INVESTIGATORS & SECURITY CONSULTANTS

Blog

Don’t be a Victim of Online Crime

Intellectual property crime is costing the UK economy hundreds of millions of pounds each year, with organised crime gangs causing significant damage to industries that are produce legitimate, high quality, physical goods and online and digital content in an increasingly competitive climate

The Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU) is being funded by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and run by the City of London Police to combat this criminality, with a special focus on offences committed online.   PIPCU recommends online shoppers to follow the tips below to help keep fraudsters at bay:

counterfeit-goods1.Trust your instincts – if an offer looks too good to believe then there is usually a catch. Legitimate popular technology and designer items are rarely discounted.

2.Check the URL in the web browser. Don’t be fooled by spoof websites where the fraudsters slightly change the address.

3.Ensure the website address begins ‘https’ at the payment stage – this indicates a secure payment.

4.Don’t access links in unsolicited emails, always type in the website address or use a search engine to find a site.

5.Only deal with reputable sellers – only use sites you know or ones that have been recommended to you.

6.Avoid paying by money transfers – they aren’t secure. Use an online payment option such as PayPal, which helps to protect you.

7.Watch out for pop-ups appearing asking you to confirm your card details before you are on the payment stage. Never enter your PIN number online.

8.If your bid for an online auction item is unsuccessful, don’t be tempted to trade off-site if another seller approaches you with a similar item. This is likely to be a scam and you won’t be covered.

9.Keep security software and firewalls up-to-date. Regularly update your internet browser when a new patch-security update is released.

10.Keep receipts and check these against your statement – if you spot a transaction you did not authorise speak to your card company immediately. If you are the innocent victim of any type of card fraud you will not suffer any financial loss.

 

.

 

Fake Make-up Contains Dangerous Concentrations of Poisonous Chemicals

Fraudsters are selling fake make-up containing dangerous levels of poisonous chemicals such as arsenic and lead, consumers were warned yesterday.

Fake versions of fashionable cosmetic brands including MAC and Benefit have been found to contain up to 19 times the legal level of lead.

Pregnant women and their unborn babies are particularly vulnerable to some of the dangerous chemicals found in the counterfeit products, which have also been found to contain cancer-causing compounds.

makeupThe warning came after trading standards officers swooped on a nail and beauty shop in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, reported to the authorities by a woman customer who reported having a bad skin reaction.

Counterfeit versions of products by US firms MAC and Benefit and other big-name brands were seized, tested and found to contain high levels of lead, arsenic, mercury, copper and cadmium.

The heavy metals have been linked to health problems ranging from allergic reactions and skin sensitivity to nerve disorders – and even death.

Excessive levels of lead can cause high blood pressure, fertility problems, memory and concentration problems and increased risk of harm to the foetus during pregnancy.

Dermatologists have reported a rise in the number of women with skin conditions triggered by use of the counterfeit cosmetics, and have warned the make-up can cause permanent damage. The manufacture of genuine cosmetics is strictly controlled and products are tested rigorously before they go on sale.

But counterfeiters put cheap, untested substances in their concoctions, which are often packaged to look virtually identical to the genuine brand. Previously, fake versions of high-end mascara and eyeliner have been found to contain paint stripper and nail varnish remover, while a batch of counterfeit perfume seized by police was found to contain urine.

Trading standards officers have warned that online shoppers are also at risk, with fraudsters hiding behind internet sites to sell the fake goods.

Officers have also reported finding makeup containing up to 200 times recommended safe levels of metal.

The Daily Mail found several websites selling cut-price cosmetics yesterday, with prices reduced by up to 86 per cent.

A MAC lipstick on the brand’s official website for £15.50 was available on a cut-price site for just £2.05.

Consumers shopping online have no way of knowing if the reduced version is genuine or fake, but trading standards have warned that sites or shops offering massive reductions may be selling counterfeits.

Warwickshire trading standards officers did not name the shop at the centre of their swoop, saying their investigation is still continuing.

But county councillor Richard Chattaway said retailers had a legal responsibility to ensure their goods were genuine and safe to use. He added: ‘It is unusual for fake and dangerous cosmetics to appear on the high street.

