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Was your Purchase the Deal of the Century or a Scam? CSA Group Offers Tips for Recognizing Counterfeit Products During Fraud Prevention Month
February 24, 2016 Toronto Thousands of Canadians unknowingly purchase counterfeit products every single year, putting them at risk of potentially serious injuries, illnesses or even death. March is International Fraud Prevention Month and CSA Group, a leader in public safety, testing and certification, wants to offer Canadians tips and tools to spot counterfeit goods and help protect themselves from becoming fraud victims. Counterfeit products are often associated with consumer goods like watches and bags, but fake products have been found in every industry. In the US and Europe in 2015 counterfeit goods worth more than two billion US dollars were seized. [1] With the growth of online sales, new avenues have become available for counterfeiters. As counterfeiters become more techsavvy, it is becoming harder to track them down. “We are seeing counterfeit products in everything from prescription pill bottles to construction materials and car parts and the trend is growing,” says Terry Hunter, Manager of AntiCounterfeiting at CSA Group. “Since fakes are not certified by an accredited organization, they may be missing safety features, use toxic or inappropriate materials, and can cause serious risk to the user. It’s important for consumers to be aware and take the necessary steps to spot counterfeit goods.” CSA Group offers the following tips to keep you safe from fakes: It’s a steal: Best deal ever? Think again. If the price seems too good to be true, it likely is. Counterfeiters often make a profit by using substandard materials and cutting corners, increasing the risk to the customer. Know the fair market value of products and be suspicious of the product if it’s significantly underpriced. See a mark?: Avoid products, especially electrical goods, if they don’t have a label from a recognized certification organization, such as CSA Group. If there is a mark, look closely to ensure it matches the design and colour of the recognized certification organization. To confirm if a product is CSA Group certified, compare the identification label against the Certified Product Listing . Know your brand: Brandname companies want consumers to know whose product they’re buying. When a product doesn’t include a brand identifier or trademark, it may be counterfeit. Look for missing return addresses, company contact information, warranties or instructions.
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