Counterfeit goods
What are counterfeit goods?
Fake goods are illegal copies of products,
and are also known as 'counterfeit' or 'pirated'
goods.
Counterfeit products take many forms, including clothing, DVDs,
perfume and jewellery. Car parts, tyres, tools, electrical goods,
batteries and children's toys are also copied.
These products may seem like a bargain or you may be unfortunate
enough to have been duped into paying the retail price for what you
believed was a genuine item.
Why shouldn't you buy counterfeit goods?
- The goods may be poor quality, faulty or unsafe to
use.
- If the fake goods are faulty, you may have difficulty returning
them or getting your money back.
- Sales of fake goods can fund organised crime, such as drug
dealing, human trafficking and prostitution. They can also
provide an additional, undeclared income to benefit cheats.
- If you buy fake goods, the original maker of the goods won’t
get any money. As a result this can delay new product
development
- People who sell counterfeit goods don't pay taxes on what they
sell.
How to spot them
Price, place and packaging are all indicators of whether
something is genuine.
Supermarkets, well-known retailers and brand-name websites are
much less likely to sell fakes. But a vast range of products for
sale in the street, in temporary shops, markets or online
could be counterfeit.
Read our tips on how to spot counterfeit
goods.
How to report counterfeit goods
If you know of someone who manufacturers or sells counterfeit
products, please complete our
online form,
Alternatively. you can telephone the consumer helpline who will pass your
information on to Kent Trading Standards. Your contact can be
completely confidential, you will not need to give your name or
address.