Have you ever strolled down to your local market on a Saturday morning for 10 oranges and a bag of spuds only to be greeted by more bling than would be found in Paris Hilton's boudoir? Yes their everywhere; Dior jewels, Louis Vuitton tote bags and Gucci shoes at fantastic knock-down prices. "But how come the prices are so low?", we here you cry. Well, the fact of the matter is that we're surrounded by fakes.



Foreign fakes

If you're shocked by the amount of counterfeit goods that are available on your doorstep you would be even more taken-a-back if you ventured to the Far East. The markets in Thailand and China are packed with goods that don't necessarily come with validation certificates. In fact, fake goods are such money spinners that countries such as China thrive on them and Chinese fakes account for no less than 10% of all world trade.

A by-product of a computerised age

Research by the Alliance Against Intellectual Property Theft (AAIPT) has revealed that the internet is also a major source of fake designer goods and pirated DVDs. This means that the problem is becoming more wide-spread, easily accessible and is increasing the risk of harm to duped consumers.

Specifically, scammers may sell an array of goods that are advertised as the genuine article via internet auction sites like eBay, only to end up with a lawsuit or injury claim being made against them as a result of the faulty, fake product they sold.

Real-life fakes

The types of fake goods most commonly found on the market which could cause you serious personal injury include:

Electrical goods: bogus mobile phone batteries, hair straightners, radio control cars and alike have been known to explode as a result of faulty connections, bad wiring and other electrical malfunctions, causing burn injuries to consumers.

Make-up and perfume: fake perfumes have been known to be mixed with urine. Similarly, imitations of designer make-ups such as Clinique, Chanel and Estee Lauder may also be made with skin irritants.

Alcohol: some counterfeit spirits can contain exceedingly high amounts of methanol that can cause kidney failure and there have been cases reported where people have died when poisoned by fake vodka.

Cigarettes: tests carried out on a batch of fake cigarettes seized in London during 2002 showed that 75% more tar, 28% more nicotine and 36% more carbon monoxide were contained than there would be in the brand they were emulating.

Clothing and footwear: counterfeit designer shoes may look very pretty but they are unlikely to have quality of craftsmanship go into them. Also, fake trainers which are made without proper support could cause ankle injuries.

Fake-watch

The Anti-Counterfeiting Group offers the following advice on how to tell what is the real thing and what's not.

Firstly, they suggest that you always examine the quality and cleanliness of bottles and labels on all products you buy. Look closely for spelling errors and inconsistencies with brand logos and designs.

Secondly, they recommend that you should make sure that toys, foods, drinks and toiletries come in their original sealed packaging and that goods bought for children are from reputable shops.

You can't fake these costs

According to AAIPT, counterfeiting costs the British economy a total of £9 billion every year. These costs are mainly associated with lost tax revenue and do not even consider the outlay of injury claims resulting from fake goods.

The DVD, music, computer game, computer software, clothing and accessory industries are those most financially affected by fakes. Specifically, the music industry lost £654 million during 2003 and 2004 due to illegal downloading and major new films that are released on DVD lose 20-30% in sales as a result of illegal copying.

Also, you may be surprised to discover that in buying counterfeit goods we are lining the pockets of a vast criminal network. Ruth Orchard of the Anti-Counterfeiting Group says, "There are proven links between counterfeiting and piracy and drugs smuggling, money laundering and terrorism."

This may mean that although we can get a lookalike Gucci bag that usually retails at about £1,000 for a mere snip at £10, our consumer habits could be financially contributing towards criminal activity that puts the lives of many at serious risk.

What action can be taken?

In France it is against the law to own fake products and perpetrators can land themselves a hefty fine if caught flaunting their fake goods. Organisations, such as the AAIPT and the Anti-Counterfeiting Group, are campaigning that we both introduce a similar law in the UK and increase public awareness about the dark-side associated with fake goods.

Any retailer who is trading fake goods and trying to pass them off as the real McCoy, such as a bar owner selling fake vodka which contains pure methylated spirits, could face charges from Trading Standards, face having an injury claim made against them and even face serious criminal charges, such as manslaughter, if their negligence plays a part in a customer's fatality.

It is likely that you won't find a trace of the manufacturer of any fake goods you have bought and if there is the slightest whiff of trouble concerning that fake CK One you purchased last week, you can be sure that your local dodgy market stallholder will have run for the hills. However, you may still be able to employ the help of a personal injury solicitor who can advise you on how to make an injury claim.

This article may be published on another website free of charge, on the condition that a link is provided from this article to our website: http://www.the-claim-solicitors.co.uk