon on
Wednesday and spent four hours bagging up clothes. Many well known brands including Nike,
Adidas, Diesel, Timberland, Armani and Ralph Lauren were taken away for further investigation
WELWYN & HATFIELD TIMES 22/10/2008 United Kingdom
www.ipcb.co.uk
Fakes seized at Sunday market
Trading standards officers and police have seized £60,000 worth of counterfeit goods from traders at
Morecambe’s Sunday market. Officers attended the market on two consecutive weekends in a joint
operation after complaints from local residents and seized items including counterfeit T-shirts,
sweatshirts and tracksuits in various brands, including Lacoste and Fred Perry, and more than 2,300
copied DVDs including new titles such as Wanted and August.
MORECAMBE VISITOR 22/10/2008 United Kingdom
Crackdown on pedlars
Politicians are pushing for a new law to stamp out illegal street trading. Council bosses and MPs are
concerned people are being ripped off by rogue pedlars selling counterfeit or dangerous goods on the
streets. They are concerned the issue is such a problem in Brighton and Hove they are now calling for
the power to seize the traders’ goods. Pedlars are different to street traders in they not usually need a
licence to sell on the street.
BRIGHTON & HOVE LEADER (SERIES) 23/10/2008 United Kingdom
Fake bags
A Queensway trader has pleaded guilty of trying to con customers into buying more than 200 fake
bags. Trading officers from Westminster Council raided Boutiques in Queensway in February after a
customer tip-off, and found Ahmad Samin with a stock of 219 allegedly ‘designer’ bags and
accessories.
WEST END EXTRA 24/10/2008 United Kingdom
Three-year discharge for fake games mum
A mother of three who bought more than £3,000-worth of counterfeit computer games and children’s
toys to sell through an Internet auction site has been given a three-year conditional discharge.
Michelle Louise Hallworth, 25, of Newstead Road, Weymouth was also ordered to pay £660
prosecution costs after admitting charges of selling a counterfeit computer game cartridge through
eBay and processing falsely-branded goods with intent to sell and make a gain.
Market bosses: ‘Justice after three-year battle’
Two directors of Bovingdon Market have been cleared of money laundering after a marathon threeyear legal battle. Sally Ann Ward, 45, of Woodland Road, Rickmansworth, and her brother Nicholas
Giles Hobday, 49, of Blisworth, Northamptonshire, were convicted at St Albans Crown Court in July
2007 of two counts of money laundering - nearly two years after they were first arrested. The Crown
had argued that the pair, directors of Wendy Fair Markets Ltd, had turned a blind eye to counterfeit
goods being sold at the site.
WATFORD OBSERVER 24/10/2008 United Kingdom
Smoked out: Van Diesel...
A woman selling fake toys was caught out after packaging misspelled action hero Vin Diesel as Van
Diesel. The standard of toys was so bad that Internet customers buying Spider-Man, Stars Wars and
Dr Who figures soon racked up a huge list of complaints. Single mum-of-three Michelle Hallworth, 25,
spent more than £3,000 on hundreds of fake action dolls and computer games with plans to double
her money.
Council bags 16,974 fakes
A man who sold fake designer bags with a street value of more than 1 million has been jailed for three
years. Yong Niu Wang (also known as Eric), 32, from Islington, pleaded guilty at Snaresbrook Crown
Court on October 6 to five counts contrary to the Trade Marks Act 1994. The court heard that Wang
was trading from Centre Bags Ltd at 65a Vyner Street, Bethnal Green, in 2003 when Tower Hamlets
Council’s Trading Standards team swooped on the premises and confiscated 16,974 bags, identical
to or likely to be mistaken for registered trademarks.
EAST END LIFE 26/10/2008 United Kingdom
www.ipcb.co.uk
Shirt scam undone
Selling counterfeit polo shirts on eBay has cost an Ammanford man more than £1,000 after he was
caught out by Carmarthenshire trading standards officers. Duncan James Andrews pleaded guilty at
Ammanford Magistrates Court to an offence under the Trademarks Act. The court was told that
Andrews was discovered selling counterfeit Lacoste shirts by trading standards officers who were
monitoring sales on the Internet auction site eBay.
SOUTH WALES EVENING POST (SERIES) 29/10/2008 United Kingdom
Trading standard cross-city success
Action by trading standards officers in Swansea has helped snare a rogue trader 160 miles away. A
trader who sold fake Hulk shoes has been hit with a £1,5000 fine. Parminder Singh Dhandwar, of
Slough-based Beta Shoes, admitted two offences under the Trade Descriptions Act and Trade Marks
Act of selling counterfeit goods.
Trader is fined for selling fake designer bags
A shopkeeper from Edgware has admitted selling his customers hundreds of fake designer handbags.
Ahmad Samin, 34, of Kings Drive, Edgware. Trading standards officers raided his boutique in
Bayswater, West London. Officials acting on a tip-off found his store crammed with 219 counterfeit
bags and accessories from some of the biggest names in fashion.
POTTERS BAR & BOREHAMWOOD PRESS 30/10/2008 United Kingdom
Four million fake cigarettes seized
More than four million counterfeit cigarettes have been seized after they were found concealed in a
consignment of fireworks which came through Felixstowe. UK Border Agency (UKBA) officers made
the discovery after examining the containers, each of which was also packed with four tonnes of
fireworks. Some of the cigarettes were hidden in the outer cartons and others in boxes described as
fireworks in an attempt to disguise them.
Bogus trader hit with £296k fine
They are the most expensive T-shirts a clothing conman has ever sold - because they have left him
having to pay back almost £300,000 or face prison. Pirate trader Mohammed Amir Ismail’s dealings in
dodgy designer labels helped his family buy a string of houses while he hid his illegal wealth from the
taxman. But his scam came crashing down when he sold three T-shirts to trading standards officials in
York’s Newgate Market, and he now has six months to repay money he pocked through his rogue
trading.
www.ipcb.co.uk
Over the summer there were numerous reports of fake vodka on sale throughout the UK. The
Food Standards Agency has warned the public to be on their guard against bottles of counterfeit
vodka that could contain high levels of harmful chemicals. The bottles are identified as Imperial Vodka,
70cl, Specially Selected by Spar, Pure and Smooth, Triple Distilled. The fake product is in a Quinn
Glass bottle, while the genuine SPAR-brand Imperial Vodka is in Rockware Glass bottles. Anybody
drinking the counterfeit vodka could suffer methanol poisoning, leading to dizziness, severe abdominal
pain, blurred vision or blindness, or a coma, if consumed in large quantities. Shoppers are reassured
that, so far, the vodka has not been found on sale in SPAR stores, only in independent off-licences
and retail outlets, markets and car boot sales.
Sources for some of the main stories are listed here:
WALTHAM FOREST YELLOW ADVERTISER 03/09/2008 UK - UTTOXETER ADVERTISER 03/09/2008 UK NEWQUAY VOICE 03/09/2008 UK - SOUTHERN DAILY ECHO (SERIES) 03/09/2008 UK - BANGOR &
ANGLESEY MAIL 03/09/2008 UK - SOUTH WALES EVENING POST (SERIES) 03/09/2008 UK - BIRKENHEAD
NEWS 03/09/2008 UK PULMAN’S WEEKLY NEWS 03/09/2008 UK - BUCKS HERALD 03/09/2008 UK BOURNEMOUTH DAILY ECHO 03/09/2008 UK - HOLYHEAD & ANGLESEY MAIL 03/09/2008 UK - ST
AUSTELL VOICE 03/09/2008 UK - TOTTENHAM & WOOD GREEN ADVERTISER 03/09/2008 UK REDBRIDGE YELLOW ADVERTISER 04/09/2008 UK STAFFORDSHIRE NEWSLETTER (SERIES) 04/09/2008
UK - SOMERSET COUNTY GAZETTE 04/09/2008 UK - WHARF 04/09/2008 UK - WALTHAM FOREST
GUARDIAN 04/09/2008 UK - BLACKPOOL CITIZEN (SERIES) 04/09/2008 - BASINGSTOKE OBSERVER
04/09/2008 UK - DORKING ADVERTISER 04/09/2008 UK - EAST LONDON ADVERTISER 04/09/2008 UK CHESTER & DISTRICT STANDARD 04/09/2008 UK - EPSOM GUARDIAN 04/09/2008 UK - EXMOUTH
JOURNAL 04/09/2008 UK - ABERGAVENNY CHRONICLE 04/09/2008 UK - ROMSEY ADVERTISER
05/09/2008 UK - WOKING INFORMER 05/09/2008 UK - ALTON HERALD 05/09/2008 UK - ST IVES TIMES &
ECHO 05/09/2008 UK - ALTON GAZETTE 08/09/2008 UK - EAST END LIFE 08/09/2008 UK - ANDOVER
AVON ADVERTISER (MIDWEEK EDITION) 10/09/2008 UK - MIDWEEK CHRONICLE (CHESTER) 10/09/2008
UK - NEATH GUARDIAN - BRIDGEWATER STAR 11/09/2008 UK - EXMOUTH HERALD 12/09/2008 U K MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS (SERIES) 12/09/2008 UK - ALDERSHOT NEWS 05/09/2008 UK BASINGSTOKE EXTRA 17/09/2008 UK - WREXHAM LEADER 17/09/2008 UK - SOUTH SHROPSHIRE & MIDWALES JOURNAL SERIES 19/09/2008 UK - KILBURN TIMES - ROMFORD & HAVERING WEEKLY POST
26/09/2008 UK - ENFIELD INDEPENDENT & ENFIELD ADVERTISER 13/08/2008 & ENFIELD GAZETTE
14/08/2008- ABERDEEN PRESS & JOURNAL (SERIES) 23/08/2008 UK - BRIGHTON ARGUS 23/08/2008 UK LIVERPOOL DAILY POST (ENGLISH EDITION) 23/08/2008 UK - HERALD (GLASGOW) 23/08/2008 &
GLASGOW EVENING TIMES UK - YORKSHIRE POST (SERIES) 23/08/2008 & 27/08/2008 UK - DERBY
EVENING TELEGRAPH (FIRST EDITION) 23/08/2008 UK - EXETER EXPRESS & ECHO 23/08/2008 UK DORSET ECHO 25/08/2008 UK - IPSWICH EVENING STAR (SERIES) 23/08/2008 UK - NORWICH EVENING
NEWS 25/08/2008 UK - LIVERPOOL DAILY POST (WELSH EDITION) 23/08/08 & 25/08/2008 & 28/08/2008 UK
- COLCHESTER EVENING GAZETTE 26/08/2008 UK - EAST ANGLIAN DAILY TIMES (SERIES) 27/08/2008
UK - LIVERPOOL ECHO 27/08/2008 UK - ELY STANDARD 28/08/2008 UK - LEIGH, TYLDESLEY &
ATHERTON JOURNAL 28/08/2008 UK - EAST LONDON ENQUIRER 28/08/2008 UK - GLOUCESTER NEWS
28/08/2008 UK - BASILDON YELLOW ADVERTISER 28/08/2008 UK - NORTH WALES CHRONICLE
28/08/2008 UK - MERTHYR EXPRESS 28/08/2008 UK - TOTTENHAM & WOOD GREEN JOURNAL
28/08/2008 UK - HERTFORDSHIRE & LEA VALLEY STAR SERIES 29/08/2008 UK - NORTHAMPTON
CHRONICLE & ECHO 29/08/2008 UK - WATFORD OBSERVER 29/08/2008 UK - STAINES INFORMER
29/08/2008 UK - CHESTER EVENING LEADER 29/08/2008 UK - EXPRESS & STAR WOLVERHAMPTON
(CITY) (WEST MIDLANDS) 29/08/2008 UK - DERBY EVENING TELEGRAPH (SERIES) 30/08/2008 UK BLACKPOOL GAZETTE 29/08/2008 UK - KENT ON SUNDAY 31/08/2008 UK - LUTON ON SUNDAY
31/08/2008 UK
Mission: Brand Protection
Original or counterfeit? This question isn’t just gaining frequency with brand name textiles and
perfumes. These days, counterfeiters are copying everything that’s good and not particularly cheap.
Hidden safety features on packaging as well as the products themselves, can expose counterfeits.
Here, efficient print technology plays a prominent and important role.
INTERNATIONAL PAPER BOARD INDUSTRY 01/09/2008 United Kingdom
www.ipcb.co.uk
Spectroscopy Focus
The menace of counterfeit drugs is no longer a possibility; it is with us now and growing at a
phenomenal rate, according to organisations such as the World Health Organisation (WHO) and The
Association of British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI). WHO, for example, estimates that ‘on average
10% of the world’s drug supply is considered counterfeit, adulterated or otherwise fraudulent, although
in some developing countries it could be as high as 33%.’
LABMATE UK & IRELAND 01/09/2008 United Kingdom
Internet fraudster spared jail
A fraudster, who made thousands of pounds profit selling fake computer disks over the Internet, is
today a free woman after she was spared jail. Valerie Lindsey, 58, was left crying with relief after she
escaped a spell in prison and was instead ordered to do unpaid work in the community after pleading
guilty to 24 counts of infringing copyright laws and applying false trademarks.
