Oxfordshire's Trading Standards team is warning people to be careful when purchasing gifts online in the run up to Christmas, as complaints in the county rise by 29 per cent compared to last year.
According to the Anti-Counterfeiting Group (ACG), with more people choosing to shop online more than £30bn is spent on goods bought over the internet in the UK, accounting for 20 per cent of all retail sales.
That opens the door to counterfeiters who are able to sell inferior products without worrying about the consequences. In Oxfordshire, Trading Standards said that they had received 60 complaints about counterfeit products since April 2011, of which half were purchase online.
A spokesperson for the service said there had been a particular increase in complaints over counterfeit alcohol, accessories and clothing. Last Christmas, the majority of complaints were about counterfeit UGG boots and GHD hair straighteners. In 2010, consumers paid an average of £71 for fake UGG boots and £72 for GHD straighteners, which were not only fake, but also found to be unsafe.
Richard Webb, acting head of the county's Trading Standards service, said: “It is so important that people protect themselves against being a victim of counterfeiters, especially since any form of redress is unlikely. If the purchase was paid for by credit card and was over £100, then the credit card company may be equally liable.
“Some of these websites are set up with a .co.uk domain name convincing consumers that it is UK-based. This is not always the case - anybody can set up a co.uk domain name and the first time consumers are aware that they have made a purchase from abroad is when the package is delivered from abroad.
"If you make a purchase from a fake site, complaints made to them are likely to be either ignored or they may charge for the return of the goods and still the consumer gets no redress. The brand holders of the genuine goods have no responsibility to consumers who purchase counterfeit goods – they don’t have to check the item and consumers are not entitled to a refund from them."
Trading Standards has also seized more than 100 bottles of counterfeit wine and vodka since April 2011. The wine is often rebottled cheap wine, provided with an expensive label and the vodka has a higher level of methanol, which can be harmful. Either way, consumers do not know what they are consuming, the unhygienic conditions they may have been rebottled or made in and the potential health risks.
Some shop owners say they have been sold counterfeit alcohol by a man claiming to be a local trader whose shop has had to close due to the current economic climate, and as a result is selling off stock at low prices.
Councillor Judith Heathcoat, Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet member for safer and stronger communities, said: “It’s nearly Christmas and everyone is preparing for the festivities and looking for those ideal gifts to make this time special. However, with this come risks for both consumers and some traders. Both should listen to the advice given to us by the Trading Standards team.
"Be extra vigilant when buying online and from unknown sources and always beware of offers that seem too good to be true. By using a combination of the above tips, you will be protecting yourself and your loved ones from financial and health harm and disappointment.”
