A police and customs bust this week opened the door on a new scam from the ever present world of counterfeit goods. Following a tip-off from Hong Kong police they seized a warehouse containing 3396 nine kilogram tubs of what looked like authentic OMO washing powder.
The Middle East crime squad arrested two importers and both were fined $ 25,000 when they appeared before a court. The powder in the tubs was completely useless for washing clothes but the counterfeit tub branding looked the real McCoy. These " bargains " were selling for $ 20 each at the markets and police estimate that the principals netted a profit of $ 32,000 before they were caught.
This is simply a new twist in the ongoing counterfeit saga. We are used to being offered dud watches with a supposed elite brand name and women's apparel is a prime target for dodgy labels on knockoffs from the famous fashion houses of the world. That is something we would expect when we shop at cut price markets, but the practice has been spreading to the high end world of reputable fashion stores.
This counterfeit world is simply a money risk when the goods disappoint and fail to perform to the level we expect, but it takes on a much more sinister tone when the counterfeiters move into the realm of medicinal products - and that has been a growing end of the counterfeit trade.
A search of the Internet produces a litany of offers of cut price drugs that purport to be a generic copy of the real thing. When the patent runs out on a drug developed by a reputable manufacturer it's competitors are free to manufacture that same formula and sell it at whatever price they wish - and we have become accustomed to this choice in our chemist shops.
Unfortunately, what is being offered on the Internet is completely unpoliced by any reputable authority to ensure that it is a genuine copy of a legitimate medical product. Like that counterfeit OMO washing powder, it can consist of entirely useless ingredients and it may be put together in someone's backyard with the sole intention of deceiving a gullible buyer.
Genuine medical products are usually expensive and the offer of a much cheaper alternative can be very tempting to those on limited incomes. The danger is that ceasing to take the genuine ingredient in a prescribed drug can be fatal if that is essential to treating the medical condition that person is suffering. The counterfeiter couldn't care less. Their only incentive is to make money !
That old adage - " Buyer Beware " - applies. Watches and washing powder can only disappoint but in the essential world of medication - authentication is an essential far in excess of price !
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