Home News Beware fake goods at bank holiday markets, warn councils

Beware fake goods at bank holiday markets, warn councils

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Dodgy laptop chargers which can give electric shocks, fake Premiership football merchandise, counterfeit designer headphones and thousands of pirate DVDs are regularly among items seized from markets, car boot sales and other outlets, councils warn this Bank Holiday weekend.

With markets and car boot sales being held over the Bank Holiday weekend, council trading standards officers will be continuing their efforts to stop people falling victim to rogue traders selling dangerous goods.

The Local Government Association, which represents more than 370 councils in England and Wales, is urging people to watch out for dodgy sellers and report any suspicious items to the police or their local council.

Recent investigations by council trading standard teams across the country have found poor quality, dangerous and fake designer items on sale.

Prosecutions and cases include:

  • A market trader in Bovingdon, Hertfordshire was jailed for 30 months for selling fake DVDs and CDs – nearly 27,000 DVDs and CDs were seized over three years – after taunting investigators on a Facebook post referencing Leonardo DiCaprio film ‘Catch Me If You Can’
  • A Birmingham shopkeeper is facing jail unless he pays £100,000 within three months under the Proceeds of Crime Act after 90 per cent of his stock, including designer goods, was found to be fake
  • A beauty salon owner in Widnes, Cheshire, was fined more than £1,000 for selling counterfeit designer goods with an estimated retail value of more than £11,000 from her salon
  • Hundreds of dodgy phone and laptop chargers which can cause electric shocks were seized from a warehouse in Benton, Newcastle
  • A stallholder at Braintree Market, Essex was ordered to pay nearly £3,000 after admitting selling counterfeit designer clothing

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

“Markets and car boots are great for bargains – especially over the Bank Holiday weekend -but they can also be a magnet for dodgy traders and criminals who won’t think twice about making easy money from selling dangerous goods to unsuspecting customers.

“Criminals selling illegal, fake goods ruin the reputation of genuine stall holders, harm legitimate businesses, cost the economy millions in lost tax revenue and often fund organised criminal gangs.

“Counterfeiting is not a victimless crime – unsafe, poor quality products can put lives at risk – which is why councils put a lot of work into ensuring that shoppers get a fair deal and aren’t ripped off or put in danger.

“Trading standards teams at councils nationwide go to great lengths to prevent the sale of these goods in local markets and sales, and won’t hesitate to take action against anyone found selling counterfeit goods.”

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

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