1. Crooks and con artists supply fakes to those who demand a brand name but cannot afford the real thing. 18% of world trade is in counterfeit products;
  2. These cheats profit from their trade by 5 or 10 times their cost outlay;
  3. Counterfeiting is part of the black market economy where only the seller profits, no taxes, no state benefit;
  4. Counterfeiting is a real threat to UK crime and UK trade. Counterfeiters use their goods and profits to barter for hard drugs. Counterfeiting is linked to street crime and disorder;
  5. There is no quality guarentee, the goods are cheap, the profits high; films on DVD may run for 53 minutes before breaking up. Sound and focus may be poor;
  6. Counterfeiting costs real jobs and affects sales of genuine merchandise;
  7. Counterfeiting is unfair to honest businesses;
  8. Counterfeiting damages the brand image and so rubbishes the product you are buying;
  9. Selling fakes is a criminal offence and carries a ten year sentence;
  10. Only mugs buy fakes!

For general information and guidance on consumer rights visit: Consumer Direct  (external).

For general information, regulations and guidance for businesses visit: The Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (external)

For individual advice, problems or complaints contact:

Waltham Forest Trading Standards
Environment and Regeneration
Waltham Forest Council
Sycamore House
Forest Road
Walthamstow  E17 4JF

Email wfdirect@walthamforest.gov.uk
Tel 020 8496 3000