Fake computer printer cartridges seized
UK SEP 06
Trading
standards officers in North Lincolnshire have seized £15,000 worth of
counterfeit computer printer cartridges believed to have been made in
China, with false labels such as Epson, Canon, and Hewlett
Packard.Businesses and home computer users are being urged to be on
their guard if offered cheap brand cartridges following the raids in
Manchester, carried out with colleagues from Salford.North Lincolnshire
Council uncovered the scam and traced the supplier to Manchester where
a large number of the fake cartridges were found in a warehouse.A
further consignment was intercepted at Manchester Airport where it had
just arrived from China.Councillor Arthur Bunyan, North Lincolnshire
Council’s cabinet member for neighbourhood services, said: “This is a
very serious crime. It carries severe penalties. Trading standards
officers have uncovered thousands of pounds of counterfeit goods.”The
fake cartridges can seriously damage printers due to the inferior
quality and composition of the ink. They also lead to fading and poor
picture quality.”We urge businesses and customers to be on their guard
if offered cheap brand cartridges. And if anyone has any information
they should contact trading standards.”The fake cartridges were both
for home printers and business equipment. Trading standards officers
say they were being distributed throughout the UK.If convicted, the
offender could face ten years in jail and an unlimited fine, plus
seizure of the fake goods and recovery of any profits.