Shoppers get fakes warning
Shoppers hear some of shocking tales behind fake products
A MASSIVE haul of fake handbags, cigarettes and boots has gone on display in a shopping centre.
Police organised the display to warn the public about purchasing counterfeit goods. A spokesman said: “This was a great way to engage with the public and warn of the dangers.”
A HOARD of counterfeit goods went on display as part of a safer communities campaign.
Fake handbags, cigarettes and boots went on show at Clydebank Shopping Centre as part of a joint operation between Police Scotland, Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT), Trading Standards and the Anti-Counterfeit Group (ACG).
Police pointed out counterfeit handbags and clothes are inferior quality and are often made in factories abroad that operate with forced labour, including children.
And fake UGG boots are made from the fur of Raccoon dogs but, due to the difference in quality and for speed, the dogs are mass bred in China and then skinned alive.
There was also a demonstration of tipping a wine bottle upside to show if there were bubbles in the alcohol, which showed it was most likely to contain other products such as screen wash.
Police Scotland’s message was that harmful ingredients included in these fake products should not be underestimated.
The bargains are said to be not worth the risk as many products could potentially put a life in danger.
A police spokesman said: “This was a great way to engage with the public and warn them of the dangers.
“I think it was a total eye open- er for a l ot of people who attended.”
In 2014 approximately £24million-worth of counterfeit and illicit goods were collected in Scotland.
Chief Inspector Kenny Thomson from Police Scotland’s Specialist Crime Division said: “Counterfeit goods and illicit trade have links to organised crime and we are focused on tar- geting these people who put harmful products into our communities for their own gain.
“All they care about is making money – they don’t care about the consequences of selling these products.”
“It is known that the people selling these goods are often using the cash to fund other crimes such as drug dealing, human trafficking and money laundering.”