Fake designer goods bring £1500 bill
A Belfield man was spared jail after he admitted selling fake designer socks and underwear on
Rochdale Market. Mohammed Zahid, of Croxton Avenue, was sentenced to 100 hours unpaid work to
be completed within the next 12 months and also ordered to pay £1500 costs for selling counterfeit
goods. The 47-year-old pleaded guilty to 13 counts of offering for sale goods bearing a false
trademark when he appeared before Rochdale magistrates.
ROCHDALE OBSERVER (WEDNESDAY) 03/09/2008 United Kingdom
Jailed counterfeiter forced to pay £12,000 from gains
A market trader jailed for selling counterfeit goods has been ordered to pay back £12,000 made during
his illegal enterprise. Gary Scrimshaw sold copies of films, chart-topping CDs, computer games and
software at East Midland markets. He was sentenced to two years in prison in February after being
caught with more than 11,500 pirate DVDs and CDs.
Proton gun used to fight wine fraud
One of Britain’s top wine merchants has joined forces with French nuclear scientists to develop a tool
for unmasking counterfeit vintage wines. The technique consists of zapping bottles with beams of
charged ions generated by a particle accelerator.
DAILY TELEGRAPH 04/09/2008 United Kingdom
Toxic haul of coffee seized
A lorry-load of potentially toxic counterfeit coffee was seized by trading standards officers. The haul,
worth more than £34,000, was bound for Merseyside canteens, shops and restaurants. A police and
city council team swooped as it headed for a warehouse in Kensington yesterday. After the seizure
the supplier was arrested and the large, catering-size Nestle containers examined.
Search for fake meds
The fight against fake medicines could soon be aided by a hand-held device designed with the help of
Kingston University pharmacy researcher Dr Reem Kayyali. Counterfeit medicines often appear
identical to the real thing but include cheap ingredients such as flour or cement, which can have a
devastating impact on people taking them.
SURREY COMET SERIES 10/09/2008 United Kingdom
Fake fags squad on the trail of Mr Bigs
Criminals flooding Liverpool with counterfeit cigarettes and alcohol could be targeted by the UK’s first
council-run enforcers. The city’s primary case has ear-marked 1.1m for Liverpool trading standards
officers to tackle the organisers.
www.ipcb.co.uk
Fined over internet fake razor scam
A Stanmore resident caught selling counterfeit razors over the internet has been fined more than
£4,500. Kevin Kirk Johns, 31, admitted selling the fake goods after police and trading standards raided
his home in January, uncovering a stash of 140 packs of bogus razors as well as £11,000 worth of
payments on his laptop.
Trader sold fake toys at funfair
A surveillance operation by trading standards officers at last year’s Neath Fair has seen a stallholder
convicted of 29 offences, Malik Aftab Hussain, who was caught selling counterfeit toys, pleaded guilty
to 24 offences which breached the Trade Marks Act and five more which breached the Consumer
Protection Act.
More than a close shave for faker
A man selling fake razor blades over the internet has been fined £3,000. Kevin Kirk Johns, of Old
Church Lane, Stanmore, pleaded guilty to selling the counterfeit products at Harrow Magistrates’ Court
on September 3. Paypal, the online payment company used by Johns, showed he made more than
£11,000 by selling the grooming products he had imported from China.
OAP caught selling fake Tiffany and Gucci gear
A pensioner from Guildford has appeared in court after she was caught selling counterfeit jewellery at
a trade fair. Sheila Groves, of Tannery Lane, Bramley, was caught with more than 10,000 of fake
jewellery, including counterfeit Tiffany, Gucci and Bulgari items, at Epsom Racecourse on March 4 this
year. The 67-year-old pleaded guilty to five counts of applying a false trademark to goods at East
Surrey Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.
Trader in fake case is spared
An undercover investigation into a Cannock market trader found an ‘Aladdin’s cave’ full of fake
designer clothing. A court heard how plain clothes officers posing as ‘custumers’ found around
£23,000 worth of fake designer gear at Krishan Sharma’s large detached house. They also discovered
£3,000 in cash but the 41-year-old’s declared income for tax purposes was just £7,000 a year.
Tobacco sale ban on shop
A Preston shop has been banned from selling tobacco after an employee was caught with ‘fake’
cigarettes. Abdul Mall, 40, admitted planning to sell packs of counterfeit Lambert & Butler cigarettes at
Pound Plush in the St John`s centre. He also admitted having pouches of Golden Virginia tobacco
which had to excise duty paid on them.
Woman sold fake footwear
A woman who sold fake shoes at an Ipswich pub has appeared in court. Kim O’Hagan admitted she
sold shoes, sandals and flip-flops which had false trademark labels including Chanel, Diesel and
Christian Dior. O’Hagan, 49, of Dales Road, Ipswich, pleaded guilty at Ipswich Crown Court of four
counts of selling goods likely to be mistaken for trademarks with a view to gain for herself.
www.ipcb.co.uk
Ebay calls on EU to probe sales curbs
Ebay, the online auctioneer, has asked the European Union’s antitrust chief to investigate companies
that prevent retailers or sellers from offering their goods on Ebay or other online commerce platforms.
Tod Cohen, Ebay deputy general counsel, said he had raised concerns with Neelie Kroes over
distributors of perfumes in France, sports goods in Spain, schoolbags in Germany and pushchairs in
Britain, among others.
Consumer warning over bent straighteners
Consumers are being warned to be cautious after counterfeit electrical goods were discovered to be
selling on internet auction sites. The warning has come from Powys council`s trading standards
service which says it has been contacted by people who have bought counterfeit hair straighteners.
BRECON & RADNOR EXPRESS & POWYS COUNTY TIMES (SERIES) 18/09/2008 UK
Counterfeit goods seized at car boot
Four men have been arrested after police seized a massive hoard of counterfeit goods from a car boot
sale in Bednall. The raid took place in August 31. At the site, officers picked up more than 13,000
counterfeit cigarettes and more than four kilograms of tobacco products as well as between 15,000 to
20,000 DVDs.
CANNOCK CHASE POST 18/09/2008 United Kingdom
Store banned as fake fags sold
A city centre discount shop has become the first outlet in Lancashire to be banned from selling
tobacco after an employee was caught selling counterfeit cigarettes. Tradings standards officers
caught Abdul Mall, 40, selling the potentially dangerous tobacco at the Pound Plush store in the St
John`s Centre, Preston.
PRESTON & LEYLAND CITIZEN 18/09/2008 United Kingdom
‘Blinding’ liquor grabbed in raid on fake labels
More than 100 bottles of dangerous counterfeit vodka were seized by trading standards officers in
Southall last week. Officials confiscated more than 100 bottles of fake Imperial Vodka on Wednesday
across Southall as part of a borough-wide operation tackling the sale of fake-brand alcohol from
shops.
EALING & ACTON GAZETTE 19/09/2008 United Kingdom
Chain recalls hair styling irons over safety fears
Superdrug yesterday recalled a batch of counterfeit hair styling irons over fears they may not meet
minimum electrical safety standards. Anyone using the product risked serious injury and damage to
property, a spokeswoman for the retailer said.
Product recall
Pink hair styling irons labelled as ‘GHD’ which were sold in Superdrug stores between Sunday 3rd
August and Wednesday 17th September 2008 are counterfeit and may breach minimum electrical
safety standards and therefore risk serious injury and/or damage to property. Costumers are advised
to immediately stop using this product and to return it to any Superdrug store with proof of purchase
where they will receive a full refund.
Superdrug recalls hair styling irons amid safety fears
Superdrug yesterday recalled a batch of counterfeit hair-styling irons over fears they may not meet
minimum electrical safety standards. Anyone using the product risked serious injury and damage to
property, a spokeswoman said. The counterfeit irons are pink and labelled ‘GHD’ with barcode
5060034524236.
www.ipcb.co.uk
Your guide to FAKE spotting
One in every 50 pound coins is a fake - but that’s just the tip of the Iceberg with huge amounts of
counterfeit stuff doing the rounds and costing the UK economy a whopping 11 billion a year. We told
yesterday how 30 million dodgy pound coins are at a large. But there are plenty of other fakes to be
wary of, from DVDs to watches, emails and cars.
DAILY STAR 24/09/2008 United Kingdom
Street market faces fraud investigation
Trading Standards inspectors are due to visit a Staines Market today (Wednesday) to investigate
allegations that a stall is selling counterfeit branded toiletries. The team is taking action after costumer
Ian Finlayson suffered scalp burns from using counterfeit Head & Shoulders shampoo bought from the
stall, which operates on a Wednesday.
SURREY HERALD & STAINES NEWS SERIES 24/09/2008 United Kingdom
www.ipcb.co.uk
Counterfeit drugs - the latest health scare?
The menace of counterfeit drugs is no longer a possibility; it is with us now and growing at a
phenomenal rate, according to organisations such as the World Health Organisation (WHO) and The
Association of British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI). Who, for example, estimates that ‘on average
10% of the world’s drug supply is considered counterfeit, adulterated or otherwise fraudulent, although
in some developing countries it could be as high as 33%.’
INTERNATIONAL LABMATE 01/08/2008 United Kingdom
Raid that left bogus traders all shook up.
Trading standards officers had suspicious minds when they swooped on a shop displaying Elvis
Presley T-shirts in its window. About £200,000-worth of fake designer goods were on show inside.
They carried the names of brands such as Fred Perry, Lacoste and Giorgio Armani.
Hair today, gone tomorrow as officers pounce on fakes
More than 30 sets of potentially dangerous fake hair straighteners being sold by crooks in Derbyshire
have been seized and destroyed.
DERBY EVENING TELEGRAPH (FIRST EDITION) 04/08/2008 United Kingdom
Counterfeit goods seized
Counterfeit goods worth £200,000 were seized after they passed through Exeter International Airport.
Trading standards officers stopped 1,200 dodgy handbags, shoes, sunglasses, bras and knickers from
hitting the streets after a local transport company tipped them off.
Internet scam offered fake perfumes and DVDs
A disabled man who operated an Internet scam selling fake and non-existing DVDs and perfumes on
the international auction site e-Bay has been told by a judge his actions seriously damaged the
reputation of a business which served millions.
WESTERN MORNING NEWS (SERIES) 06/08/2008 United Kingdom
200k fake clothing hauls
Somerset’s Trading Standards department has smashed a counterfeit clothing racket worth almost
200,000 in its biggest-ever single seizure. Over 1,200 items of fake designer gear including phony
Burberry, Prada, Versace, Chanel, Ralph Lauren and Armani brands were discovered in the back of a
lorry which had picked up a consignment from Exeter Airport.
SOMERSET COUNTY GAZETTE 07/08/2008 United Kingdom
Fake booze and cigs alert after 675,000 haul
Counterfeit vodka and cigarettes seized in Ripley are among an estimated 675,000 of fake goods
discovered by Derbyshire trading standards officers. So far this year, council officers have seized 34
bottles of counterfeit vodka from shops in Ripley, Shirebrook, Long Eaton and Chesterfield.
DERBYSHIRE TIMES (SERIES) 07/08/2008 United Kingdom
Two counterfeiters are jailed
Trading standards have been cracking down on counterfeiters across the county with thousands of
fake goods seized and two people jailed in the past year. During the year 2007 - 08 just over 3,000
counterfeit goods were seized by Derbyshire County Council with an estimated value of 675,000.
BUXTON ADVERTISER 07/08/2008 United Kingdom
ASHBOURNE NEWS TELEGRAPH 06/08/2008 United Kingdom
www.ipcb.co.uk
What a chocker!
The 29-year-old was stunned when she discovered a piece of wire hidden in the tobacco. The
woman’s discovery comes just two years after cops warned Buddies to be wary of fake fags that were
flooding into Paisley. The counterfeit cigarettes were being flogged in local pubs and factories at a
knockdown price but cops warned the bogus baccy contained rogue chemicals which are more
harmful than those found in genuine cigarettes.
Haul of fakes is seized at sale
Thousands of counterfeit cigarettes, DVDs and bottles of alcohol were seized by police at a car boot
sale in a village near Cannock. Officers from Watling Street Neighbourhood Policing Unit (NPU)
discovered the fake goods during an operation in Bednall on Sunday.
BIRMINGHAM EXPRESS & STAR 12/08/2008 United Kingdom
Duds seized in boot sale raid
Police discovered an array of fake goods at car boot sale near Stafford. Cigarettes, DVDs and bottles
of alcohol were seized by the police in Bednall on Sunday, August 10. Around, 4,000 counterfeit
cigarettes, 20 pouches of tobacco 10,000 DVDs and 100 boxes of bottled beer and spirits were taken.
STAFFORD & STONE CHRONICLE 14/08/2008 United Kingdom
Big haul of fake goods seized
Officers from Watling Street Neighbourhood Policing Unit (NPU) seized a large amount of counterfeit
goods during an operation in the area on Sunday (August 10). The team of police officers, supported
by officers from Staffordshire Trading Standards, carried out the initiative at the car boot sale in
Bednall.
STAFFORD POST 14/08/2008 United Kingdom
Police raid at car boot sale
Counterfeit cigarettes, booze and dodgy DVDs were seized by police from a car boot sale in Bednall.
More than 4,000 cigarettes, 20 pouches of tobacco, 10,000 DVDs and 100 boxes of bottled beer and
spirits were confiscated on Sunday. It followed an operation by officers from Watling Street Police and
Staffordshire Trading Standards.
