Two Cosmetic Shops In Mong Kok Were Cracked Down
20 January 2015
Hong Kong Customs' Intellectual Property Investigation Bureau mounted a special raid operation and cracked down on two retail shops of a syndicate selling suspected counterfeit cosmetics on January 19, 2015. Two female salespersons, aged 17 and 23, were arrested.
Customs Officers seized about 100 items of suspected counterfeit cosmetic products with a total value of about $5,000 in the shop in Mong Kok, followed by customers' complaints of selling counterfeited cosmetics.
Upon investigation, Customs officers raided two shops yesterday afternoon. About 100 items of suspected counterfeit cosmetics were seized including lipstick, make-up remover pens, mascara and eye shadow. Two female salespersons were arrested.
The cosmetic products seized in the operation carried the same Korean brand name. Some of the products seized resembled those of a product line of the brand, but the package differed significantly from the original products. Some of the seized products were found to be not even produced by the original manufacturer.
Similar packaging to a product line of the brand was used to pack the goods and such counterfeit cosmetics were claimed to be limited edition in order to obtain a higher profit margin.
Customs advises consumers to purchase goods from the brand's own store or reputable shops. Prior to making a purchase decision, consumers should try to learn more about the product details such as the appearance and the packaging. Customs officers would conduct anti-counterfeit patrols in various districts and on the Internet.
Meantime, retailers should be prudent and should pay attention when sourcing goods and obtain their goods from reputable suppliers.
According to the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, anyone who sells or possesses for sale any goods to which a forged trademark is applied commits an offence. Upon conviction, offenders may be liable to a maximum fine of $500,000 and imprisonment of five years.
