Our charity warns not to short-circuit safety for a bargain when buying knock-off toys and electronics

With Christmas fast approaching, in a new campaign we're warning not to put children or yourself at risk by buying fake toys or electronics.

You may think you're being money savvy and getting a good deal; however, more than 80 per cent of counterfeit products tested by the Government recently failed safety checks.*
 
‘Fake toys’ often contain toxic chemicals and are typically made from low quality materials, which can have loose parts or sharp edges. Counterfeit electronics are prone to overheating, catching fire, giving electric shocks and exploding.
 
When you buy these hazardous, sub-par goods, you are not only putting the health of your loved ones and yourself at risk, but you're also unknowingly supporting illegal and criminal activities, such as child labour, human trafficking and organised serious crime.
 
Do you know who is sourcing and selling fake goods? You can tell Crimestoppers what you know and remain 100% anonymous - guaranteed. No one will ever know that you got in touch with us - we are independent of the police.

 

How to spot fake toys and electronics

1. Low price: an incredibly low price is the most common giveaway. If it looks too good to be true, that's because it probably is. 
2. Safety label: check for the UK Conformity Assessed (UKCA) or CE (Conformité Européenne) safety certification label. If you cannot see this, it is highly likely that the product is fake.
    
   
3. Product listing: does the product listing use low quality imaging? Are there spelling mistakes?  
4. Look at reviews: read through reviews of the seller and the products they sell. Check to see if they have a track record of selling toys or electronics. If not, be wary. 
5. Age labelling and warnings on toys: ensure that the labelling of the toy is appropriate for the age of the child that it's for. Also check for relevant warnings; for example, toys for babies should clearly state ‘not suitable for under 3s’.  
6. Packaging: look at the packaging. Does it look genuine? Is the spelling correct? Are there warnings and labels in the correct language? 

“We know that at first glance, fake toys and electronics may look similar to the genuine products and you may think you're buying what appears to be a good bargain. The reality is far from the truth.
 
“If something seems too good to be true, it most likely is not. Genuine products always undergo rigorous testing to ensure they are safe to use. Counterfeit goods do not, and when you buy these products, you are putting your loved ones and yourself at serious risk and you are unknowingly supporting criminal activity.

“When you spot the warning signs for fake products or if you know who may be involved in selling and sourcing these items, protect yourself and those close to you by telling Crimestoppers what you know, 100% anonymously.
 
“Our charity has kept its promise of anonymity for over three decades and exists to ensure that everyone is empowered to speak up and stop crime, safe in the knowledge that we never know your identity. Complete an anonymous online form or call us on freephone 0800 555 111, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Nobody will know you contacted us, only you.”
 
David Crawley, Crimestoppers Director of Business Growth & Fundraising 

* Chartered Trading Standards Institute ‘Government testing confirms UK has become a dumping ground for unsafe products’ 25.8.23  

This campaign is being run in partnership with the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU), the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) and supported by Amazon. This is the third phase of a year-long national campaign, which offers useful signs to spot that a product is fake. The first phase of the campaign covered counterfeit beauty products and the second phase looked at counterfeit fashion.

Amazon is supporting the campaign as part of their efforts to ensure that counterfeiters are held accountable, stopping them from abusing Amazon’s stores, or other retailers across the industry.