Shop safely

What products are faked?

When you hear the term “fake goods”, what comes to mind? Handbags, watches and jewellery? Yes, to all of those.

More worryingly, the traffic in illegal goods also includes:
Medicines;
Food, drink, baby formula and alcohol;
Cosmetics and perfumes;
Electronic appliances;
Toys;
Engine oil;
Construction materials;
Pesticides.

In other words, all the day-to-day items we take for granted are at risk of being counterfeit.
What's the problem?

It’s not just the loss of revenue for legitimate companies, but there are serious health and safety risks for consumers. Products that are counterfeit are also likely to be sub-standard or faulty, and therefore dangerous.
Fake medicines could be completely ineffective, or highly dangerous;
Fake food and drinks could harm your health;
Fake cosmetics and perfumes could give you a nasty skin rash;
Fake electrical products could be a fire hazard or cause electrocution;
Fake toys could harm your children;
Fake engine oil could make the car or plane you’re travelling in unsafe;
Fake construction materials could result in buildings and homes that do not conform to required standards;
Fake pesticides can contaminate large areas of land and make them unusable for several years;
The organized groups behind these crimes are known to use illegal child labour.
What can you do?

Counterfeit goods are often difficult to distinguish from the real products, but these simple steps can help ensure you are buying the genuine article.
Does the price seem too good to be true? It probably is! A particularly low price tag should trigger alarm bells;
Check the logo and packaging carefully;
Examine the product and be wary of any signs of poor construction;
Check any safety seals;
Ask the seller where the product came from;
Does the item come with a guarantee? Be suspicious if electrical goods don’t offer one;
Buy your goods from authorized retailers;
If buying online, check details about where the company is registered. If no contact details are offered, be suspicious!
Check the refund and returns policy.
If you’ve seen it, report it!

If you have bought something that turns out to be fake, or if you know where people are selling fake products, report it to your local police.


Read more about how to shop safely

STOPfakes.gov (USA)
Consumer tools: top 10 ways to protect yourself
http://www.stopfakes.gov/consumer-tools/top-10-ways-protect-yourself

National Crime Prevention Council (USA)
Fake consumer goods: buyer beware!
http://www.ncpc.org/topics/intellectual-property-theft/fake-consumer-goods-1

Which? Consumer Rights (UK)
Problem: I think I've spotted a fake or counterfeit good, how can I tell?
http://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/problem/i-think-ive-spotted-a-fake-or-counterfeit-good-how-can-i-tell/

Brand-i
A shopping directory that only lists web stores selling genuine products
https://www.brand-i.org/

International Chamber of Commerce
Business Action to Stop Counterfeiting and Piracy (BASCAP)
http://www.iccwbo.org/Advocacy-Codes-and-Rules/BASCAP/About/

I buy real!
BASCAP consumer awareness campaign
http://www.ibuyreal.org/

Get Safe Online
Buying medicines online
https://www.getsafeonline.org/protecting-yourself/buying-medicines-online1/- See more at: http://www.turnbackcrime.com/content/shop-safely#sthash.Tx3emALK.dpuf