Home News Last-minute shoppers warned against dangerous, fake ‘must-have’ toys

Last-minute shoppers warned against dangerous, fake ‘must-have’ toys

0

Last-minute shoppers desperate to buy this year’s “must-have” Christmas toys are being warned to look out for tell-tale signs of fake and potentially dangerous products as rogue traders exploit a surge in demand for sold-out items.

Councils are also urging people to be wary of turning to suspect online sellers offering next-day delivery to get hold of toys that are out of stock elsewhere, as they may not actually exist, leaving them out of pocket.

In the run-up to the festive period, councils have seized thousands of counterfeit and dangerous toys, including many which contained parts that posed a choking hazard to children. One council alone has seized 86 per cent of all products tested – a total of 88,000 items, including toys – after arriving at ports in a three-month period.

The Local Government Association (LGA), which represents 370 councils in England and Wales, says criminals are cashing in on a surge in demand which has seen some must-have toys being offered for sale online at more than six times their recommended retail price.

It is warning parents desperate to buy in-demand toys – such as Fingerlings and Hatchimals – to avoid buying them at suspiciously low prices or from suspect websites as these may be run by criminals who fail to deliver them after falsely claiming to have them in stock.

The LGA is urging shoppers to look for the CE mark on toys or their packaging which confirms they meet consumer safety standards. With people increasingly buying presents online, the LGA is also calling for the CE mark to be clearly included in the information on websites offering toys for sale.

Cllr Simon Blackburn, Chair of the LGA’s Safer and Stronger Communities Board, said:

“Christmas can be a great time for bargains but it can also be a magnet for dodgy traders and criminals who won’t think twice about making easy money from selling dangerous toys to unsuspecting shoppers.

“Faulty electrical toys can lead to fires or electrocution, inferior materials can break and cause injuries, while toxic levels of ingredients can cause burns, illness and even prove fatal.

“Councils have seized a significant amount of unsafe and counterfeit toys in the run-up to Christmas, but there will be rogue sellers – including those operating under the radar online – determined to exploit people desperate to buy must-have toys to avoid disappointing their children and young family members.

“As well as looking out for grammar and spelling errors on packaging – tell-tale signs of counterfeit goods – people need to resist cheap offers that look too good to be true, particularly if certain toys are sold out in well-known retailers, as this could be a sign that they are fake, unsafe and poor quality or simply don’t exist.

“Shoppers need to check toys have a CE mark which show they comply with safety regulations and we urge all website retailers to clearly include this reassuring mark in the information they provide.

“Selling illegal, fake toys is a crime and ruins the reputation of genuine traders, harms legitimate businesses, cost the economy millions in lost tax revenue and often funds organised criminal gangs.

“Trading standards teams at councils nationwide go to great lengths to prevent the sale of counterfeit goods and toys, and won’t hesitate to take action against anyone found selling them.

“Residents can support this important work by reporting any concerns they have about toys and other goods being sold or they have bought.”

Anyone with information about suspected fake goods can report it to their local council via the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 03454 04 05 06.

Case studies

  • Northamptonshire Trading Standards seized more than 500 wooden trains and carriages found to have easily detachable wheels that pose a choking risk to children under three, from two market stalls in Wellingborough. A further 49 battery-operated toys dogs and cats were confiscated after being found to have poor or missing labelling, easily-accessible batteries and small detachable parts.
  • 86 per cent of products – including children’s scooters and wireless drones – examined by Thurrock Council Trading Standards after arriving at ports between July and September 2017 were seized and stopped from reaching consumers after being found to be unsafe or non-compliant. The team intercepted 97 consignments from countries including China, USA, Nigeria and Hong Kong and found 88,000 products to be in breach of regulations.
  • Norfolk County Council Trading Standards has used its Facebook page to alert people to fake Fingerlings and how to spot the genuine toys from the fakes.
  • Buckinghamshire and Surrey Trading Standards seized 2,581 fake Fingerlings toys imported from China through Heathrow Airport. Some were presented as Fingerlings while others were labelled Baby Monkey, Happy Monkey or Finger Monkey. The toys, which will be destroyed, lacked paperwork proving they met safety standards and failed to include contact details for the manufacturer.

Buckinghamshire and Surrey Trading Standards also took action to remove 96 Christmas elf toys from sale after they failed safety tests for posing a choking risk to children. The toys, imported from India, were destined for homes around the country.

The intervention followed a similar interception of nearly 300 soft toys imported from Hong Kong which were attached to baby play gyms designed for young babies, had seams that came apart in officers’ hands and beaded eyes that fell off with barely a tug. Other toys seized in the consignment included toy laptops emitting sounds that exceeded the maximum decibel limit for children’s electronic toys, which could potentially damage hearing, and drawing mats with pen caps that posed a choking hazard.

  • Trading Standards officers at Bath and North East Somerset Council seized nearly 300 fidget spinners from shops and stalls in Bath after finding they had small parts that could easily pop out, causing a choking hazard to young children. Some featured a blade with sharp pointed edges. Trading standards officers worked with the fidget spinner sellers to trace the supply chain and identify the importers.
  • Licensing and Trading Standards at Bolton Council seized more than 50 toys – including blow-up Peppa Pigs, fidget spinners, balloons, lightsabers and swords – from street traders in Bolton town centre – which were not labelled with the correct safety warnings, a CE mark and a manufacturer or importer address.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here