STAFFORDSHIRE NEWSLETTER (SERIES) 14/08/2008 United Kingdom
Tracksuits at market were fakes
A trader has admitted bringing scores of fake tracksuits into Merseyside. Ansar Ur Rehman, 32, of
Salford, pleaded guilty to six trading standards ofences at Wirral magistrates` court yesterday.
Smuggler jailed over fake trainers
A Chinese man who smuggled thousands of fake trainers into Britain has been jailed for three years.
Zheng Liang, 32, also known as Feng Lian, of Woolwich, south London, pleaded guilty at Harrow
Crown Court to committing trademark offences after more than 17,000 pairs of counterfeit Nike and Y3 shoes were found at self-storage units in Hertfordshire, Berkshire, Middlesex and London.
SUN 15/08/2008 United Kingdom
Two are arrested in fake cosmetic products probe
Two people have been arrested on suspicion of selling counterfeit products during raids at shops.
Suffolk Trading Standards officers swooped on Temptation Accessories in The Walk, Ipswich, and
seized 100 bags of goods and ten boxes of cosmetic products.
www.ipcb.co.uk
Are there dangers in your suitcase?
The trade in counterfeit often funds organised crime and drug dealing - even terrorism - and genuine
manufacturers cannot compete with the low costs, so their companies fold and local people can end
up out of work.
Year’s jail for selling fake goods on Net
A Walsall man who ran a ‘well-organised and sophisticated’ operation selling fake goods in the UK
and overseas has been jailed for a year. The items had false trademarks such as Nike and
Timberland. They were produced in China and in a store with space for 25,000 worth of the goods, Mr
Jonathan Salmon, prosecuting, said.
Probe on bad vodka
Investigations are continuing after bottles of potentially dangerous counterfeit vodka were seized by
trading standards officers in Dudley. The 12 bottles which claimed to be Glen’s Vodka were
discovered for sale at an unnamed Coseley off-licence in June.
Warning over fake gold as gang strikes again
Fraudsters are trying to sell fake gold jewellery in the North-east. The Evening Express revealed last
year that gangs were duping people into buying counterfeit jewellery. And the criminals are now back
in Aberdeen. One pawnbroker and jewellery expert was offered three of the rings, being passed off as
genuine hallmarked gold, in one day.
ABERDEEN EVENING EXPRESS 20/08/2008 United Kingdom
eBay changes aim for fewer critics and more sellers
Last month, a court ordered eBay to pay Louis Vuitton $61m (£32,7m) over sales of fake handbags
and perfume. eBay is challenging the ruling and was recently cheered by victories over Tiffany and
L’Oreal, which were trying to make the website liable for counterfeit goods sold through the site.
GUARDIAN 20/08/2008 United Kingdom
Shop fined over fake condoms and cigarettes
A Wembley shop owner was fined 1,000 last week after admitting stocking illegal goods. Trading
Standards officers found 14 counterfeit cigarette lighters and 133 packets of counterfeit condoms, as
well as several unclassified Tamil DVDs, at Malar Supermarket, in High Road, in November last year.
Illegal immigrant jailed for smuggling
A smuggler who masterminded a 1million scam bringing fake designer trainers into Britain was busted
by Harrow Council. Zheng Liang, 32, pleaded guilty to trademark offences after an investigation
uncovered 17,000 pairs of counterfeit running shoes being stored at units in and around London. It
was the largest quantity of fakes ever recovered from one man.
Mastermind of ‘complex’ trainer smuggling ring jailed
A Chinese man has been jailed for smuggling 17,000 pairs of fake trainers into the country as part of a
1 million racket. Described as one of the biggest counterfeit scams one person has ever run, Zheng
Liang, of Watford, was given a three-year prison sentence for shipping piles of phoney trainers into the
UK from China.
www.ipcb.co.uk
Shop owner fined for fake alcohol
An off license owner caught selling fake alcohol and cigarette lighters has been fined 460. Lar
Rajhaven, who runs Cheers in Penge Road, Woodside, was caught after a Croydon Council and HM
Revenue and Customs investigation. Croydon Magistrates’ Court heard how the 41-year-old was
found with five suspect bottles of Kirov vodka and 39 fake clipper lighters for sale last October.
CROYDON ADVERTISER 22/08/2008 United Kingdom
SUTTON & EPSOM ADVERTISER 22/08/2008 United Kingdom
‘Deadly’ fake vodka alert
Thousands of potentially lethal bottles of fake vodka are flooding the streets of Greater Manchester.
The number of bottles seized has increased more than 1,000 per cent in the past year, with crooks
passing off counterfeit and watered-down vodka as the real thing with genuine brand names.
Poison vodka health alert
Scots have been warned to look out for toxic bottles of fake vodka. The Food Standards Agency
issued the UK-wide warning after contaminated fake bottles were found in two English cities. Anyone
drinking the vodka risks methanol poisoning which can lead to vomiting, stomach pain, drowsiness
and dizziness, blurred vision, blindness and breathing difficulties.
‘Danger’ vodka on sale here
Fake vodka which could make drinkers go blind is on sale in Britain, food safety experts warned
yesterday. They said it contains harmful levels of methanol which could cause serious health problems
if drunk in large quantities.
Supplies of lethal fake vodka growing
Thousands of potentially lethal bottles of fake vodka are flooding the streets of Greater Manchester.
The number of bottles seized has increased more than 1,000 per cent in the past year, with crooks
passing off counterfeit and watered-down vodka as the real thing with genuine brand names.
WIGAN OBSERVER 26/08/2008 United Kingdom
Dodgy cigarettes were sold at shop
Counterfeit cigarettes were found on sale at a Blackpool newsagents. Yasar Akbaba, 36, of Layton
News, in Blackpool, admitted offering goods with false trademark for sale. Lynda Bennett, prosecuting
for Blackpool Council, said when Trading Standards officers received a complaint from a customer
they went to the Layton News shop.
Dodgy cigs gang must pay back 400,000
Three members of a South Yorkshire criminal gang who made thousands of pounds selling dodgy
cigarettes smuggled into the UK from Eastern Europe have been ordered to pay back more than
400,000. James Sanders, Paul Dansby and Kevin Porter were jailed for total of six and a half years
last November after police uncovered an illegal network which saw thousands of pounds worth of
counterfeit cigarettes from Poland distributed to more than 200 of their friends and associates to sell.
BARNSLEY STAR 29/08/2008 United Kingdom
www.ipcb.co.uk
Sale of fakes costs eBay £31 million damages
The Internet auctioneer eBay was ordered yesterday by a French court to pay almost 40 million euro
(£31 million) to luxury goods companies, including Louis Vuitton and Christian Dior, for allowing fake
copies of their products to be sold via its website.
Counterfeit killers
Trademarks, certification marks and holograms have all been replicated by counterfeiters, but it is
usually the price that gives it away as fakes. If in doubt, a quick check with the manufacturers or
certification body should clear up problems.
NORTHERN IRELAND ELECTRICAL 01/07/2008 United Kingdom
Warning on fake goods at car boots
Police will be keeping a close eye on sales over the summer months and urged people not to hand
over cash for any items they feel might not be above board. The warning comes after 5,000 counterfeit
cigarettes and tobacco products plus 500 pairs of fake trainers were seized in a police raid on the
Dark Lane site in Featherstone on Sunday.
g2
Tellingly, as Galliano was taking his bow at the end of Monday`s show, the company was celebrating
a 30m legal victory over the online auctioneer eBay for its failure to stop sales of fake bags, lipsticks
and designer clothes.
Car boot clampdown
Officers have seized a large amount of counterfeit goods from car boot sales during two operations
earlier this week. The team of four police officers, supported by three officers from Staffordshire
Trading Standards, carried out the seizures at car boot sales in Featherstone and Bednall.
CANNOCK CHASE POST 03/07/2008 United Kingdom
Fake ban on tartan
Tartan kings - Gold Brothers - have been banned from selling fake Isle of Skye products. The Court of
Session in Edinburgh heard they offered fake kilts, scarves, rugs and hats at their shops in Scotland
and on the internet.
How to spot a fake on eBay
Earlier this week eBay, the popular online auction website, was fined 38.6 million euro (£30 million) by
a French court for allowing the sale of fake goods through its site. The ruling has raised a serious
question: just how can you spot fake goods on eBay?
Man in court on brothel charges
A 51-year-old has been charged with controlling prostitution for gain, possessing and distributing
Kamagra, a counterfeit and unlicensed version of Viagra, possessing amphetamine and possessing
an offensive weapon.
BURY TIMES 03/07/2008 United Kingdom
www.ipcb.co.uk
Steiff bears abandon China
According to Miss Pohlenz, counterfeiting remains a problem. "China is presently the most problematic
country. Sixty percent of the counterfeit products which were confiscated at the borders of the EU last
year were made in China," she said.
Wee were robbed
Trading standards officers are chasing crooks that filled fake perfumes with urine and pond water in
Slough, Berks.
Why buying medicines online can be dangerous
With more and more people self-diagnosing, it’s understandable that the trade in medicines on the
internet is booming. But millions of people may be putting their lives at risk by buying counterfeit
medicines online from rogue pharmacies, according to a new report.
BELFAST NEWS LETTER GROUP 08/07/2008 United Kingdom
Liverpool business need to look at the issue of fake goods on...
Merseyside companies who find fake versions of their goods being sold on eBay are being urged to
make a claim against the online auction giant. The advice, from Liverpool intellectual property law
specialists Shipley Solicitors, follows the landmark eBay judgment last week.
Illicit tobacco and alcohol seized in raid on Burton shops
Over 10,000 cigarettes and 100 litres of spirits have been seized from three premises in Burton, during
a joint operation with Her Majesty's revenue and Customs (HMRC) working together with Staffordshire
County Council Trading Standards and a representative from the tobacco industry.
BURTON TRADER 09/07/2008 United Kingdom
Men sentenced over sales of fake Viagra
Two men have been sentenced for selling fake Viagra and Valium after investigators found counterfeit
pills worth just under £500,000 in a garden shed. Shabbir Hussain aged 55, of Cricklewood, London,
was sentenced to four years and Mohammed Yasser Zaidi, 26, of Wembley Place, London, was
sentenced to 51 weeks, suspended for two years and ordered to undertake 150 hours if community
service.
Shoppers are being warned to be on their guard against people selling counterfeit goods on the town’s
streets. Police arrested a trader selling counterfeit designer sunglasses last week and also stopped
another group of vendors from peddling fake gold rings.
Stall had fake branded goods
A teenager admitted the street market stall he had been manning at the last Pack Monday Fair in
Sherborne, Dorset was stocking brand-name tracksuits. Weymouth magistrates heard Phillip Stephen
John McCall, aged 18, of Selby Grove, Billesley, Birmingham, previously admitted three offences
dating from 15 October 2007.
Counterfeit cigs seized in raid
Thousands of counterfeit cigarettes have been confiscated from a house in Leigh by Trading
Standards and Customs officers. The tobacco was being openly sold from the private house when
officers swooped.
www.ipcb.co.uk
500,000 of fakes seized in swoop
Fake designer clothes worth more than £500,000 have been seized in Manchester’s war against
counterfeit traders. Since M.E.N revealed the city was regarded as the capital for fake goods last year,
there have been a number of raids.
Victory for eBay over fakes
eBay, the online auction site, had won an important legal victory over Tiffany, which sued it over the
sale of counterfeit goods. Following a four-year court action by the jeweller, a New York judge ruled
that luxury goods manufacturers must police their trademarks on the Internet and not rely on auctions
sites to do it for them.
Tiffany loses legal fight against eBay over counterfeit goods
eBay has won a four-year legal battle with Tiffany over the jeweller’s complaint that the online
websites amounted to a "rat’s nest" auction of counterfeit watches, bracelets and necklaces.
GUARDIAN 15/07/2008 United Kingdom
eBay in victory on fake jewels
"The ruling confirms eBay acted reasonably and has appropriate procedures in place to effectively
address counterfeiting. It also establishes protecting brands and trademarks is the primary
responsibility of rights owners."
Condoms seized in blitz on the fakes
Hundreds of fake condoms, fags and booze were seized in a massive council operation last week.
Officers raided shops around Peckham in a two-week blitz aimed at reducing crime and antisocial
behaviour and reassuring locals.
Can you spot a fake?
Trading standards, working alongside Cheshire police, has recently seized 450 pairs counterfeit Ùgg`
boots worth a street value of £32,000 from an address in Lymm. The range of counterfeited goods on
the market is bigger than ever and includes DVD’s, CD’s, games, software, clothes, alcohol, watches,
perfume, car parts and cosmetics.
SOUTH WARRINGTON NEWS 18/07/2008 United Kingdom
Jail threat to trader who sold fake goods online
A trader faces jail if he fails to pay back 90,000 which he and his wife made from selling fake designer
clothing on the internet. Gabriel Tomsa, 31, who was trading from his former home in Plough Hill,
Cuffley, has until October to pay the money or go to jail for 18 months.
HERTFORDSHIRE MERCURY 18/07/2008 United Kingdom
eBay to hold ‘counterfeit summit’ with British icons
How much for that Burberry handbag? Lawyers from eBay are to hold talks next week with
representatives of the British luxury goods industry following a spate of counterfeiting cases which
have cast doubt on the online auctioneer’s commitment to intellectual property (IP) protection.
