Counterfeit products seized by RCMP.
The RCMP Federal Enforcement Section has a mandate to enforce about 270 federal statutes including the Copyright Act, and the Criminal Code for trademark offences. The RCMP works closely with its partners including Canada Border Services Agency, Health Canada, and the private sector to secure the Canadian supply chain and protect the integrity of commercial trade within Canada.
The most common counterfeited products are designer apparel and audio video products such as DVD’s. With the NHL expansion in Winnipeg, 2011 saw an increase in counterfeit hockey jerseys. The RCMP has also encountered counterfeit perfume, satellite equipment, sports jerseys, bicycle helmets, light fixtures, automobile parts, circuit breakers, pharmaceuticals, shampoo, batteries, and jewelry.
Between 2009 and 2011, the RCMP seized in excess of $56.6 million worth of goods. The sale of these counterfeit items directly impacts legitimate businesses, contributes to the underground economy and ultimately supports organized crime. This figure does not include seizures and investigations undertaken by other law enforcement agencies in Canada, such as Provincial and Municipal Police Services.
Tips and indicators to help consumers detect counterfeit products:
• If the price is too good to be true, it’s likely fake. Compare prices.
• Be wary of shopping online. Do your due diligence on the company you are dealing with. Ask questions on the return policy.
• If shopping online, be aware that the item(s) shown in a picture may be genuine, but what you see may not be what you receive.
• You pay for what you get. High-end items, particularly in women’s fashion, should reflect the designer quality. Counterfeit items often have sub standard material craftsmanship.
• Watch for packaging. Often times the packaging has been tampered with, products normally sold in packages are being sold individually.
• If you note spelling mistakes on the product or packaging, it’s likely counterfeit.
Counterfeit products are not tested and do not meet any safety standards. These products can lead to serious personal injuries, even death. With the Christmas shopping season well underway, it is important that consumers be aware of counterfeit items or “knock offs” and the health and safety risks that these items pose.
“One of the problems that many consumers don’t think about is the safety aspect” advises Cpl. John Montgomery of the RCMP’s Federal Enforcement Section. “There is no guarantee that counterfeit goods have gone through any kind of inspection or meet any quality standards, and there is no guarantee that they do not contain dangerous materials”.
Dealing in counterfeit products is against the law and anyone found committing these offences is liable to face severe criminal penalties including substantial fines, and terms of imprisonment for up to 5 years.
If anyone has any information on counterfeit products, they are asked to call their local RCMP Detachment or the RCMP Federal Enforcement Section at (204) 983-1189.
