[ad_1]
Hundreds of listings for fake products have been removed from Instagram ahead of Black Friday in a partnership between Trading Standards and Meta.
Among the lists are electronic goods such as mobile devices and dangerous chargers, as well as counterfeit clothing and fashion items, jewelry, tobacco, auto parts and copyrighted images.
The closure – which is ongoing – comes after a poll found more than a quarter of UK consumers are considering or planning to buy fake products this year.
Almost two in five (37%) said they wanted to buy gifts in the same way as last Christmas, with Trading Standards warning that consumers could be tempted to buy unknowingly overpriced products cheap but safe.
Electronic devices such as smartphones, tablets or laptops and accessories such as headphones and earphones are among the items that consumers looking for fake goods will buy this year, according to the vote.
But Trading Standards warned that the quality was poor and “very dangerous”.
A previous study by First Safe Electronics found that 98% of fake Apple chargers failed security tests.
Home Office figures show around 10 house fires in the UK every day are caused by faulty appliances and leads.
Mike Andrews, national co-ordinator for the National Trading Standards eCrime team, said: “Removing fraudulent content from Instagram will keep families safe this Christmas.
“Buying fakes may seem like a bad way to get what you want for less, but counterfeiting is not an innocent crime. Besides the lack of quality, electronic goods fakes pose a fire hazard, and counterfeit toys pose a danger to children because criminals ignore safety standards.”
Electrical Safety First chief executive Lesley Rudd said: “We are urging people to be alert to counterfeit goods. It may sound good but the cost of buying fake electrical goods could be when you or a loved one gets electrocuted or starts a fire in your home.
[ad_2]
Source link