SUNDAY TELEGRAPH 20/07/2008 United Kingdom
www.ipcb.co.uk
The 1billion drain
Counterfeit electronic components are entering the UK market in huge numbers, costing the economy
an estimated 1bn a year, according to a paper from the UK Electronics Alliance (UKEA). The UKEA is
calling on Government to combat this problem by increasing the amount of resources put into
detection and prevention.
Alert over fake vodka
Neath Port Talbot Trading Standards has warned members of the public and traders to be on the lookout for potentially lethal counterfeit vodka.
NEATH GUARDIAN 24/07/2008 United Kingdom
Sold fake polo shirts
A criminology graduate has been jailed for an eBay scam. Gareth Williams, 32, of Mill Road,
Llanfairfechan, was sentenced for 10 months for selling counterfeit Lacoste polo shirts imported from
China.
Man jailed for selling fake `designer` shirts
A thirty-two year old man who admitted an eBay scam has a Masters degree - in criminology. Gareth
Williams of Mill Road, Llanfairfechan was jailed for ten months for selling counterfeit Lacoste polo
shirts, imported from China.
NORTH WALES CHONICLE 24/07/2008 United Kingdom
Fake sunglasses trader is really rather shady
An eBay trader admitted dealing in counterfeit sunglasses and was given a suspended prison
sentence and a tagging order by Gloucester Crown Court on July 12.
GLOUCESTER INDEPENDENT 24/07/2008 United Kingdom
Sold fake polo shirts
A criminology graduate has been jailed for an eBay scam. Gareth Williams, 32, of Mill Road,
Llanfairfechan, was sentenced for 10 months for selling counterfeit Lacoste polo shirts imported from
China.
Health warning over fake bottles of vodka on sale
Fake Vodka has been found for sale in Surrey. Two people have required hospital treatment after
drinking Glen`s Vodka that contained higher-than-normal levels of methanol.
ESHER NEWS & MAIL 30/07/2008 United Kingdom
Trading Standards warning of counterfeit vodka on sale
Trading Standards are warning people to be vigilant about buying vodka after two people were
hospitalised after drinking counterfeit products. Surrey County Council Trading Standards manager
Peter Denard said fake bottles of Glen`s Vodka, which contain higher than normal levels of
methanol, have been found on sale in the country.
DORKING ADVERTISER 31/07/2008 United Kingdom
www.ipcb.co.uk
Are your parts the real deal?
At the April 2008 APEX conference it was estimated that the cost of global counterfeiting now stood at
$650 billion. It didn’t seem so long ago when counterfeit goods referred to the manufacture of look-alike designer clothing and watches.
ELECTRONICS MANUFACTURE & TEST 01/06/2008 United Kingdom
Counter Attack
A broad-based anti-counterfeiting effort entails managing the supply chain to avoid misappropriation of
information and materials; pursuing those counterfeits who are discovered through civil or criminal
prosecutions; leveraging technology to make it harder for counterfeits to copy products; and educating
business partners and consumers about the risk of piracy and counterfeit.
CFO EUROPE 01/06/2008 United Kingdom
Conterfeiters beware
Four major industry organisations have joined forces to combat the dangerous traffic of counterfeit
goods. It is not just associations that are aware of this issue. Leading circuit protection manufacturer
Chint has recently been in touch with PE about this problem.
PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICIAN & INSTALLER 01/06/2008 United Kingdom
Industry bodies join forces to combat counterfeiters
For many years at the forefront in initiatives against producers of anti-counterfeit electrical products,
the British Electrotechnical and Allied Manufacturers Association (BEAMA) has joined forces with the
Electrical Distributors Association (EDA), Electrical Contractors Association (ECA) and Scotland’s
trade association for the electrical, electronics and communications systems industry, SELECT, to
create a Charter in the fight to combat the trade in counterfeits, and the proliferation of products failing
to comply with the appropriate standards.
ELECTRICAL CONTRACTING NEWS [ECN] 01/06/2008 United Kingdom
The real deal
The electrical industry sees the charter as a major move forward in combating the counterfeiters,
presenting a unified front encompassing the associations working together on practical and effective
solutions to stem the threat from counterfeit and non-compliant electrical products. Also to control the
spread of those products not conforming to recognised standards in the market place.
ELECTRICAL CONTRACTING NEWS [ECN] 01/08/2008 United Kingdom
Spot the difference
Counterfeiting - not just of bearings but of other types of industrial goods as well - does not require
industrial scale facilities.
ENGINEERING 01/06/2008 United Kingdom
Fake gear found at Real McKoy shop
A shop called the Real McKoy was busted for selling fake designer goods. The owner of the shop, in
Coldharbour Lane, Brixton, was ordered by court to pay almost £8,000 after Trading Standards
officers found 47 sacks of counterfeit clothes during a raid in September 2006.
Pubs blitz
A major operation by Wigan’s trading standards team has netted illegal cigarettes and booze worth
thousands of pounds. They swooped on pubs, off licenses, shops and homes in a one-day operation
with customs officers after complaints from the public.
www.ipcb.co.uk
eBay fakes fine
eBay, the auction website, has been fined £15,000 after being convicted by French court of selling
counterfeit Hermes bags.
Fake pottery worth £200,000 is found
Thousands of pounds worth of plates, cups, fruit bowls and other faked high quality pottery was found
at a warehouse in Walsall. Smaller raids were carried out in Wiltshire and London.
Fake DVDs are seized
More than 100 counterfeit DVDs were seized by trading standards officers in a week of action. Slough
Borough Council`s trading standards team discovered the haul in one hit during their Crime Reduction
Environment Week (CREW) which took place last month in Langley.
SLOUGH & LANGLEY OBSERVER (SERIES) 11/06/2008 United Kingdom
Officers Seized Danger Vodka
Bottles of potentially dangerous counterfeit vodka have been seized by trading standards officers in
Dudley amid fears people’s health could be at risk.
Fakes swoop
A councilor’s husband admitted selling fake designer goods at his shop worth a total of £10,000. But
Mohammed Ansar`s wife, Pendle councilor Eileen Ansar defended her husband saying he had not
known the items were phony.
Counterfeiting is no longer limited to designer goods
More than 40 businesses in Harrow are being investigated for selling counterfeit goods, including
condoms and razor blades. A haul of counterfeit goods, including 482 packets of Duracell batteries,
397 packets of Durex condoms, 157 Clipper lighters and 57 Gillette razors were seized from
newsagents across Harrow .
Counterfeit cigarettes
Fake cigarettes and tobacco were on sale at a Blackpool shop. Salim Balesaria and his wife Tasleem,
both 32, and of Colenso Road, Blackburn, each pleaded guilty to two offences of displaying products
with false trademarks.
BLACKPOOL GAZETTE, THE 12/06/2008 United Kingdom
eBay trader arrested in 25K trainers scam
Counterfeit goods worth thousands of pounds have been seized in Broxbourne during a raid by Herts
Trading Standards. Search warrants were carried out on two addresses in Broxbourne believed to be
involved in the supply of fake Nike trainers.
HODDESDON & BROXBOURNE MERCURY 13/06/2008 United Kingdom
www.ipcb.co.uk
Swoop on fake cigarette sellers
A Crackdown on illegal sales of tobacco in Peterborough found 10 outlets selling fake or duty-free
cigarettes. The initiative - a joint operation between Peterborough city Council and cigarette
manufacturers Imperial Tobacco - saw trading standards officers swoop on businesses in a bid to
tackle the problem of counterfeit cigarettes, which can be more harmful than the genuine brands they
are packaged to resemble.
PETERBOROUGH EVENING TELEGRAPH 17/06/2008 United Kingdom
£300 fine over fake alcohol
The former licensee of a Stourbridge hotel has been fined £300 for selling counterfeit Smirnoff vodka.
Terence Kelly, aged 23, who ran The Talbot Hotel, in High Street, will also have to pay costs of
£2,383.
Record Business Insider
Brits are buying counterfeit goods and setting a bad example to their kids, say a study. More than a
third of adults have consciously bought imitation products ranging from football shirts and designer
handbags to music and software.
Shoppers warned to watch for dodgy deals
Staffordshire trading standards officers used the occasion yesterday to send out a reminder that
counterfeiting is a serious organised crime. Carol Dean, Staffordshire county Council’s spokesman for
‘safer and stronger communities’, said: "Counterfeiting can have a major impact on the local economy,
on the health and safety of consumers and on community wellbeing”.
Poison Cigs Flood City
Chinese gangs are flooding Liverpool with cheap killer cigarettes. Organised gangs are selling illegal
cigs loaded with dangerous levels of arsenic, glass fibres and rat droppings. The cigarettes are being
sold in pubs and newsagents throughout the city.
Fake goods trader made £100,000 on eBay
A Man who sold fake designer clothing on eBay raked in more than £100,000. Gareth Lloyd Williams
faced Llandudno magistrates yesterday and pleaded guilty to 10 counts of selling counterfeit Lacoste
goods on the site.
Cracking down on counterfeits
Trading Standards officers are working closely with the organisers of boot fairs and markets to crack
down on the sale of counterfeit goods across Essex.
Avoid internet fakes with MCC`s top tips
The warning coincides with World Anti-Counterfeiting Day on June 17 and Phil Granville,
Monmouthshire County Council’s Head of Trading Standards is keen to make sure residents don’t get
scammed in cyberspace.
ABERGAVENNY CHRONICLE 19/06/2008 United Kingdom
www.ipcb.co.uk
Brothers face charges
A man who admitted selling counterfeit Lacoste polo shirts on e-Bay asked for 3,296 cases to be
taken into consideration. Magistrates at Llandudno were told the transactions involved £164,000.
NORTH WALES PIONEER 19/06/2008 United Kingdom
Counterfeits seized at car boot sales
Trading standards officers have vowed to continue their crackdown on people selling counterfeit
goods. In recent months Staffordshire County Council staff, have seized fake drinks, toys, clothing,
household goods and medicines.
House full of fake goods, court told
Fake designer goods were sold from a Bournemouth home through internet auction site eBay, a court
heard. Raids revealed boxes and boxes... of footwear and clothing bearing labels including Christian
Dior, Lacoste and Timberland, Borunemouth Crown Court was told.
BOURNEMOUTH DAILY ECHO 19/06/2008 United
Goods seized
Allergic reactions to counterfeit cosmetic sold on eBay sparked complaints to consumer watchdogs.
STEVENAGE COMET 19/06/2008 United Kingdom
The real price we pay for our fake CDs and cigarettes
Each day in Britain £10m worth of counterfeit clothing and luxury goods are sold. Everything designed
and produced legitimately is now available as a cheap fake - from clothes and shoes to CDs and
condoms - in Black Market Britain. Virtually every major crime gang in Britain is now involved in the
highly organised counterfeit business.
Terrorism links to city`s deadly cig trade
As the ECHO revealed yesterday, Chinese gangs are flooding Liverpool with cheap killer cigarettes
but, as Caroline Innes discovers, this is doing more than just damaging your health.
Fake jackets are safety danger for bikers
Trading Standards officers from Westminster Council discovered a batch of 350 counterfeit jackets
which had their protective pads stuffed with flimsy foam, after swooping on a West End store.
Black Market Britain - Faking It
Every week in the UK, millions of pounds are spent on counterfeit goods. From CDs to brand-name
clothing, fake items are sold at a fraction of their true price. This documentary goes on the trail of the
organised gangs in the trade, and speaks to artists including Katie Melua whose work has been
pirated.
SUN TV MAG (SUPP. TO THE SUN) 21/06/2008 United Kingdom
Illegal online pharmacies sell fake drugs
Up to 62% of medicines purchased over the internet are either fake or substandard, a new report has
warned. Included in the suspect batches are medicines to treat conditions such as cardiovascular and
respiratory disease, neurological disorders, and mental health conditions.
INDEPENDENT 23/06/2008 United Kingdom
www.ipcb.co.uk
Man sold fake designer goods
A man admitted selling fake designer clothes. Mahmood Nawz from Newbury Road, Stockport
pleaded guilty to four charges under the Trade Marks Act. He was caught by Trading Standards
officers from Conwy council.
Trader fined for buying counterfeit goods
A Trader from Northampton who admitted buying dozens of counterfeit clothes and trainers has been
given a community order and made to pay £750 in costs.
Police in swoop on car boot
More than 5,000 counterfeit cigarettes and 500 pairs of fake trainers have been seized from a car boot
sale in Featherstone. Police raided the Dark Lane site yesterday and another sale at Bednall, on the
A34 between Cannock and Stafford, where counterfeit DVDs were found.
www.ipcb.co.uk
Faking it can cost you dear
They can be dangerous, cost you more money and you could even be helping fund drug dealer and
other criminals.
Danger vodka seized at store
More than 100 bottles of suspected fake vodka have been seized from a store in Nelson.
Portobello crime crackdown
Market traders were targeted during an operation to build community relations and prevent sales of
knives and imitation guns in a famous road. Counterfeit goods were seized and a man arrested on
Friday, as 40 police officers and 12 Kensington and Chelsea Council workers took to Portobello Road,
Notting Hill, as part of a crime focus day.
FULHAM CHRONICLE SERIES 01/05/2008 United Kingdom
MARYLEBONE, PADDINGTON & PIMLICO MERCURY 01/05/2008 UK
KENSINGTON & CHELSEA NEWS 01/05/2008 United Kingdom
Imitation
Richard Scott investigates the problem of counterfeited electrical products seeping into legitimate
supply chains. In the world TV, film and trashy novels, the counterfeiter has a rather glamorous
image. A loveable rogue and a brilliant craftsman, able to fool the experts into parting company with
hundreds and thousands of pounds.
