On the eve of “Black Friday”, “Cyber Monday” and the end-of-year holidays, Unifab – the French anti-counterfeiting association – shares the effects and consequences of counterfeiting and make us aware of the principle of good business online.
THE FIRST VICTIM IS YOU!
The atmosphere is festive, the end of the year brings all its share of happiness and excitement. Offers on Internet are flourishing at prices that defy all competition. You can have the impression that the world of consumption is available to you, during this Black Friday by following the customs of this tradition which comes straight from the USA, by finding products at low prices to save money.
Make no mistake and remain vigilant about the good deals to be had. If the bearded man dressed in red offers you the item of your dreams but it turns out to be a fake, the gift received can very quickly become synonymous with an unpleasant surprise…
- You are sick – counterfeiting never corresponds to the standards in force to preserve the health of consumers.
- You have put yourself in danger – the materials used to make the fake products are low quality and unreliable they can deteriorate at any time and harm the user.
- You have financed criminal networks which take advantage of the profits received from the sale of these illegal products to finance other mafia activities.
- You have a broken fake product – authenticity is the result of a long research and development process. Stemming from creation and innovation, an authentic item is a guarantee of durability and quality.
- You have lost your job – counterfeiting is responsible for the loss of 38,000 jobs in France and causes 6.7 billion euros in lost direct sales and 1.34 billion in uncollected tax revenue in France.
- You have contributed to the pollution of earth – Counterfeiting reveals a disastrous carbon footprint, in particular through the remote geography and the manufacturing and the multiplication of journeys to cover the tracks, this manufacturing is at the origin of massive spills of toxic products into nature.
- You must be aware, responsible and have simple reflexes, keeping in mind that fake products harm your safety, your health, as well as our country’s economy. In addition to being illegal, these items are dangerous and the cause of many domestic accidents because the materials used in their manufacture are of poor quality.
COUNTERFEITING ONLINE
Internet, considered one of the main suppliers of counterfeits, offers a multitude of offers of all kinds. Counterfeiting is THE most popular market for criminals who do not hesitate to use it to finance other illegal activities such as prostitution, the purchase of weapons, drugs and terrorism (as demonstrated by Unifab report Counterfeiting and terrorism, as well as the recently launched organized crime campaign).
It is also a powerful obstacle for companies, which are a source of innovation and creativity, through the theft of their image, the shape of their products or their names. To combat this phenomenon, companies deploy such significant financial resources that some may be in danger.
The counterfeiter does not feel concerned about the planet, he does not respect any standards intended to protect the environment. Pollution and degradation are the least of his worries, the toxic elements he uses are a good demonstration of this, such as: radio active elements to make the hands of a watch shine, dyes too loaded with lead, medications dubious products that do not contain active ingredients, unapproved preservatives in perfumes, toxic glues, etc., so many examples that can constitute a real danger.
When you buy a counterfeit online, you attach your personal data to your order such as your credit card number, your address, your identity, etc. All information that counterfeiters can use for their benefit.
Buying counterfeits amounts to guaranteeing the loss of more than 38,000 jobs and 6.7 billion in income in France every year! And what’s more, you pay taxes that counterfeiters don’t pay…
SOME ADVICE TO SAY A RESPONSIBLE E-CONSUMER:
- The price is a good indicator, if it is too attractive it seems suspicious. Especially when a product is in vogue.
- Spelling and grammatical errors on sites, contact sections, legal notices, general conditions of sale, etc. are proof.
- The site on which you are about to buy your product must be approved, some brands use a selective distribution network and list them on their official website, so it is easy to find them to be sure.
- Some companies do not sell on the Internet, you must therefore find out by searching online and in particular on their official page. If we notice that the brand itself does not sell on its own site, there is little chance that this will be the case on others that do not belong to it.
- You must be vigilant about the quality of the site you are looking for and the after-sales service which must ensure any defect or problem with the product. If there isn’t, that’s not normal.
- Certain sectors are highly regulated and subject to specific constraints. You cannot find medicines, foods, drinks, etc. on just any platform.
- The e-reputation of the seller is also essential, especially on online sales sites. You have to do research to obtain proof that the seller is in good faith. Sometimes when you ask a question about the origin of the product, the quality of the answer is revealing.
- Searching for and accessing legal download platforms when you want to watch a film, listen to music or read a book is simple.
- Checking the security level of the site, mainly for payment, is important to avoid being duped and having your personal data stolen.