BLACK FRIDAY
“DESIGNER bargains” on Instagram and Facebook could be funding drug dealers, people traffickers, gun runners and vice gangs.
Crooks are flogging fakes of highend goods by Gucci, Hermes, Chanel, Louis Vuitton and Prada on social media.
The rogue traders are ramping up their enterprises as Britain prepares for Christmas by offering tempting Black Friday deals – just like reputable retailers.
Trading standards bosses have revealed there are thousands of dodgy vendors selling counterfeit items. And they claim the trade lines the pockets of gangs.
A specialist unit is now working with Instagram and Facebook to close down the swindlers. Its officers are investigating dozens of dealers.
Mike Andrews of the National Trading Standards eCrime team said: “There are literally thousands of people on social media selling fake items but we are working hard to close them down.
“People may think they are buying a bargain from a chap down the road but, ultimately, the people shipping in these goods in bulk are organised gangs and the money filters through to activities like prostitution, guns and drugs.”
Traders also offer cut-price gear such as “Michael Kors” bags and purses for £25, or “Lacoste” shirts for £15 on Facebook local selling pages. They have moved on from flogging their dodgy wares on market stalls and at car boot sales where there was a greater chance of being caught. They now favour sites like Facebook, where unlike on eBay, listings are free and can be set up using an unregistered mobile phone.
Buyers place their orders and the fraudsters often offer home delivery or meet them in pub car parks to hand over purchases.
Mr Andrews also warned that counterfeit electrical goods such as GHD straighteners and hairdryers are sometimes unsafe and could kill. And fake designer perfume is often mixed with horse urine to give it the desired colour. Stars like Kerry Katona, inset, appear to have been caught out promoting fake gear on Instagram. She showed off a haul of goodies she had been sent including a “Louis Vuitton” shopper, “Chanel” purse and “Chanel” bag with a string. The whole lot would have cost more than £4,000 if bought direct from a designer store.
Kerry told her 67,000 followers: “Omg a big big thank you for my beautiful bags!!! Wow they really are amazing.” But fans pointed out that her collection came with a nasty-looking dust bag and the handbags had cheap plastic covers over the handles.
On the seller’s site the designer bags that appear fake sell for about £60. DODGY: Profile on Instagram sellIng various goods