ELECTRICAL PRODUCTS & APPLICATIONS 01/05/2008 United Kingdom
Beware of fakes at car boot sales
Bargains picked up at car boot sales may not be quite as good value as they seem, according to
Essex County Council Trading Standards. Counterfeit goods are commonplace at several popular
locations across the county, including fake clothing, jewellery, perfume and CDs, some of which could
be dangerous.
EAST LONDON ENQUIRER 01/05/2008 United Kingdom
Warning about counterfeit goods
Do not be tempted by offers to buy premium hair straighteners at bargain prices - this is the warning
after counterfeit goods were seized at Thoresby Market. Trading standards officers confiscated 100
sets of the fake GHD straighteners which were being sold for £45 - under half the current market
value.
RETFORD TRADER AND GUARDIAN 01/05/2008 United Kingdom
Market traders’ dodgy deals
A market trader from Harlow has been ordered to do community work after selling stolen fishing reels
and fake clothing. Glen Gardener (48), of The Chase, and Billy Highton were caught in an undercover
police sting with officers posing as customers.
HARLOW HERALD 01/05/2008 United Kingdom
HARLOW CITIZEN 02/05/2008 United Kingdom
HARLOW STAR 01/05/2008 United Kingdom
Con couple caught on net
A married couple who ran an internet "cottage industry" selling counterfeit designer clothing on eBay
have narrowly escaped a jail term. Paul and Brenda Crump aged 44 and 47 respectively, were each
ordered to carry out 80 hours unpaid work and pay £600 costs after they admitted offences under the
Trademark Act.
www.ipcb.co.uk
Fake drink alert
TRADING standards officers have launched an investigation after fears a woman admitted to hospital
with alcohol poisoning may have been drinking counterfeit vodka.
WISBECH STANDARD 02/05/2008 United Kingdom
Vodka drinkers warned to watch out for lethal fakes
Trading standards officials are warning Lancashire drinkers to be aware of potentially lethal vodka.
It comes after 109 bottles of fake Glens Vodka were found at a shop in Nelson following complaints
from residents about counterfeit cigarettes.
Serial Killer
A former public school master churned out fakes from a kiln in his shed. Jeremy Broadway, 52, duped
top auction experts into flogging the "rare" pots he knocked out in the style of famous artists. Two of
his "Bernard Leach" vases and a "Lucie Rie" pot went under the hammer at Bonham's for £8,900.
Three other bowls were set to fetch £17,000 at Christies - until last-minute doubts about their
authenticity Bourne mouth Crown Court heard.
Dodgy goods mans fine was a Scots record
Trading standards bosses have revealed that the £10,000 fine dished out to a dodgy Paisley
businessman for selling fake designer clothes is the biggest ever in Scotland. The maximum penalty
for trading in counterfeit clothing was given to John McIlvogue, 32, at Paisley Sheriff Court.
Trader had 10k of fake clothing
A Trader is facing a possible jail sentence after being caught with a haul of fake designer clothing with
a street value of more than £10,000. Famous names including Dolce and Gabbana, Henri Lloyd and
Lacoste were among the 93 pairs of clothing seized from Marcus Parkes, 39, of Chapel House Road,
Nelson.
Car worker admits selling fake clothing
A Jaguar car worker who admitted having counterfeit designer clothing for sale at Tir Prince Market in
Towyn has received a suspended prison sentence. Last week, Mold Crown Court heard that
defendant Tarsem Singh, 47, had a previous conviction for false trademarks offences before Cheshire
magistrates but had clearly failed to learn his lesson.
RHYL & PRESTATYN VISITOR 07/05/2008 United Kingdom
ABERGELE & ST ASAPH VISITOR 07/05/2008 United Kingdom
Shop boss jailed in fake goods probe
A Bradford businessman aiming to short-change shoppers with £240,000 of fake designer clothing has
been jailed for nine months. A judge told Mohammed Akram the substandard counterfeit labels
"struck at the root of commerce". Akram, 41, was arrested after Trading Standards officers raided his
All Brands 4 U shop in Neal Street, Bradford.
BRADFORD TELEGRAPH & ARGUS (SERIES) 09/05/2008 United Kingdom
Threat of fake drugs growing
The growing threat posed by dangerous fake drugs was highlighted today by a leading medical
journal. The Lancet reported between 2000 and 2006 the US Food and Drug Administration saw an
eight-fold increase in the number of new counterfeit cases.
EXPRESS & STAR WALSALL (WEST MIDLANDS) 09/05/2008 United Kingdom
www.ipcb.co.uk
2m of fake goods found
Westminster Council has won a national award for its tough stance against traders who pedal fake
goods. The Anti-Counterfeiting Group award was presented to the council yesterday (Thursday)
Trading standards officers seized 2 million of fake goods from rouge traders in Westminster in
2007.
Threat to life by phony drugs
The growing threat posed by dangerous fake drugs was highlighted today by a leading medical
journal. The Lancet reported that between 2000 and 2006 the US Food and Drug Administration saw
an eight-fold increase in the number of new counterfeit cases.
EXPRESS & STAR WALSALL (WEST MIDLANDS) 09/05/2008 United Kingdom
Fake goods haul worth 20,000
A MAN caught with a haul of fake designer goods, estimated to be worth more than £20,000, has
escaped a jail sentence. Trading standards officials and police swooped on the home of Marcus
Parkes, in Chapel House Road, Brierfield, and found a hoard of counterfeit clothing and trainers,
Burnley magistrates heard.
Taking the mock...
One in three Brits buys fake designer clothes, bags and watches - and 70% are happy to admit it, a
poll
shows.
Police in sale raid
Four people were arrested and counterfeit goods seized after police swooped on a car boot sale near
Wolverhampton. Police and trading standards officers targeted a car boot sale at Worfield, along with
HM Revenue & Customs officials. One trader was arrested for video recording offences and another
for selling counterfeit Nike trainers, watches and other clothing.
Counterfeit Pompey products targeted
DODGY traders selling counterfeit Pompey goods are being targeted by trading standards officials.
Since Pompey made it to the final of the FA Cup there has been a surge in the number of traders
selling Pompey goods on the streets.
PORTSMOUTH NEWS, THE (SERIES) 14/05/2008 United Kingdom
Booze cops chase down a drop of the wrong stuff
Town Hall inspectors have been out on the booze and the bill has been picked up by the tax payers.
They tested samples of brands of whisky and brandy at licensed premises in the East End last week,
including
Brick
Lane
and
Canary
Wharf.
EAST LONDON ADVERTISER 15/05/2008 United Kingdom
Condoms and vodka among fakes seized
Counterfeit condoms have been seized in the borough along with 17,000 other fake goods. Jubilant
trading standards chiefs have removed more phony products from the streets than any other 18 local
authorities in the south east, says a report.
SLOUGH & SOUTH BUCKS EXPRESS 16/05/2008 United Kingdom
Clampdown on fake cigarettes
COUNCIL chiefs have drawn up a 13-point plan to clamp down on contraband and counterfeit tobacco
after it was revealed that fake cigarettes were flooding South Yorkshire.
YORKSHIRE EVENING POST (SERIES) 16/05/2008 United Kingdom
www.ipcb.co.uk
250,000 fake goods grabbed at market
Counterfeit goods worth £250,000 and illegal imitation firearms were seized from eight stalls at
Polesworth market on Bank Holiday Monday. The goods were seized following a co-ordinated raid by
Warwickshire County Council Trading Standards Service and Warwickshire and Staffordshire police.
BEDWORTH ECHO 16/05/2008 United Kingdom
500k secures this fraudsters freedom
A fraudulent market trader is to be released from prison this week after paying off more than half a
million pounds. Jhalman Singh was prosecuted by Bedfordshire County Council trading standards
officers in 2006.
BEDFORDSHIRE ON SUNDAY (SERIES) 18/05/2008 United Kingdom
Channel nets double victory against piracy
Microsoft has snagged 10 UK retailers in its anti-piracy net, as new figures from the Business
Software Alliance (BSA) indicate that UK software piracy rates have dropped for the first time in three
years. Analyst IDCs annual global piracy study, conducted on behalf of the BSA, found that the UK
software piracy rate dropped one per cent to 26% in 2007. UK losses from piracy hit £925m.
COMPUTER RESELLER NEWS 19/05/2008 United Kingdom
"Worrying" increase in dangerous fake goods
Consumers were warned today about a "worrying" increase in dangerous counterfeit goods. New
figures show customs across Europe are seizing more fake goods than ever before - including
potentially dangerous medicines, cosmetics and electrical equipment alongside traditional hauls of
cigarettes, jewellery and watches.
Manchester to target piracy
The computer software industry will today launch a crackdown on software piracy in Manchester, the
source of more complaints about pirated programmes than any other English city apart from London.
Danger alert as fake goods rise
MORE counterfeit goods than ever are being seized by customs, it was revealed yesterday. Fake
products, including dangerous medicines and electrical equipment, were among a 17 per cent rise in
items seized last year. More than 43,000 cases of fake goods, including cigarettes, jewellery and
watches were uncovered, the European Commission said.
METRO LONDON 20/05/2008 United Kingdom
EU fakes haul rises
FAKE branded goods are continuing to flood into Europe despite a huge crackdown, figures revealed
yesterday. EU customs watchdogs last year seized almost a fifth more than in 2006 with rogue
cigarettes making up a massive one third of consignments.
1m of fake designer goods seized
A £1M haul of fake designer handbags, shoes and jewellery has been uncovered by trading standards
officers in Manchester. The goods - including copies of expensive Gucci and Louis Vuitton bags - were
inside two freight containers on wasteland in Cheetham Hill.
www.ipcb.co.uk
12k counterfeit goods seized at fair
Counterfeit clothing with a street value of £12,000 was confiscated yesterday during a planned
operation at Ballyclare May Fair. The seizure was made by detectives from the Intellectual Property
Crime unit. A police spokesman said one man has been reported to the PPS.
Trader is jailed for selling fake clothes
A market trader working on a stall at the Great Dorset Steam Fair has been jailed after officials
swooped on the county’s biggest ever haul of counterfeit goods. Dorchester Crown Court heard that
4,533 items of clothing and footwear had been seized.
WESTERN GAZETTE, THE (SERIES) 24/05/2008 United Kingdom
Fake clubs trader escapes jail term
"It is important that people buying goods on the internet can be assured they are genuine". Lucas was
sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for one year and 60 hours of unpaid work.
Fake designer clothing seized
Counterfeit clothing valued at more than £500,000 was seized by police at the Dargan industrial estate
on Friday. Two searches were carried out on premises as part of an ongoing Intellectual Property
Crime Unit operation against organised crime.
Proud to be a genuine faker
Buddies are fakers who aren`t ashamed to flaunt the fact that they own phoney designer fashion
goods. More than 22 per cent of Scots owned up to having a fake designer item - one of highest rates
in the UK.
Internet dealer sold fake clubs
A crook who sold counterfeit golf clubs on eBay must have been feeling below par when he appeared
before a court to face a jail term. He escaped being locked up after the judge gave him a suspended
prison sentence.
NORTHUMBERLAND CHRONICLE EXTRA 28/05/2008 United Kingdom
Dodgy vodka`s off shelves following raid
More than 1,000 bottles of fake vodka have been seized by trading standards officers.
CARDIFF POST, THE 29/05/2008 United Kingdom
Thousands of fakes are available online
Thousands of counterfeit accessories are flooding the UK market via online bidding sites. Authentic
Foundation is an NGO that raises awareness about fake products. Vice president Elizabeth May said:
"It is vitally important that consumer awareness of counterfeit goods is raised."
FONE! 29/05/2008 United Kingdom
Sentence is reduced for fizzy drunk boss
Naris was jailed for 18 months in February last year after admitting possessing counterfeit labelling
materials. He was also convicted of contravening food safety hygiene regulations and contravening an
emergency prohibition notice.
EAST LONDON ADVERTISER 29/05/2008 United Kingdom
www.ipcb.co.uk
Trader sold fake designer clothes
A market trader who dealt in fake designer sports clothing and trainers has been jailed. Stall-holder
Waseem Cowker was caught with more than 1,800 items of fake clothing and 650 pairs of counterfeit
shoes.
Bargain sale turns into a fake-goods nightmare
Fake goods were sold to unsuspecting shoppers during a "clearance sale" at a working men’s club.
Leaflets were dropped on doorsteps across Lewisham last months promising ex-catalogue stock and
returns at rock-bottom prices.
LEWISHAM BOROUGH MERCURY 02/04/2008 United Kingdom
Police swoop on Newquay traders stall
Police and Trading Standards officers swooped on a Truro market stall suspected of selling counterfeit
goods. The Cornish Guardian accompanied officers as they arrested a woman in her fifties in an early
morning sting after a six-week investigation.
CORNISH GUARDIAN (SERIES) 02/04/2008 United Kingdom
Fake designer clothes on sale
A car worker has admitted having counterfeit designer clothing for sale at the Tir Prince Market at
Towyn near Rhyl, in October of last year. Mold crown court heard on Friday that defendant Tarsem
Singh, 47, had a previous conviction for false trademark offences before Cheshire magistrates.
