Fake Apple accessories, Chanel earrings and Beats headphones are among counterfeit items seized in the Winnipeg area this year. (BEN SINGER / METRO WINNIPEG)
Manitoba RCMP are doing their best to ensure the public is educated when it comes to counterfeit commercial items during the holiday shopping season.
Mounties showed off a slew of counterfeit products to the media on Tuesday, with some of the most common fake goods, include designer apparel and audiovisual products such as DVDs. The RCMP has also encountered counterfeit toothpaste, chainsaws, hockey and bicycle helmets, light fixtures, automobile parts, circuit breakers, pharmaceuticals, shampoo, batteries, jewelry, and the list goes on.
“There is no guarantee that counterfeit goods have gone through any kind of inspection, meet any quality standards,” said Corporal John Montgomery of the RCMP’s Federal Enforcement Section, “And there is no guarantee they do not contain dangerous materials.”
How to spot counterfeit items (the 4 P’s):
- Package: Examine the packaging and look for spelling errors or shoddy appearance.
- Price: If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
- Place: Buy from reputable retailers and use extra diligence when purchasing items through the Internet.
- Product: Is the quality and appearance of the product satisfactory?
