Hong Kong Customs yesterday (February 27) conducted an enforcement operation to combat the online sale of counterfeit cosmetics products, perfume and electric appliances with seizures of about 1 800 items of suspected counterfeit products with an estimated market value of about $330,000. A woman was arrested.
Customs earlier received information alleging that suspected counterfeit cosmetics products, perfume and electric appliances were offered for sale on an online shop of a social media platform. Customs officers then posed as customers and conducted test-purchases online. After an in-depth investigation with the assistance of trademark owners, Customs officers took enforcement action yesterday and raided an industrial building unit in Yuen Long and seized the suspected counterfeit products inside the unit. A 25-year-old woman suspected to be connected with the case was arrested.
An investigation is ongoing and the likelihood of further arrests is not ruled out. Also, Customs is looking into the source of the suspected counterfeit goods involved in the case and samples will be sent to the Government Laboratory for safety testing.
Customs reminds customers to purchase goods at reputable shops or online shops and to avoid conducting transaction with suspicious online shops. They should check with the trademark owners or their authorised agents if the authenticity of a product is in doubt.
Customs has been striving to protect consumer rights and carries out inspections in the market and on the Internet from time to time. Moreover, Customs officers make use of a big-data analytics system to conduct risk assessments and analyses to verify whether online shops complied with the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO) with a view to safeguarding the interests of consumers who make online purchases.
Under the TDO, any person who sells or possesses for sale any goods with a forged trademark commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.
Members of the public may report any suspected infringement activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).
Ends/Tuesday, February 28, 2023
