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Posts Tagged ‘Trading Standards’

Fakes flooding Olympic markets

With just over 600 days to go until the starter gun fires for the start of the London 2012 Olympics the black market has seen an upsurge in fake souvenirs.

The 2012 Olympics will see athletes from around the world competing in 26 sports as diverse as badminton, canoeing and horse jumping from 20 July – 19 August.

Recently, Trading Standards officers confiscated 1,300 fake t-shirts and baseball caps with the 2012 logo and the Olympic rings printed on. Olympic organisers say that sales of official merchandise contribute to the £2bn cost of staging the event.

As technology evolves the increase in forged goods means spotting a fake is harder. Experts say counterfeit items must be shredded securely to stop them getting onto the black market, which contributes to wider criminal activity and presents consumers with poor quality items.

Jim Watson, managing director of Shred Easy, the UK’s leading counterfeit confidential destruction company, said:

“Sports fans should know how to spot fakes online and in the street. Look out for faded Olympic logos, cheap material, badly stitched labels, the age of the item and where it was made.

“These items must be securely shredded by accredited shredding companies, like Shred Easy, to protect the official Olympic trade mark.

“If you have bought a fake item under the impression it’s an original, you have legal rights against the seller and should contact Trading Standards immediately. Your statutory rights may allow you to claim for false advertising.”

So… it seems the new Sex and the City film has seen an upsurge in fake designer goods flooding the market.

The launch of Sex and the City 2 has seen record numbers of women rushing to the flicks to watch their favourite female characters and drool over their designer wardrobes.

However, fans trying to emulate Carrie’s clothes and Samantha’s style has seen the black market flooded with fake designer copies of Chanel jackets, Halston dresses, and Christian Louboutin shoes.

The surge in forged goods means that spotting a fake is harder today. Counterfeit items must be destroyed to stop the black market which contributes to wider criminal activity and presents consumers with poor quality items.

Jim Watson, managing director of Shred Easy, the UK’s leading shredding company, which destroys conterfeit documents, clothing and designer apparel said:

“Female fans trying to emulate their fashion idols should know how to spot fakes online and in the street. Look out for faded logos, cheap material, badly stitched labels, the age of the item, where it was made and distinct patterns like the official Louis Vuitton print.

“These items must be shredded to protect trade marks and to refrain from devaluing exclusive brands.”

Ian Lewis, a fraud partner at Manchester based Lewis Hymanson Small solicitors, said:

“The recession has meant more consumers are being targeted by fraudsters. Counterfeiting has far reaching effects, exposing consumers to poor quality goods, stopping local businesses from competing and helping increase criminality.

“If you have bought a fake item under the impression that it’s an original, you may have rights against the seller and should contact Trading Standards immediately. Your statutory rights may allow you to claim for false advertising.

“If you’re caught selling forged goods Trading Standards could punish you for fraud.”

The film’s costume selection was overseen by Emmy award-winning stylist Patricia Field and is reportedly worth £7 million.