Consumers warned of dangerous counterfeit goods sold via social media

CONSUMERS have been warned about the growing threat of dangerous counterfeit goods sold via social media platforms and other online portals.

National Trading Standards (NTS) said fraudsters’ clever use of digital technologies was behind a number of emerging threats to consumers, such as selling fake items through social media where it is easier to conceal identities and disguise contact details.

NTS also said it increasingly saw criminals disguising themselves as well-known brands before luring users to their external sites with low prices, in its overview of the key threats and activity its teams have dealt with over the past year.

The continuing expansion of online marketplaces is also expected to lead to a growth in the number of “micro-importers” in the UK who order goods for onward sale, which has been behind seizures of dangerous fake electrical products.

The report said work intercepting criminal scams had saved consumers an estimated £93 million over the last year and resulted in 77 criminals convicted and collectively sentenced to 161 years’ worth of jail time.

NTS chairman Lord Toby Harris said: “Our work is making inroads into criminal activity, but we know that in many cases this is just tackling the tip of the iceberg.

“Scams today can reach more people than ever before as criminals manipulate digital technology and online platforms to access a larger pool of potential victims.

“We’ve published this report today to help consumers and businesses identify potential cases of fraud and to encourage people to be on the lookout – both for online scams but also for criminals that continue to prey on people in vulnerable situations.”

Consumer minister Margot James said: “We fund National Trading Standards to help protect people from dangerous goods, counterfeit products and sub-standard services, whether through social media scammers or rogue door-step traders.

“The Consumer Harm Report is a valuable piece of work, helping to educate and inform those most at risk. I welcome the robust action taken by National Trading Standards highlighted in the report, which has saved consumers millions of pounds.”

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