However, we would advise consumers to seek medical attention if they have an adverse reaction and to report the product to trading standards.’

MAC Cosmetics is endorsed by pop star Rihanna and used by celebrities including TV cook Rachel Khoo and reality TV star Kim Kardashian.

The firm said it worked with authorities in Britain and internationally to stop the illegal sale of counterfeit cosmetics and to block websites which sold them.

Consumers are advised to buy from official websites or stockists and to examine packaging for batch numbers.

Handley Brustad, lead officer for Intellectual Property at the Trading Standards Institute, said counterfeiters are frequently using the internet because they can escape detection and follow the latest trends to sell their fakes.

He said: ‘Online this is a huge problem because it’s not as straightforward as finding it being sold in a high street shop or marketplace because you have got to do an awful lot of digging to find it.

‘Counterfeiters are using domain names that appear like they are from the UK when they are not, and are making prices closer and closer to the genuine product to make them appear more real but make people think they are getting a bargain.

‘With make-up we are finding the counterfeiters are putting in many more metals because that’s what binds the make-up together. This is very strictly controlled in the UK because these metals are dangerous.

‘People who buy the make-up are then putting these products near their eyes and mouths. They can cause blindness and if you ingest enough of it, even death.

‘We are generally talking about high percentages of unsafe chemicals. It’s usually heavy metals like lead and cadmium – the ones that are strictly regulated because of the harm they cause.’

Fake MAC and Benefit make-up has also been found recently in South Wales, and Mr Brustad said examples containing dangerously high percentages had also been discovered.

‘There have been incidents where we have found products containing 100 or 200 times these safe levels,’ he added.

‘Counterfeiters are getting better and better all the time which makes the industry all the more dangerous’

Read the full story: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2939936/High-Street-make-sale-containing-200-TIMES-safe-limit-chemicals-including-arsenic-lead-mercury-copper-cadmium.html#ixzz3RAJwt4MY

 

 

Young People Most Defrauded Jobseekers in Britain

 

Get Safe Online, Safer-Jobs and Action Fraud are warning young people to take precautions whilst looking for jobs online, to avoid falling victim to scammers. 

Figures from the City of London Police’s National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) – say that the most defrauded job-seekers were between the ages of 18 and 25, and those aged 23 are the most likely to fall victim to scams when job hunting online.

Mac-ComputerFurther examination of the figures shows that, on average, victims lose approximately £4,000 when they are scammed. Although scams that look to fraudulently secure £100 were the most successful, one victim reported losing £195,000. Over half (56%) of all defrauded job-seekers are based in London and 71% of job fraud scammers are suspected to be in London. Those next most at risk are living in Greater Manchester and the West Midlands.

There are a number of different ways in which job-seekers could be defrauded. These range from direct financial scams to misleading job descriptions.

Safer-Jobs, the recruitment industry’s counter fraud forum, provide free advice to ensure that people have a safer job search. They suggest several steps which a graduate- or any other job seeker – should take when dealing with a potential employer:

  1. Never part with money – employers should pay you, not the other way round. If asked to pay for security checks, visas, training, or anything else, you should research the job, the company, and never use any associated company suggested to you without conducting independent thorough research.
  2. Never take it on face value– have you received an ‘out of the blue’, ‘too good to be true’ job offer? Be sceptical and ask questions. Why and how have you been contacted, what is the job, did you apply? Be wary of any non-business, generic email address (such as hotmail and yahoo), poorly written job adverts or job descriptions, and emails or contact at unusual times of the day (unless pre-arranged).
  3. Never do everything online – whilst technology is a great enabler to help people find work, at some point your job discussion should lead to an interview or a meeting. Hiring agents who keep the relationship solely on email must be treated extremely cautiously.
  4. Never fail to do research – find out about the company that the job is with and do your research! Check landline telephone numbers and call the end employer to check the job exists. Use social media and sources such as Companies House and LinkedIn to dig deeper into the organisations and people you are interacting with.
  5. Never phone them for an interview – premium rate phone scams are common. This is where an individual calls a pay-for number thinking it’s an interview, when actually they are paying for every minute they stay on hold. If an employer wants you to work for them, they will call you.
  6. Never accept money for nothing – with money mule scams on the increase, beware of any employer promising ‘get rich quick’ or ‘earn thousands working from home’. When cheques begin arriving it is easy to be fooled into being used as a money mule.
  7. Never provide personal details– be suspicious of any requests for personal data ahead of an interview or registration meeting (if an agency). Until you have the job, keep bank details safe and only provide identity details once you have met face to face.