RHYL & PRESTATYN VISITOR & ABERGELE & ST ASAPH VISITOR 02/04/2008 UK
Fake vodka on sale warning
Counterfeit bottles of a well known brand of vodka have been discovered on sale in Leigh.
Following a complaint, council trading standards officers visited an off-licence in the town and a small
number of 70cl bottles of Glens Vodka were seized.
Owen autograph fakers facing jail
Two conmen who sold counterfeit sports memorabilia & clothing as well as fake signatures of sports
stars to hundreds of fans were facing jail last night. Graeme Walker and Faisal Madani flogged shirts
and photos claiming they were autographed by heroes including Michael Owen and Steven Gerrard for up to £5,000.
Bootleg vodka contains dangerous chemicals
Trading standards chiefs have issued a warning after counterfeit bottles of chemical-ridden vodka
were found on sale in Leigh. Officer swooped after a tip-off from a shopper who spotted the bottles on
sale in an off-licence in the town.
LEIGH REPORTER 03/04/2008 United Kingdom
Busted
A Rogue trader who ran a fake designer clothing empire from a container in a Paisley back street was
busted in an undercover operation. John McIIvogue coined in cash by using popular internet site
eBay to flog counterfeit gear supposedly by world-famous brands such as Versace, Armani, Gucci,
Christian Dior, Prada, Lacoste and Louis Vuitton.
www.ipcb.co.uk
Fake booze seized as officers raid market
Dodgy alcohol and fake cigarettes that could pose a risk to users’ health were seized from a stall at
Wolverhampton Indoor Market. Investigators swooped on the stall after a tip-off and took away hoards
of illegal goods.
Fake designer clothes web trader is snared after raid
A haul of fake designer clothing and accessories being sold as genuine on the eBay internet site was
seized in a Trading Standards Officers raid. Goods advertised as Christian Dior, Prada, Versace,
Armani, Gucci, Lacoste and Louis Vuitton were being offered . But investigators traced the goods to a
container in a Paisley back street.
Suspicious lines
The trade in counterfeit products is reaching epidemic proportions. Nothing is safe. From razor blades
to helicopter parts, alcohol to food, almost every product with a commercial value is at risk of being
counterfeited. Even drugs designed to slow the spread of cancer, or prevent organ rejection, are being
faked.
CONVENIENCE STORE 04/04/2008 United Kingdom
Fake N95s come to the UK
Dealers and distributors are being warned to check the authenticity of phones they handle.
The warning comes as large numbers of counterfeit Nokia handsets have arrived in the UK mobile
market in recent weeks, with predictions of bigger shipments in the coming months.
MOBILE 04/04/2008 United Kingdom
Trader sold fake goods
A Great Yarmouth trader who sold counterfeit goods bought them in good faith hoping to make a profit
at his failing shops, a court heard. Mohsen Pishbin, 48, admitted purchasing and selling counterfeit
Harley-Davidson goods including leather jackets, gloves and T-shirts at his rented Charm shops in
Regent Road and Market Gates precinct last year.
GREAT YARMOUTH MERCURY 04/04/2008 United Kingdom
The pills that kill
The multi-billion-pound global trade in bogus medicines is responsible for an estimated half a million
deaths a year. As Europe becomes an ever-more lucrative target fro counterfeiters, Eric Clark meets
the government agents and pharmaceutical company investigators who are taking the fight to the
fakers.
TELEGRAPH MAGAZINE (SUPP. TO THE DAILY TELEGRAPH) 05/04/2008 UK
Bag mans web of lies
A former council worker flogged fake designer gear on eBay to clear his crippling debts.
Dad-of-three Stuart Hill, 49 of Dalry, Ayrshire, bought counterfeit purses, belts and bags from China.
Counterfeit vodka discovered in council inspection
Council officers seized 38 bottles of counterfeit vodka from a store in Kenton. The bottles of Glens
Vodka were seized during a routine inspection at Sathees Food and Wine, in Streatfield Road,
Kenton.
HARROW OBSERVER 06/04/2008 UK
www.ipcb.co.uk
Man is charged over bogus goods
A man has been charged under the Tradermarks Act 1994 after a raid on a Somers Town storage
unit. Paik Siang Ooi, 30, of Berkeley Walk, Andover Estate, Holloway, was charged with possession
of goods with false trademarks with intent to distribute.
CAMDEN GAZETTE 09/04/2008 United Kingdom
Trader faces jail on fake clothing
A businessman has been warned he could be jailed after trading standards officers seized thousands
of pounds of counterfeit designer clothing from his Bradford premises. Mohammed Akram, 41, had
been due to stand trial at the city’s Crown Court yesterday but he pleaded guilty to a charge alleging
that he had used a trademark without authorisation.
BRADFORD TELEGRAPH & ARGUS (SERIES) 09/04/2008 United Kingdom
Jail for men who sold fake sports autographs
A sporting goods store owner and his business partner have been jailed for selling items with forged
autographs of sporting stars including Michael Owen, David Beckham and Steven Gerrard. Graeme
Walker, owner of Sporting Icons Ltd on Watergate Row, Chester, was told by Judge David Hale his
actions had been "a complete sham".
CHESTER & DISTRICT STANDARD 10/04/2008 United Kingdom
Shops selling fake goods
Fresh warnings over phoney goods are being made after borough shops were found selling fake
condoms, lighters and vodka. In the past 12 months trading standards officers have recorded 30
instances of stores in Richmond selling counterfeit goods. Eight of these shops were selling fake
lighters, which have been known to explode in peoples faces. Phoney batteries, razor blades and
DVDs have also been found on sale.
RICHMOND & TWICKENHAM TIMES 11/04/2008 United Kingdom
Van was full of fake clothing
A Mercedes van and fake designer clothes worth £10, 000 were seized by trading standards officers
at Tir Prince Market, Towyn near Rhyl. Kamran Nazir, 27, of Cheetham Hill, Manchester was
yesterday sentenced at Mold Crown on two specimen charges of possessing
two T-shirts with false trademarks.
Stallholder, 23, sold fake designer clothes
A stallholder from Wolverhampton who had a van almost full of fake designer clothes for sale at a n
open air street market has been given a six-month suspended prison sentence. Isran Khan had 1,000
items in his van when arrested, about 750 of which were fake. That would have meant the potential
loss to genuine trade mark holders of about £38,000, a court heard.
Warning fake Teletubbies contain lead
Norfolk: Trading standards officers have warned that counterfeit Teletubbies toys on sale at markets
should be “binned” because they may contain dangerous levels of lead. Tests showed that one toy
contained more than ten times the legal lead limit, said a spokesman.
www.ipcb.co.uk
The rise of fake mobiles
Poor quality but hard to spot, the last few years have seen massive growth in fake and counterfeit
mobiles. Counterfeit goods entering the UK mobile market are on the rise and are a massive cause
for concern, according to the majority of independent dealers and distributors. Historically, the
problem was limited to accessories, but over the last couple of years counterfeit handsets have
become more prominent; either counterfeit parts combined with refurbished components imitation
handsets, or in some cases counterfeit handsets.
FONE! 17/04/2008 United Kingdom
Market trader sold fakes
A North Manchester man who blamed his twin brother for fake clothing scam has received a
suspended jail sentence. Kamran Nazir, from Brideoak Street, Cheetham Hill, was convicted of
possessing two T-shirts with false designer logos after trading standards swooped on a market in
north Wales.
NORTH EAST MANCHESTER ADVERTISER, THE 17/04/2008 United Kingdom
Teletubbies: say un-oh!
A warning has gone out to parents in Great Yarmouth and across the county who may have bought
counterfeit Teletubbies. Norfolk County Council Trading Standards officers are advising parents to get
rid of the toys after tests found the Teletubbies contained potentially dangerous levels of lead and
chromium.
GREAT YARMOUTH & GORLESTON ADVERTISER 17/04/2008 United Kingdom
Beware these fake spirits
Trading standards officers are warning the public to be on the lookout for fake vodka being sold in
Bolton. Investigators carried out raids on shops in the Deane and Little Lever areas this week after
customers were sold counterfeit Glens Vodka. One woman, who asked not to be named, told the
Bolton News she had bought two 70cl bottles at a shop in Deane on Monday night.
Lead warning over counterfeit Teletubbies
Counterfeit Teletubbies toys on sale at markets may contain dangerous levels of lead, trading
standards officers warned yesterday. Norfolk County Council said investigators seized the counterfeit
figures at markets in Snetterton and Norwich. A spokesman said the toys should be "binned".
DISS EXPRESS 18/04/2008 United Kingdom
GREAT YARMOUTH & GORLESTON ADVERTISER 17/04/2008 United Kingdom
THETFORD & WATTON TIMES 16/04/2008 United Kingdom
Warning over fake cigarettes
A crackdown on contraband cigarettes was being launched at Birmingham international’s Airport
today. Customs staff have revealed that leather sofas, lengths of timber and under felt tiles for
laminate flooring have all been used in attempts to smuggle millions of cigarettes into the country.
Man jailed over designer gear
A man has been jailed over the largest ever haul of counterfeit items seized in Dorset. Shafiq
Hussain, 31, was sentenced to eight months in prison and Mohammed Khan, 21, received a six month
suspended sentence for their involvement in selling counterfeit goods at the Great Dorset Steam Fair
in August 2006.
www.ipcb.co.uk
Cigarettes alert
Customs officers have warned the public about the dangers of counterfeit tobacco after seizing 50
million illegal cigarettes in a regional crackdown. More than 4,250kg of illegal had-rolling tobacco was
also seized in the West Midlands area last year.
Fakes at fair
A market trader who offered counterfeit clothes at the Great Dorset Steam fair has been jailed for eight
months after trading standards seized more than 4,500 items of clothing and footwear -the county’s
biggest ever haul of counterfeit goods.
Criminals target vulnerable in rogue medicines Euro scam
Moves by the EU to protect Blackpool residents from counterfeit medicines have been welcomed. The
EU Commission has launched an inquiry to look at ways to combat the problem of fake drugs, which
are widely available on the internet, but now making their way into high street chemist shops and
hospitals.
BLACKPOOL GAZETTE, THE 21/04/2008 United Kingdom
Designer clothes pair avoids prison
A Married couple who ran an internet "cottage industry" selling counterfeit designer clothing on eBay
have narrowly escaped a jail term. Paul Crump, 44, and his trainee solicitor wife Brenda, 47, were
each ordered to carry out 80 hours unpaid work and pay 600 costs after they admitted offences under
the Trademark Act.
Business fined over fake goods
A MID Wales Business has been fined £6,000 for selling fake goods on internet auction site eBay.
P and T Poultry Limited, of Llandrindod Wells and its director, Trevor Craig Marshall, were fined at the
towns magistrate's court on Tuesday after being prosecuted under the Trade Mark Act 1994. Around
£500 costs were awarded to the council.
Community order for fake clothes trader
A shopkeeper admitted selling hundreds of designer fakes from his Dewsbury clothes store.
Tariq Hanif, 31, who ran Earth menswear in Corporation Street, pleaded guilty to 32 counts of
unauthorised use of trademarks. A judge at Bradford Crown Court imposed a two-year community
order which included 180hours unpaid work. Hanif was also ordered to pay £4,843 costs.
DEWSBURY PRESS 25/04/2008 United Kingdom
Clothing scam man escapes jail
A Ravensthorpe father who ran a counterfeit clothing scam targeting users of auction website eBay
has escaped jail. Shezad Hussain, 35, pleaded guilty on 24 counts of selling counterfeit goods at
Leeds Crown Court on Friday.
DEWSBURY REPORTER SERIES 25/04/2008 United Kingdom
No jail for counterfeiter
A Rouge trader who sold fake designer clothes on eBay under the name Twin Towers 11 has escaped
jail. Father-of-four Shezad Hussain, 35, of Northstead, Ravensthorpe, ran his mail order business out
of a rented warehouse above a supermarket. Police recovered 1,080 items of suspected counterfeit
clothing with names including Lacoste, Stone Island, Armani and Timberland.
DEWSBURY PRESS 25/04/2008 United Kingdom
www.ipcb.co.uk
Fake goods alert
Advice is being offered to help people looking for bargains at this summers car boot sales to avoid
buying counterfeit goods. Essex County Council Trading Standards is offering guidance now car boot
sale season is in full swing, having over the years seen a wide range of fake goods for sale across the
county.
COLCHESTER EVENING GAZETTE 28/04/2008 United Kingdom
Distributor directory after counterfeit crackdown in US
A crackdown on the problem of counterfeit components in the US has seen the publication of a
directory of authorised distributors by the Semiconductor Industry Association. The chip industry body
is also working with customs authorities to seize counterfeits at the borders and encouraging the
authentication of legitimate products.
Arrests follow seizure of fake goods
Four men were arrested in counterfeit goods seized in a raid on a warehouse in Price Street,
Birkenhead. A joint operation between Wirral and Lancashire Trading Standards, Revenue and
Customs and Merseyide Police acted on information from clothing industry sources and seized fake
goods to the value of £500,000 in the operation last Tuesday.
WIRRAL GLOBE (BEBINGTON & BROMBOROUGH EDITION) 30/04/2008 UK
£1/2Million in eBay fakes seized
More than £1/2m worth of counterfeit goods due to be sold on the eBay auction site have been seized
from a warehouse in Birkenhead. Wirral Council’s trading standards team were tipped off by
colleagues in Lancashire about the warehouse in Price Street.
