Consumers warned not to buy counterfeit electrical items

Consumers in the UK are being urged by Trading Standards officers not to give in to temptation when it comes to buying cheap counterfeit goods such as hair straighteners and other electrical items.
It has been reported recently that there has been an increase in the number of people that are paying money to get their hands on cheap counterfeit goods, including electrical items such as hair straighteners. However, Trading Standards officers are now expressing their concern over this growing trend, and fear that it could get worse as the recession hits consumers’ pockets.
According to a report released by Trading Standards recently the counterfeit market now accounts for around fifteen percent of global trade. Over recent years the UK market has seen a wide range of counterfeit goods go on sale, including fake GHD hair straighteners which were proven to be dangerous and could cause serious burns.
There are many other counterfeit products that consumers are buying in order to save money, including DVDs, designer clothes and jewellery, CDs, and watches. However, the concern of Trading Standards officers lies with the potentially dangerous or even lethal products such as electrical items, medicines, and toys.
One officer from Trading Standards stated: “There is a lot of publicity around counterfeit watches, designer clothes, CDs and DVDs, but consumers and businesses should also be aware of fake electrical installation goods which pose a real risk to the health and safety to people, and damage to property. These fake products will always be sub-standard and have caused fatalities.”
Over recent months authorities in a number of places around the UK have issued warnings over fake hair straighteners that have been sold at knock down prices, but have then proven ineffective and have even caused serious burns to the user.
Source – http://news.bbc.co.uk