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Really excellent result by the SURELOCK team working with West Sussex Trading Standards, raiding the home address of a prolific eBay seller and seizing thousands of music artists counterfeits, well done to all involved.

SURELOCK team together with other members of The Anti-Counterfeiting Group assisting the Police and Trading Standards to keep the fakes off the streets of Camden on behalf of our clients.

New Phishing Attack That Even Most Vigilant Users Could Fall For (view link)

https://thehackernews.com/2019/02/advance-phishing-login-page.html

ABI is an endorsed partner of the Law Society. ABI has both national and international membership and offers easy access to their trusted investigative professionals through their website.

“Widely regarded as the leading professional body for private investigators working in the UK and beyond, we recommend the Association of British Investigators (ABI) to our members”. (Law Society)

https://www.lawsociety.org.uk/support-services/membership-extra/business-services/abi/

Surelock and the Association of British Investigators, are both very proud to announce the appointment as President-Elect for 2019-2020 the highly respected member and Governing Council Discipline Officer, Ron HARRISON.

Ron has been a member of the ABI since November 2009, initially attending branch meetings, then got more involved sitting on selection panels for new members, in May 2018 became a member of the General Council and was appointed the Discipline Chairman.

https://www.theabi.org.uk/news/abi-president-elect-2019-2020

This has not been a problem for our clients in the past and we certainly hope it will not be in the future. A few or many hours of work, depending on the scenario and the outcome we expect to achieve, can make a huge difference to your company. There is absolutely no need to justify using a private investigator.

Quoting a recent case

A product sold in a counterfeit form suggesting danger. The company contacted Surelock and hired our services.

We gained the necessary evidence to place into the hands of their intellectual property lawyers.

Our bonus

One up against the counterfeiters; and saving a company from being another statistic.

Companies and household names use our services. A private investigation company has much talent. Sometimes just being able to prove that a company is doing something right can make a difference one day when that wheel comes off.  If we get asked to achieve the impossible we are honest, if something can’t be done, it can’t be done. We won’t take your money and then tell you!

Invoices can be as detailed as you like, clients already know our value.

Surelock working with other ACG members, together with Greater Manchester Police and Trading Standards to achieve another tremendous result in this area of Manchester known as Fake City.

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/strangeways-gucci-prada-jimmy-choo-15531962

Stephen Clarkson, director of Custom Design UK Ltd, was handed an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, at Bradford Crown Court.

Following information received in 2016 from Surelock, which represents numerous trademark holders that Custom Design UK Ltd was selling counterfeit clothing through an eBay account.

West Yorkshire Trading Standards (WYTS) seized, during an inspection in January 2017 of the registered office of Custom Design UK Ltd, items of clothing & heat transfers bearing music and sporting trademarks including US football teams, such as the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks.

A computer also seized by WYTS, was found to contain software used to create the heat transfers.

Clarkson pleaded guilty to 14 charges relating to the supply of counterfeit band T-shirts such as The Stone Roses and Metallica.

David Lodge, Head of WYTS said: “We welcome the punishment given to Mr Clarkson as it sends a warning to others that counterfeiting is a serious crime and will not be tolerated.”

https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/16835033.man-who-sold-counterfeit-clothing-on-ebay-avoids-immediate-jail-sentence

https://www.examiner.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/hard-working-family-man-caught-15137252

As a result of thorough investigative work by Surelock dating back to 2015 undertaken on behalf of Trade Mark Holders, Ian Buckley (56), who ran clothing shop Quirk in Leicester city centre was charged with and subsequently admitted 36 offences under the Trade Marks Act.

The 36 offences related to printing and dishonestly selling tens of thousands of items such as T-shirts and hooded tops bearing the names of bands such as Led Zeppelin & Iron Maiden, as well as US sports teams including LA Lakers & Dallas Cowboys.

This represents an estimated loss of hundreds of thousands of pounds to the trademark owners.

Buckley, was given a 21-month suspended jail sentence and ordered to do 200 hours of unpaid work, Judge Adrienne Lucking said that were it not for his wife’s severe ill health and her dependence upon him as her carer, Buckley would have gone to prison.

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/leicester-news/leicester-shop-quirk-sold-counterfeit-1344910

Courts can impose custodial sentences to persons selling counterfeit goods

Time to think before buying counterfeit goods, time to think before selling.

Counterfeits are more than just a cheap version of a genuine more expensive item.  Consider value for money, quality and workmanship rather than looking for a copy without the class.  Counterfeit items may never work properly or safely and can be just plain dangerous, and especially relevant your purchase may fund something more dangerous. Therefore, it is important to think about values. Do something today.

This brings to mind a recent case Surelock were involved in highlighting these values.

Essex Police stopped Meqhawemveko Dube in possession of a firearm.  His home address was searched where goods were discovered including over 100 counterfeit high value watches. Our experts examined watches which purported to be those of our clients and provided statements authenticating them as counterfeits_.

Dube received three years custodial sentence at Southend Crown Court in January 2018 for possessing an imitation firearm, and a further nine months sentence relating to the counterfeit goods. Court evidence showed the defendant had been selling similar counterfeit products for about three years.

https://www.essexlive.news/news/thurrock-businessman-wearing-stab-vest-1107922

Who has time for a watch that will tell you the right time for some of the time,  last half the time or no time and in time will stop telling you the time!

It’s all about values – not just the value of the item or the genuine item but values of the purchaser.