BIRKENHEAD NEWS 30/04/2008 United Kingdom
www.ipcb.co.uk
Fakes fund sex traffic
Gangsters are using the profits from selling counterfeit cigarettes to traffic foreign women into the
Scottish sex trade, police have warned. They ship millions of fake cigarettes from the Far East hidden
in goods such as furniture - to sell on the street.
Fake brands more than just a fashion rip-off
Speakers at the recent Protect the Brand-fighting the copycats and fakes conference in London, urged
fashion and textile professionals to unite to dispel the consumer myth that buying fake fashion
merchandise is a victimless purchase. Delegates heard how the $900 billion global counterfeit
industry is driven by unscrupulous, highly organised criminal and terrorists enterprises who exploit
thousands of workers worldwide.
LAUNDRY & CLEANING TODAY 01/03/2008 United Kingdom
Jailed for smuggling 22 million cigarettes
Two Liverpool men who smuggled more than 22 million counterfeit cigarettes into the country were
today behind bars. Alfred Chapple, 55, and his brother-in-law, William McDermott, 51 used
glassware, potatoes and wool to disguise cigarettes illegally brought in from Greece, Cyprus and
China.
The Fake Trade
Channel 4, 8pm First of two films by director Nick Hornby (not the novelist) on the fastest-growing
crime of modern times - counterfeiting. The cheap "Rolex" at the market and the "Prada" jeans for a
tanner all come from somewhere, and it’s not the back of a lorry.
TELEVISION & RADIO (SUPP. TO THE DAILY TELEGRAPH) 01/03/2008 United Kingdom
Counterfeiters target UKs top value vodka
Counterfeiters have been targeting independents in a highly sophisticated scam involving fake bottles
of Britain’s biggest-selling value vodka brand Glens. Counterfeit bottles of Glens vodka have been
found on sale by 24 local authorities in England, found in Scotland and one in Wales.
GROCER 01/03/2008 United Kingdom
Pirate who tried to shop other dealers
A computer repairman who ripped off his customers and Microsoft has been told to do unpaid work for
the community as punishment. Andrew Largent was caught after he alerted Trading Standards to the
illegal dealings of other computer traders. Largent admitted sticking certificates of authenticity he had
peeled off legitimate computers on to his duds, South East Suffolk Magistrates Court heard.
£2m of fake goods seized by Gardai in day of raids targeting
£2m of fake goods were seized by Gardai in a day of raids targeting criminal gangs. Gardai and
customs officers who seized a massive £2m haul of counterfeit goods will now target the assets of the
15-strong crime gang believed to have been behind the racket. After a five-month investigation they
carried out 23 searches around Dublin yesterday and Gardai had to hire a warehouse to store all of
the confiscate items.
INDEPENDENT, THE 04/03/2008 United Kingdom
www.ipcb.co.uk
Bent hair strengtheners alert
Internet shoppers have been warned by local Trading Standards officers to be on their guard after a
local woman was duped into buying bent hair strengtheners. The woman bought her new Jk4 Hot
Pink GHDs from eBay but was told by the makers that they couldn’t be registered, as they were
counterfeit.
AYR ADVERTISER 11/03/2008 United Kingdom
Fake seller fined
A market trader has been hit for thousands of pounds after selling counterfeit tracksuits.
Mark Grainger, 37, of Essex, pleaded guilty to six offences under the Trade Marks Act for selling the
goods at Wembley Market.
WEMBLEY & KINGSBURY TIMES 13/03/2008 United Kingdom
Spared jail over fake suits
A businessman who made hundreds of thousands of pounds selling counterfeit motor biking leathers
on the Internet auction site eBay has escaped jail. Alan Routledge, of the Avenue, Washington
Village, sold the top-of-the-range leather suits and generated an annual turnover of 4000,000 through
his company Click2Buy, operating out of premises at Tesco Business Park in Jarrow.
SOUTH SHIELDS GAZETTE 14/03/2008 United Kingdom
Burberry imitators sentenced for fashion crime of the century
A trio who ripped off an international fashion house have been sentenced to a total of 28 months in
jail. Alptekin Telci, from Tottenham, Bulent Imre and Amram Braha were sentenced at Wood Green
Crown Court last Thursday for buying and selling shoes that infringed the Burberry trademark.
TOTTENHAM & WOOD GREEN ADVERTISER 19/03/2008 United Kingdom
Trio sentenced after raid lands 1m of fake shoes
Three men have been sentenced for their part in one of the biggest fashion crimes of the century.
Amram Braha, of Grants Hill, Essex, and Bulent Imre and Alptekin Telci, of Northumberland Grove,
Tottenham, were sentenced at Wood Green Crown Court after attempting to sell 133,000 pairs of fake
Burberry shoes with a street value of over £1million.
ENFIELD GAZETTE 20/03/2008 United Kingdom
Trader told to pay £20k
A businessman who sold counterfeit designer clothing on eBay was yesterday ordered to hand over
£20,000 or serve 12 months in jail.
Warning to public over fake fags
Counterfeit cigarettes, containing far higher amounts of dangerous chemical than in genuine brands,
are being sold over counter in shops in the Perth area.
Are you faking it?
Around 200,000 counterfeit mobile products, cheap imitations of products by the big five
manufacturers, were sized in the UK last year, many made in sophisticated underground factories in
China an d Hong Kong.
MOBILE NEWS 24/03/2008 United Kingdom
www.ipcb.co.uk
Illegal tobacco swoop on pubs
Thousands of illegal cigarettes have been seized in raids across Wigan. Customs and trading
standards officers hauled in more than 28,000 cigarettes and 3kg of hand-rolling tobacco from pubs,
clubs and shops.
Warnings over fake vodka
Trading standards chiefs in Wigan today issued a warning after bottles of chemical-rid-den fake vodka
were found on sale. Officers swooped after a tip-off from a shopper who spotted the bottles in an offlicence in Leigh.
Celtic guard sold fake gear
A Celtic Park security guard caught selling fake designer goods at work has been fined 360.
Marie Milne, 48, was caught with fake Louis Vuitton bags, purses and wallets and Gucci money clips
and key rings in the Parkhead security room in November 2006.
Fake vodka found at off-licence
Bottles of fake vodka have been found on sale in Leigh. Following a complaint from a member of the
public, trading standards officers visited an off-licence in the town and a small number of 70cl bottles
of counterfeit Glens Vodka were seized. The incident follows recent reposts of similar bottles being
found on sale across the country.
28,000 Counterfeit cigs seized in raids
More than 28,000 smuggled and counterfeit cigarettes have been seized in raids s across the
borough. A visit to a number of addresses in the area by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) officers
and Wigan Trading Standards last Thursday resulted in the cigarettes and hand rolling tobacco being
seized.
LEIGH REPORTER 27/03/2008 United Kingdom
Cigarette bandit is jailed for 4 years
A smuggler who brought 2.5 million cigarettes into Scotland, dodging nearly £500, 000 in tax, was
jailed for four years yesterday. Stephen Mclean, 45, of Blantyre, Lanarkshire, illegally imported a
million counterfeit Embassy Regal cigarettes from China and the same number of the Palace King
Size brand from Tenerife.
Fake trainers seized in swoop
More than 100 pairs of trainers worth £18,000 were seized in Blackburn as part of a huge crackdown
on counterfeit goods. After a tip-off police and trading standards officers raided a house in Holland
Street and found 108 pairs of fake adidas Y3 and Nike Air Max trainers. They were investigating the
sale of trainers on websites like eBay.
www.ipcb.co.uk
Counterfeit goods charges
The case against a man accused of selling and possessing counterfeit goods has been adjourned.
Isran Khan, 21, of Whealtley Street Parkfield, Wolverhampton, had previously pleaded not guilty to 12
breaches of the Trade Marks Act at Welshpool Magistrates' Court. Khan is accused of selling and
possessing £50,000 worth of clothing with fake trademark logos in Newtown and Churchstoke
between February 20 and June 12.
POWYS COUNTY TIMES & EXPRESS (MONTGOMERYSHIRE EDITION) 01/02/2008 UK
Fake vodka warning
Drinkers have been warned to be on their guard against bottles of fake vodka which could make them
go blind. Hertfordshire Trading Standards urged residents this week to be on the lookout for cheap
70cl bottles of counterfeit Glens Vodka.
HERTFORDSHIRE MERCURY SERIES 01/02/2008 United Kingdom
Counterfeit goods seized
More than 10,000 counterfeit goods with a street value of more than £100,000 have been seized
during a raid in Birmingham.
WOLVERHAMPTON (CITY) WEST MID EXPRESS&STAR (M-F) 01/02/2008 United Kingdom
Fake goods seized in raids
More than 10,000 counterfeit goods have been seized in raids on six addresses in Birmingham.
Payback time for this trader
A market trader who was found guilty of selling fake clothing on Bedford market lost his appeal against
a half million pound confiscation order last Thursday at the London Court of Appeal.
BEDFORDSHIRE ON SUNDAY (SERIES) 03/02/2008 United Kingdom
Inside the Pirates Lair
Fake trainers, illegal porn and dodgy DVDs are some of the many items seized by trading standards if
Aladdin were an illicit street trader or a pornographer, his cave would look like this.
SWINDON EVENING ADVERTISER 05/02/2008 United Kingdom
Fake goods seized in town raids
Fraud officers have confiscated counterfeit goods worth more than 30,000 in Darlington in the past 18
months. Designer handbags, trainers, Rolex watches and football shirts have been all seized by the
borough councils trading standards officers.
DARLINGTON, AYCLIFFE & SEDGEFIELD ADVERTISER 06/02/2008 United Kingdom
Dangerous vodka warning
Drinkers are being warned to be on their guard for sales of counterfeit Glens Vodka that could cause
blindness and even death. Cheap 70cl bottles of the spirit, which has not been properly distilled, has
been found at five locations in nearby Bucks and has sparked a national investigation.
HEMEL HEMPSTEAD GAZETTE 06/02/2008 United Kingdom
Bottles of fake vodka seized
Dangerous counterfeit vodka which could cause blindness has been seized. Trading standards
officers will not say exactly where they found the fake Glens Vodka, but confirmed it was a licensed
bar, pub or off licence.
WELWYN GARDEN CITY & HATFIELD REVIEW 07/02/2008 United Kingdom
www.ipcb.co.uk
Unsporting
Sutton: A market trader has admitted selling fake sportswear in the town centre. Larry Macatonia, 52,
pleaded guilty to seven counts of selling fake clothing including shoes, from his stall in May and
September last year, Sutton Magistrates Court heard last Thursday.
SUTTON & EPSOM ADVERTISER 08/02/2008 United Kingdom
Warning as deadly drink found in stores
Bottles of cheap knockoff vodka, which could lead to a blindness and even death if drunk, have been
discovered in Cheshunt and Waltham Cross. Since Hertfordshire Trading Standards sent out a
warning for residents to be wary of purchasing the counterfeit Glens Vodka, officers have seized 120
bottles from 20 separate premises in the county.
HODDESDON & BROXBOURNE MERCURY 08/02/2008 United Kingdom
Dangerous phony vodka drink seized
Hazardous and potentially toxic counterfeit vodka has been seized from the shelves of shops in
Northamptonshire. More than 50 fake bottles of Glens Vodka containing 10 times the level of
methanol normally found in the drink have been confiscated by trading standards officers in Kettering
and Corby.
NORTHANTS EVENING TELEGRAPH (SERIES) 08/02/2008 United Kingdom
NORTHANTS ON SUNDAY 10/02/2008 United Kingdom
Warning over danger vodka
Three bottles of dangerous counterfeit vodka have been seized by north-east trading standards
officers. The illicit alcohol, which could pose a serious health risk, has been uncovered in county
Durham, and officials are trying to trace the source of the supply.
NORTHERN ECHO, THE (SERIES) 09/02/2008 United Kingdom
Killer vodka risk to drinkers
People are warned to be on their guard against potentially lethal vodka. The counterfeit booze, labeled
as Glens Vodka, poses a "serious health risk" to drinkers, say trading standards chiefs.
HARTLEPOOL MAIL 09/02/2008 United Kingdom
PMs vow to stop evil counterfeit cigs trade
Gordon Brown has vowed to take action against South Yorkshires "evil" trade in counterfeit cigarettes.
The Prime Minister made his comments after being told in the Commons the soaring sales of fake
fags across the region was a "ticking health time bomb".
SHEFFIELD STAR, THE (SERIES) 09/02/2008 United Kingdom
Drinkers warned against dodgy vodka
Drinkers are being warned to beware after fake vodka which could kill or cause serious health
problems was found on sale. Three bottles of booze containing what may be methanol have been
seized by Trading Standards officers in County Durham, and investigations are under way to find the
source.
Search unearths dangerous vodka
Bottles of potentially lethal cut-price vodka have been discovered on sale in shops in Cheshunt and
Waltham Cross. County trading standards officers have seized 120 bottles from 20 separate premises
in Hertfordshire after warning residents to be wary of purchasing the counterfeit Glens Vodka.
LEA VALLEY STAR 13/02/2008 United Kingdom
www.ipcb.co.uk
Warning over fake condoms
Counterfeit condoms have been seized from a shop in Blackburn.
