LONDON, Dec. 16 (People's Daily Online) —— Detectives from the City of London Police’sdedicated IP crime unit (PIPCU) arrested three people in morning raids and seized morethan 1,500 suspected fake goods on 9 Dec 2014 as part of a crackdown on counterfeitgoods being sold online in the lead up to Christmas.
The operations form part of the force’s current ‘12 online Frauds of Christmas’ campaignwhich has been rolled out across the country to protect millions of people from fallingvictim to cyber-fraudsters.
Detectives from PIPCU arrested a 31 year old man at his home on suspicion of sellingcounterfeit designer watches online following a referral from the Intellectual PropertyCrime Unit (IPCU).
Upon searching his home, officers found and seized around 1,500 suspected fake watchesfrom a range of top designer brands, which if sold at the genuine retail price are wortharound ￡1million.
In Leeds, the unit arrested a 26 year old man and a 28 year old woman at two residentialaddresses following a referral from the Anti-Counterfeiting Group (ACG), a tradeorganisation which represents rights holders in the branded goods sector.
The man and woman are suspected to be two of the UK’s top sellers on social media forcounterfeit designer goods. Approximately 150 suspected fake goods were seized from thetwo properties including designer shoes, handbags, clothes and watches.
They were taken to local police stations for questioning and cautioned by officers.
Head of PIPCU, DCI Danny Medlycott said: “We would urge anyone who thinks they haveunknowingly bought counterfeit goods this Christmas to report it to Action Fraud.”
Tim Mascall, Director of the IP Crime Unit said: “It is important for us all to rememberthat this not the victimless cottage industry that the counterfeiters would have us believe,but rather a well organised international criminal enterprise, often with links to other typesof serious crime.”