What to look out for:

Registration information for most websites can be checked through a ‘WHOIS’ search, such as the Nominet’s WHOIS tool which shows the name and address given by the registrant for websites in the UK domain. The company is unlikely to be reputable and well-established if the website has only recently been registered, or the registrant is a named individual, particularly one who wishes to withhold his address, or declares they are “non-trading”. In such a case, you should be extremely cautious about having financial dealings.

Chief Executive of Get Safe Online, Tony Neate, commented: “It’s a difficult time for job-seeking students as the statistics tell us that few of them will leave university or college with a job secured. The process of finding work in such a crowded environment can be frustrating and, for many, an element of desperation will set in. Unfortunately, these are exactly the conditions that scammers like to operate in”.

Pauline Smith, Head of Action Fraud, commented: “Jobseekers are often willing to do almost anything to obtain work; fraudsters harness this enthusiasm and manipulate their victims. If you’re looking for a job, bear in mind that not all advertised roles are genuine, don’t be afraid to ask questions of the potential employer and certainly don’t be frightened to say “no”. If you think you have been a victim of fraud or that someone is trying to defraud you, always report it to Action Fraud.”

Read more on the Get Safe Online website.

Please note: Action Fraud is not responsible for the content on external websites.

If you are a victim of fraud you can call Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or use our online fraud reporting tool and receive a police crime reference number

http://www.actionfraud.police.uk/news/young-people-most-defrauded-jobseekers-in-britain-feb15

 

 

Three Arrested on Suspicion of Selling Fake Justin Bieber and 1D Merchandise Following a Surelock Tipoff

The Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU), which is part of the City of London Police, has dismantled a suspected crime network believed to have been running a mini counterfeiting factory producing and selling clothing carrying the names and logos of famous musicians.

The early morning operation resulted in the arrest of a man and a woman at their east London home and a second man at the factory where the discovery of machinery, printing gear, ink and thousands of t-shirts was made .

fake3The gang are believed to have made up to £100,000 in profit selling a range of clothing bearing artists name that include Nirvana, Obey, Superman, Motorhead and Justin Bieber, all of which are protected under trademark licenses.

Following a referral to PIPCU by Surelock (a global investigation and security consultancy) in March 2014 detectives made a series of test purchases, linking a number eBay and PayPal accounts involved in the sale of counterfeit goods to the suspects.

The two men, aged 38 and 32, and the one woman, aged 22, were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud, money laundering, possession of articles to be used in fraud and offences under the trademark act.

Two were questioned at a City of London Police station before being later released on bail until August. The third is due to be interviewed in the coming days.

fake2Detective Sergeant Kevin Kirton, who led the investigation for PIPCU, said:

“Today’s operation has shown once again that PIPCU will come down hard on anyone we suspect of being involved in the production and distribution of digital or hard counterfeit goods.

“It is vitally important for businesses that they can trade in the UK in a market place that is a fair and level playing field for all. Anyone who we believe is seeking to compromise this market place and make criminal capital out of other people’s hard work runs the risk of receiving an early morning visit from PIPCU.”

 

fake1If you have unknowingly bought fake goods you can report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or at www.actionfraud.police.uk.

 

If you suspect someone is selling counterfeit goods you can report it anonymously to Crimestoppers at https://crimestoppers-uk.org/ or by calling 0800 555 111.

The True Cost of a ‘Faux’ Designer Wardrobe

What used to be seen as an impulse holiday buy, has brought a dangerous reality to our shores.

