Police Scotland is warning of the hidden dangers of shopping online after consumers’ details were used to set up websites selling counterfeit products. Officers are working with the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) on the need to ensure security while spending your cash online.
An animated game show based on cases investigated by Police Scotland has been developed to show the dangers of shopping online without taking proper steps to protect your security. This comes after a major brand identified around 2,700 websites on the .uk network selling counterfeit items of their goods. More than 200 of these sites were registered in Scotland. Victims had purchased the products, many believing they were genuine, and their details were then used to register websites on the .uk network. The products they had originally purchased through the internet were all from Asia.
Chief Superintendent John McKenzie, Head of Police Scotland’s Safer Communities, said: “As we move increasingly into a digital world, unfortunately so does serious organised crime. Members of our communities have unsuspectedly ended up with counterfeit products and become the ‘owners’ of criminal websites when making online purchases.
“The purchase of counterfeit products support serious organised crime groups, human trafficking and exploitation; it is not a victimless crime.”
The game show, Scam You!, will be promoted on Police Scotland’s social media channels.
Matthew Cope, Deputy Director of Intellectual Property Enforcement at the IPO said: “It’s shocking to see that personal information has been taken from consumers and used to set up websites selling counterfeit products. This emphasises how important it is to stay safe when shopping online and for consumers not to be tempted by the cheaper price of these products. Our advice is for consumers to take extra precautions and follow the guidance from Police Scotland on how to shop safely.
“It’s been great working on the Scam You! campaign with Police Scotland and we hope it highlights the serious risks involved in buying counterfeit products online in a light hearted way.”
For advice about staying safe while shopping online, visit getsafeonline.org.