And Trading Standards revealed they were the first such fakes ever found in the North of England.
Warning over counterfeit vodka sale
Counterfeit vodka has been found on sale in stores across south east Northumberland. Results of
recent analysis carried out by another trading standards service concluded that the strange taste is the
result of an unknown chemical composition making the vodka unfit for consumption.
BLYTH, MORPETH & WANSBECK NEWS POST LEADER (SERIES) 14/02/2008 United Kingdom
Third conviction for fake goods
A market trader who repeatedly sold counterfeit goods lost all his £8,000 of stock when armed robbers
stole his van in Northampton and set fire to it.
Today’s Highlights
Britains Favourite Fakes: BBC2, 7.00pm; not Wales Max Flint fronts this edition of the Money
Programme, which investigates the growing market for counterfeit goods in the UK, from familiar items
such as DVDs and designer clothes to more surreally, counterfeit toothpaste and condoms.
Vodka warning
Cheap and dangerous counterfeit Glens Vodka has been recovered by trading standards from shops
throughout Hertfordshire and as far apart as Rickmansworth and Stevenage.
Designer duds seized in raid by police
Fake designer clothing and footwear were seized in a police raid in Cowes, a court heard.
Counterfeit T-shirts, baseball caps, tops, trainers and boots ripping off well-known brands such as
Diesel, Fred Perry, Timberland, Nike, Henri Lloyd and Ralph Lauren were discovered when officers
swooped on a property in the Arcade.
ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY PRESS 15/02/2008 United Kingdom
Warning about dangerous illicit vodka
Three bottles of counterfeit vodka have been seized by trading standards officers.
The illicit booze, which could pose a serious health risk, has been uncovered in County Durham and
officials are now trying to trace its source.
DURHAM ADVERTISER 16/02/2008 United Kingdom
CONSETT & STANLEY ADVERTISER / CHESTER-LE-STREET ADVERTISER
Fake drug gangs foiled by pollen
Call it CSI: Malaria. It has a plot to rival any TV crime drama an elite medical team has hooked up with
Interpol and the Chinese security services to crack down on the deadly trade in counterfeit drugs.
NEW SCIENTIST 16/02/2008 United Kingdom
Bottles seized over fears that vodka could be fake
Consumers in Norfolk are being warned about suspected counterfeit vodka after Norfolk County
Council trading standards officers seized bottles on sale in the county. Officers had been carrying out
spot checks at retail outlets across Norfolk, following warning elsewhere in England about counterfeit
vodka, when they seized what is believed to be counterfeit Glens Vodka from a store in Dereham.
www.ipcb.co.uk
Crackdown on fake vodka
Fake vodka found in Harpenden contained ten times the usual level of dangerous methanol.
Analysis of counterfeit Glens Vodka seized by trading standards officers shows exceptionally high,
although not life-threatening, levels of the poisonous substance.
ST ALBANS & HARPENDEN REVIEW 20/02/2008 United Kingdom
Pair guilty of selling fake designer shoes
Two men have been found guilty of selling fake Burberry shoes - which they bought from a supplier for
just 67p each. The pair appeared at Wood Green Crown Court after a swoop by Enfield Council's
Trading Standards on a warehouse in Edmonton.
10,000 raid on fake designer goods stalls
Profits from thousands of fake designer goods sold on Camden markets every month go to fund the
human slave trade, says the boroughs top trading standards officer. Over 900 illegal counterfeit
goods with a street value of more than £10,000 were seized from just four stalls in Buck Street market
last month in a joint raid by police and the council officers.
CAMDEN GAZETTE 20/02/2008 United Kingdom
Fake vodka alert to drinkers
Drinkers are being warned to beware after fake vodka which could kill or cause serious health
problems was found on sale. Three bottles of booze containing what may be methanol have been
seized by Trading Standards officers in County Durham, and investigations are under way to find the
source.
PETERLEE STAR 21/02/2008 United Kingdom
Trading standards stamping out counterfeit alcohol
Counterfeit vodka has been discovered for sale on the shelves of at least five stores in Peterborough.
Trading Standards officers are warning businesses and residents to be on their guard after the fake
bottles of Glens Vodka 70cl were spotter.
PETERBOROUGH HERALD & POST 22/02/2008 United Kingdom
Pirate trader avoids prison
A housebound woman has escaped punishment for the £45,000 pirate eBay business she ran from
her home computer because she is ill. Susan Joyce Siadatan netted £27,000 from hundreds of
customers as she sold fake designer clothes and other items on the internet auction website for 17
months, York Crown Court heard.
Shopkeeper in court for selling fake clothing
A shopkeeper has been ordered to carry out 120 hours of community service after pleading guilty to
selling fake goods. Mirza Arfan Beg was prosecuted at Teesside Magistrates Court yesterday for
selling counterfeit Bench and Playboy clothes from his shop - Top Girl, in the Dundas Street in shops
Centre.
NORTHERN ECHO, THE (SERIES) 22/02/2008 United Kingdom
Boot sale trader spared prison over fake goods
An Ipswich business man who sold fake goods at car boot sales has avoided jail. Limousine business
owner Mark Beadsworth bought hundreds of pairs of trainers which he believed were Nike brand and
dozens of other sports goods he believed had genuine designer labels.
www.ipcb.co.uk
Critics choice
The fake trade 8.00-9.00C4. Sure, we all fancy some knockoff electronics, but according to the first in
this two-part documentary, that’s just the tip of the counterfeiting iceberg.
TIME OUT 27/02/2008 United Kingdom
Counterfeit components are threat to UK industry
Current customs and import controls are failing to tackle the rising number of counterfeit components
entering the UK, says industry body intellect.
Italian police bust fake Ferrari racket
There has long been a market for fake Rolex watches, Prada bags and Lois Vuitton luggage. But how
about a Ferrari for less than the price of a Ford Focus? Police on Sicily have broken up a
counterfeiting business with a difference. It was selling copies of the world's most dashing car outwardly perfect, down to the prancing horse emblem on the bonnet for as little as £20,000
(315,300).
Mafia Motors
Fake Ferraris were seized after police smashed a multi-million-pound mob ring.
More than 40 motors were found in raids stretching from Milan to Rome and Mafia capital Palermo on
Sicily.
www.ipcb.co.uk
Component counterfeiting
An increasingly serious and complex issue component counterfeiting is fats becoming the number one
problem confronting the world’s electronics industry. Share Knowledge seems our best defense.
COMPONENTS IN ELECTRONICS 01/01/2008 United Kingdom
Combating piracy co-operations is key
In the second of two articles, Adam Fletcher warns that the supply network and government agencies
need to work together if they are to combat the growing threat of counterfeiting.
COMPONENTS IN ELECTRONICS 01/01/2008 United Kingdom
Opinion Piece
Americas Watchdog Warns about Drug & Tobacco Counterfeiters in China & India the Dire Need to
stop them before its too late.
Market trader sold fake trainers
A market trader who sold fake trainers escaped jail this week. Norman Henderson, 56, was caught by
trading standard watchdogs selling counterfeit training shoes and clothes on stalls in Cramlington and
in Stanley, County Durham. He was given a suspend prison sentence on Monday. Counterfeit goods
seized from Norman Henderson will be destroyed and he was also ordered to foot a £500 court costs
order.
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE JOURNAL, THE 08/01/2008 / NORTHUMBERLAND CHRONICLE
EXTRA 08/01/2008 / CONSETT & STANLEY ADVERTISER 12/01/2008
BLYTH, MORPETH & WANSBECK NEWS POST LEADER (SERIES) 12/01/2008 UK
Dud goods seized in raid on market
A massive haul of dodgy designer clothes worth more than £150,000 have been seized in a raid on
Barking Market. Barking and Dagenham Councils trading standards team have just revealed that they
chose the markets busiest time of year – the week before Christmas - to launch the undercover
operation, which took place on Tuesday, December 18. The raid, which was supported by the police
and street wardens, targeted two stalls suspected of selling counterfeit brands, including Nike, Ralph
Lauren, Fred Perry and Armani and involved the removal of 10,000 items of clothing.
ILFORD & REDBRIDGE POST 09/01/2008 United Kingdom
BARKING & DAGENHAM POST SERIES
Man who dealt in illicit vodka sentenced
A man who was found in a shed where counterfeit vodka was distilled and bottled "for two men with
Northern accents" and "the lads" escaped a custodial prison sentence at Dundalk Circuit Criminal
Court yesterday.
IRISH TIMES (EIRE) 17/01/2008 United Kingdom
Trading standards office issues warning over counterfeit vodka
Licensees and local people are being warned not to buy counterfeit bottles of Glen's vodka.
The illegal 70cl bottles have been found at three locations, just across the Oxfordshire border in
Buckinghamshire.
BICESTER ADVERTISER 18/01/2008 United Kingdom
Man jailed after raid uncovers £1m of fake shoes
A Tedbridge man has been sentenced to ten months in prison for his part in one of the biggest fashion
crimes of the century. Amram Braha, from Gants Hill, was tried alongside two other men after they
attempted to sell 133,000 pairs of fake Burberry shoes with a street valued of over £1million.
WANSTEAD & WOODFORD GUARDIAN 20/03/2008 United Kingdom
www.ipcb.co.uk
Health warning over counterfeit smokes
Dangers of buying counterfeit tobacco were highlighted after a haul of more than 13,000 cigarettes
was seized from a milkman in Dudley. Customs officers caught the milkman while he was doing his
deliveries.
Fake vodka could be dangerous
Trading standards are warning licensees and the public to be on the look out for cheap "knock off"
Vodka. 70cl bottles of counterfeit Glens Vodka has been found at three locations in Buckinghamshire.
LEIGHTON BUZZARD OBSERVER 22/01/2008 United Kingdom
Warning over counterfeit bottles of vodka
Bucks residents have been warned not to buy cheap knocked off alcohol after counterfeit bottles of
Glens Vodka were found in five locations, including Aylesbury. Trading standards officer said the
counterfeit spirit has not been through the company’s strict distilling process so the strength and effect
can not be certified by the labels alone.
BUCKS HERALD, THE 23/01/2008 United Kingdom
Probe on haul of fake trainers
At least 75,000 worth of counterfeit trainers has been seized by trading standards officers in the Black
Country. Hundreds of fake Nike trainers filled the rooms from floor to ceiling in two houses in Oldbury.
WOLVERHAMPTON (CITY)WEST MID EXPRESS&STAR (M-F) 24/01/2008 UK
Smuggled cigarettes a health peril
Counterfeit and smuggled tobacco being bought and sold in Barnsley will be discussed by local MPs
and council watchdogs tomorrow. MPs Eric Ilsley, Mick Clapham and Jeff Ennis will attend the Health
and Adult Social Service Scrutiny working group looking at work to tackle the problem.
BARNSLEY STAR 24/01/2008 United Kingdom
Counterfeit trader spared jail
A Bovingdon Market trader received a one year suspended prison sentence for selling counterfeit films
and games, a court heard on Thursday. Chris Constantine, 50 who was found guilty of distributing
films and software that infringed the rights of the copyright holders between May and November 2005,
was also sentenced to 280 hours of unpaid community work and made the subject of a supervision
order, at St Albans Crown Court.
WATFORD OBSERVER, THE 25/01/2008 United Kingdom
Fake goods a real worry
Designer handbags, trainers, Rolex watches and football shirts have been seized by trading standards
officers as part of a crackdown on fake goods. The items are among a range of goods, worth tens of
thousands of pounds, recovered in Darlington in recent months. The items will now be recycled or
destroyed.
TEESSIDE EVENING GAZETTE 31/01/2008 United Kingdom
Pirate goods are the answer to a prayer!
They say faith will move mountains. And in this case its mountains of counterfeit goods. Step forward
local charity His Church. The Bedfordshire-based organisation has come up with an innovative idea
that ticks all the eco and ethical boxes - it recycles counterfeit goods and redistributes them to the
poor and needy. It also salvages food and other goods that otherwise would have been consigned to
landfill.
LUTON & DUNSTABLE HERALD & POST 31/01/2008 United Kingdom
www.ipcb.co.uk
Beware of counterfeit cheap vodka
Hertfordshire Trading Standards is urging residents to be wary of purchasing counterfeit Glens Vodka
which could cause blindness. Cheap "knock-off" 70cl bottles of the spirit, which has not been through
the company’s strict distilling process, has been found at five locations in neighboring
Buckinghamshire.
Rogue traders goods crushed
Hundreds of cheap imitation sunglasses, computer games, CDs and DVDs, with a street value of
about £5,000, have been crushed by Isle of Wight council trading standards officers in a clampdown
on rogue traders.
SOUTHERN DAILY ECHO (SERIES) 31/01/2008 United Kingdom
Police seize phony jewellery
Sevenoaks police have seized a hoard of fake gold jewellery which was being sold in the town on
Tuesday. Fourteen rings and two necklaces were confiscated by neighbourhood officers after they
followed and stopped a group of Romanians while they were driving away from the High Street in two
foreign registered cars.
SEVENOAKS CHRONICLE (SERIES) 31/01/2008 United Kingdom
Fake goods: Man in court
A man has appeared in court accused of selling counterfeit Newcastle United merchandise.
John Roberts faces eight charges of selling copyrighted items.

PRESS CUTTINGS: April 2012

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