Designer knock offs and counterfeit goods have always been a problem for the original designer, having to battle off the competition. However now, according to Interpol, counterfeiting operations pose a real threat. Whilst you may not think there is anything wrong with buying a fake Gucci bag off a market stall, it often has larger consequences.

fake2The main problem lies with counterfeit goods not imitations. So what is the difference? Imitation goods or ‘designer-inspired’ are legal knock offs of a designer product. The item will not be an exact copy and have slight differences to the original such as the stitching, the logo, materials, and lining. Moreover, if you’re buying a Louis Vuitton bag for £25 on a market stall, chances are it is a fake!

Counterfeit items are fake products being advertised or sold as the real thing. The exact definition of a counterfeit product is one that is “made in exact imitation of something valuable with the intention to deceive or defraud”. Earlier this year, business secretary Vince Cable called for a global approach to tackling counterfeit operations. This is due to many counterfeiting operations being used as funding for criminal or terrorist organisations. Whilst counterfeit clothing cannot be seen as dangerous as counterfeit cigarettes for example, as it does not directly harm the consumer, somewhere along the production line, people are harmed – whether it is during the manufacture violating human rights and child labour laws, or the profits funding drug cartels and terrorist groups.

Some counterfeiting operations are so widespread that it can be hard to spot a fake, only a trained eye can spot the differences. The items are manufactured to a relatively high level of quality for fake, and can be sold for high prices. For example, a counterfeit Rolex can be sold for $100 online.

One could argue that being a student you cannot afford luxury designer goods, shown on the catwalks each year – but does that justify buying into this illegal trade?

Luxury designer companies claim the fashion industry is losing millions each year to counterfeit products. However, another spin on the argument by fashion houses is that imitations seen on the high-street are reducing their profits. Forever 21 has allegedly been sued over 50 times for copying designer clothes and selling them as their own designs! Most high-street chains, such as Zara and Topshop, copy the looks off the catwalks and recreate them in a more ‘mainstream’ way for consumers as ‘inspired’ copies.

Valentino's Rockstud Heels

However, once watching a few designer catwalks, you can easily spot the high-street designs closed to the originals. For example, the hugely popular Rockstud collection by Valentino has created imitations in most shops. This pair of shoes in New Look has an uncanny resemblance to the So Noir 65 Pump design.

Is it morally right to buy an crude imitation just to wear the latest trends?

It can be argued that all catwalk shows set the trends for each season of fashion so imitations are going to appear in the shops – that is the hierarchy of the fashion industry. The problem arises when counterfeit or exact copies are sold for finical gain. Criminal or not, neither should profit off a designers’ hard work.

So next time you go to buy a fake Gucci bag for £30, imagine that was your hard work being ripped off and think about the consequences of your purchase…

Written By: Daisy Holden

Featured Image From: Favim.com

Original article: http://www.redbrick.me/lifestyle/fashion/the-true-cost-of-a-faux-designer-wardrobe/

 

 

 

 

Pop Star Rihanna Wins Legal Battle

Singer Rihanna has won a legal battle against high street store Topshop over a T-shirt bearing her image.

The Court of Appeal in London upheld a ban on the store selling a sleeveless T-shirt featuring a photo of the star without obtaining her permission.

In the first successful celebrity case of its kind, three appeal judges agreed marketing the item without Rihanna’s approval amounted to “passing off”.

In other words, the unauthorised image was damaging to Rihanna’s brand.

The star sued Topshop’s parent company Arcadia for $5m (£3.3m) back in 2013 over the T-shirts, which featured a photo taken during a video shoot in 2011.

RihannaIn his ruling in July 2013, Mr Justice Birss found some buyers would have been deceived into buying the top because of a “false belief” it had been approved by the singer.

He said it was damaging to her “goodwill” and represented a loss of control over Rihanna’s reputation in the “fashion sphere”.

Topshop lawyers had urged the appeal judges – Lord Justice Richards, Lord Justice Kitchin and Lord Justice Underhill – to rule that Mr Justice Birss had misunderstood the law on celebrity merchandising.

Geoffrey Hobbs QC argued the court was dealing with a “decorated T-shirt” similar to merchandise featuring images of stars such as Elvis Presley, Jimi Hendrix and Prince.

