HP says its Anti-Counterfeiting and Fraud (ACF) program has helped to confiscate US$2.5 million in counterfeit supplies and delisted over 12,800 online sites in the past seven months across Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam and Singapore. For over 20 years, HP has partnered with local law enforcement across South East Asia to arrest counterfeit resellers.
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| Genuine HP holographic labels |
As consumers turn to online shopping, the risk associated with counterfeit supplies has increased, HP warned.
“Trade in counterfeit and pirated goods has risen steadily in the last few years, accounting for at least 3.3% of global trade. In South East Asia, the range of counterfeit goods being traded in the black market by organized crime syndicates has grown to include everything from ink and toner print supplies and automobile parts to handbags and alcohol, generating an estimated value up to USD$35.9 billion annually .
“Counterfeit ink and toner print supplies pose a serious threat to consumers and businesses alike. The use of unlawful counterfeit supplies can result in printer damage, malfunctions, and printer hardware warranties becoming void. More importantly, it can result in lost revenue and unnecessary downtime for consumers and businesses that many cannot afford.”
To identify counterfeit sellers, HP scours millions of online product listing pages across South East Asia and Korea – examining uses of the company's copyrighted imagery, trademarks and other unique identifiers. This helps to identify sellers who are deceiving customers as well as sellers pretending to be authorized resellers. When a seller is confirmed to be retailing counterfeit ink and toner supplies, they are reported to the online marketplaces who act on the information and remove the listings. Authorized online partners also work closely with HP to enhance brand protection and identify the origins of such products to ensure that consumer exposure to counterfeit ink and toner supplies is reduced.
From November 2019 to May 2020, over 12,800 listings were removed across South East Asia and Korea, of which 122 were from Singapore.
HP conducts regular checks and raids to reduce counterfeits in the supply chain. For over 20 years, HP has partnered with local law enforcement across South East Asia and Korea to arrest counterfeit resellers who prey on unsuspecting customers and partners both offline and online. In the last eight months, 72 counterfeit resellers have been arrested in raids where local seized items included finished and unfinished cartridges, packaging materials and various sets of labels.
For more on how to spot the fakes, click here.