Mr Hobbs suggested Rihanna was using the law wrongly to claim “only a celebrity may ever market his or her own character”.

Topshop lawyers had previously argued there was “no intention to create an appearance of an endorsement or promotion”.

All three judges unanimously dismissed the appeal.

More at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-30932158

Two Jailed for Selling Counterfeit Goods in A Bit of Magic

A man selling fake perfumes, pocketing over £120,000, has been jailed for 16 months.

Patrick Morris, 65, operated his online knock-down-priced business “a-bit-of magic.co.uk” from his home in Deal.

Alongside him in the counterfeit con was godson James Cumming, 42, who described himself as an online shop manager.

Cumming was jailed alongside Morris for six months when they appeared at Canterbury Crown Court on 21 January 2015, for their conspiracy to falsely use trademarks.

Morris sourced the goods – men’s and women’s fragrances, hair straighteners, audio goods, ‘Ugg’ boots and children’s backpacks – from China.

Morris had around 5,000 customers using his website which was set up in 2011.

During 2012, Kent County Council Trading Standards received numerous complaints that the business was selling fake products.

Following undercover test purchases by Kent Trading Standards, which were then sent off for tests and confirmed to be fake, Kent Trading Standards visited Morris’ home in Wellington Parade on 8 November 2012 where more than 500 goods were seized, including two laptops and an iPhone.

A selection of the counterfeit goods being sold online
A selection of the counterfeit goods being sold online

 

The estimated value of the seized goods belonging to Morris was in the region of £11,533 – £12,566 based on his selling price obtained from business records.

The goods seized included well-known brands such as Chanel, Dior, Dolce and Gabanna, Paco Rabanne.

GHD hair straighteners and audio goods purporting to be Bose, Beats and Pioneer were also bagged.

It is estimated that the real brands lost out on around £360,000 worth of legitimate business.

Trading Standards manager Mark Rolfe said: “Kent County Council’s Trading Standards has put paid to these criminal entrepreneurs who were defrauding consumers and legitimate businesses.

“Those who deal in counterfeit goods can expect to be prosecuted and can face prison sentences as a result.”

“All the goods seized were confirmed by the trademark holders as being counterfeit. Because the goods were fake, there were safety concerns over the electrical goods and fragrances which are required to comply with European safety legislation.”

“There is the safety risk to consumers of using products which are not genuine and therefore the quality of them and their safety is not known.”

“The scale of offending was such that the gross profit from the business amounted to over £120,000, with in excess of 5,000 consumers buying from the website.”

Surelock carried out the authentication of some of the perfumes following the seizure by Trading Standards

http://www.kentonline.co.uk/deal/news/fake-perfume-ploy-leads-pair-to-jail-30590/

Man Jailed for Importing Stun Guns and for Trade Mark Offences

In July 2014 Aaron Davies of East Preston, West Sussex was convicted by the jury at the end of a two day trial at Chichester Crown Court of all counts of offences under the Trade Marks Act.  Sentencing was adjourned until the outcome of a Police trial in respect of weapons (stun guns) found and seized at the same time as the counterfeit goods.  Mr Davies was also convicted at this trial on 9th January 2015.

Mr Davies was sentenced to five and a half years in respect of the weapons and an additional 9 months for each count of the Trade Marks offences to run concurrently.

An Order for forfeiture and destruction of the goods was also made.

Surelock carried out authentication examinations on some of the seized counterfeit items.

More at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-30750809

 

 

 

Worthing eBay Seller Prosecuted for Selling Counterfeit Tee Shirts

Mr Joseph David Walker of Worthing was prosecuted on Friday 9th January 2015 in Worthing Magistrates Court for the manufacture, possession and sale of counterfeit tee shirts bearing Led Zeppelin and ACDC etc. trade marks. He pleaded guilty and received a fine of £2,500, costs of £1,324.76 and a £50 victim surcharge.

Mr Walker was offering these items for sale on his eBay page and he sold two tee shirts (one to a Trading Standards Officer and one to a brand holder). When Officers visited Mr Joseph David Walker’s address and executed a warrant, they found him in possession of such items too.

Surelock initially brought this case to the attention of West Sussex Trading Standards.